School of Psychology Colloquium Dec. 6 - David Blustein

In this presentation, I will review the major findings from a comprehensive qualitative study of working in the U.S., known as the Boston College Working Project. This study sought to identify the lived experience of 61 adults using a purposive sample from a diverse array of settings with a particular focus on the participants’ work lives. One of the major themes that will be explored is the observation that there are two profoundly disparate experiences of working within the U.S.; some work for survival and struggle to eke out an existence while others work for self-determination and experience feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment in their work lives. In addition, this study identified a growing sense of social and psychological erosion in the workplace, which was manifested in a wide array of ways, including increased self- and other blame, as well as a fragmented sense of security. The presentation will conclude with future research directions and implications for public policy based on the very rich findings from this study.