Brown, Alan (1976) Clerical and manual workers' self and other images. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The thesis takes as its starting point the explanation by David Lockwood of clerical anti-unionism in terms of a 'prestige' model of society, and of manual pro-unionism in terms of a 'class' model of society. The present author attempts to gather information about how clerks and manual workers see themselves and others in the work situation (self-image and other-image) in a manner which prestructures subject response as little as possible. The emphasis is thus upon meaning rather than behaviour as such. To this end Kelly repertory grid analysis is adapted and applied to clerks and manual workers in several research locations in North-West England. The data is processed for principal components and content analysed. Specific hypotheses are tested, including those that clerks will adopt a 'clerical stereotype' of workmindedness, impotence, selflessness, happiness and low union- mindedness, whilst manual workers adopt a 'manual stereotype' of low workmindedness, potency, egocentrism, unhappiness, and unionmindedness. All subjects in both occupational groups are found to espouse the clerical stereotype, despite being almost all union members. The stereotypes are related to Lockwood's society images and are found to be congruent in some respects, but different in others, chiefly in the use by our subjects of the variables of potency and egocentrism. Union membership, where a relationship can be directly tested, is found to be associated with impotence and workmindedness. Most of our subjects are anti-union in orientation. Their union membership is a product of external factors which have not influenced their self and other - images. The relationship between psychological and sociological perspectives is discussed.

By the use of an unusual but appropriate method of investigation it is hoped that an original contribution is made to the theoretical and empirical understanding of the way clerks and manual workers see aspects of their work situations.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Industrial relations -- Great Britain -- Case studies, Self-perception -- Economic aspects, Self-perception -- Social aspects, Blue collar workers -- Great Britain, Clerks -- Great Britain, Work environment -- Psychological aspects, Repertory grid technique, Stereotypes (Social psychology) -- Great Britain
Official Date:	September 1976
Dates:	Date Event September 1976 UNSPECIFIED
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Industrial Relations
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Bain, George Sayers
Extent:	365 leaves : illustrations
Language:	eng

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