Rational, intelligent organisation: neuroscience and the benefits of feelings
by Sid Carter
International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion (IJWOE), Vol. 1, No. 2, 2005

Abstract: While an understanding of emotion as a social and cultural facet of work and organisations is winning acceptance, the bodily dimension of emotion is less well accepted. This paper presents findings from affective neuroscience which enhance our rich socio-cultural knowledge of emotion in the workplace. In particular, neuro-scientific evidence extends Simon's (1982) 'bounded rationality', enhancing neuro-economics, and challenges the popular but uncritical acceptance of 'emotional intelligence'. The role of bodily expressions of emotion in choice and decision-making and the unfolding knowledge of the neglected 'positive' emotions, are particularly promising contributions from affective neuroscience to organisational theory. I concur with Casey (2000) that a disembodied, post-modern, language-based treatment of emotions at work overlooks an important aspect of lived experience: how the body informs what we say or do next. This paper finds value in reading social science and neuroscience in conjunction, welcoming inter-disciplinarity and the crossing of methodological boundaries.

Online publication date: Fri, 27-Jan-2006

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