Workaholism and the Psychodynamic Clinic of Work
Abstract
Nestor Raul Porras Velasquez
The main purpose of this reflective article is to offer a set of fundamental ideas on work addiction as a symptom of psychic distress and suffering in the current work environment, from the perspective of the psychodynamic work clinic. For this purpose, a documentary analysis of recent publications related to the psychodynamic work clinic and work addiction was used as a methodology. The results reveal that personal, organizational, and job characteristics (including tasks and responsibilities) as well as job characteristics in general, together with the organizational socialization process and the management of interpersonal relationships with managers, act as triggers of addictive behavior. Preliminary findings suggest that the addictive behavior of salaried workers is understood as a coping strategy in the face of distress, stress, anxiety, and psychological suffering arising from the fear of job loss, evidenced in the perception of high contemporary job instability.