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Unemployment: its social psychological effects
Journal of Economic Psychology 7 (1986) 245-256 North-Holland
245
BOOK REVIEWS Peter Kelvin and Joanna E. Jarrett, Un~~p~oy~e~~: its socialpsychoiogieffects. Cambridge university Press, Camb~dge~ 1985. pp. 149, 66.95 (paperback).
cd
Peter Kelvin and Joanna Jarrett are concerned primarily with the literature on the social psychological effects of unemployment and the impact these effects have on the relationships of the unemployed individual. The relations~ps discussed by the authors are those with family, friends, the social service agencies, potential employers and that with society as a whole. Inco~orated within this discussion is also a consideration of the unemployed individual in his own right, with the effect of unemployment on his behaviour in general and on his atti. tudes. The starting point of the book is an assertion by the authors that they will show that the basic and often contradictory attitudes towards todays unemployed are products of a pattern created in the conditions of the mid fourteenth century. Whether .or not this is achieved is unimportant within the overall context of the book, of much greater import are the questions and issues the authors raise during the course of their review of the literature, and the themes they isolate for discussion. What is apparent from Kelvin and Jarrett”s amount is the previous relative lack of academic discussions on the social psychological effects of unemployment. They correctIy point out that psy~hologic~ research and the problems of the unemployed spans only the last fifty years, starting with ‘~a~enthal’, a study of unemployment in an Austrian village by Jahoda, Lazersfeld and Zeisel, and ‘The unemployed man’ by Bakke, both published in 1933. Kelvin and Jarrett argue that the literature since this date tends to be ‘descriptive, diffuse and fragmentary, and almost entirely concerned with the unemployed man’ (p. 1). They note the lack of literature on the unemployed woman, and their discussion on this aspect of unemployment, albeit brief, provides ground for thought and exposes areas for possible future research. ~~67~87~/86/$3.~~
0 1986, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (Nort~“~ol~and~
Within their analysis of the literature the authors raise four basic questions which they maintain are ‘the essence of the social psychological effects of unemployment (p. 2): (i)
How does his unemployment affect the way in which the unemployed individual sees himself? (ii) How does his unemployment affect how he perceives others? (iii) How does his unemployment affect the way in which he perceives himself to be seen by others? (iv) How do others actually see the unemployed? Their contention is, therefore, that their review of the literature is more complex than a straightforward review. The authors argue that ‘ostensibly the social psychological questions posed by them are inherently more complex than they first appear’ (p. 7). The authors, as a result, are forced to consider the general economic setting in which the unemployed individual exists, as well as his wider social environment. It is perhaps at this level that the book is open to criticism. The authors’ attempt to discuss the economic and social environment in relation to the social psychologic~ effects of unemployment is important, but whilst they recognise the problems and raise potentially valuable areas for research, the task of encompassing all of the issues results in a tendency to cover too much too ‘thinly’. However, having said this, the value of the book is in its coverage of a multiplicity of issues. Of particular interest is the attempt by the authors to relate the economic consequences of unemployment to its psychological effects. The authors state ‘The psychology of unemployment must now equally stress that to be unemployed is to be poor’ (p. 18). They note (p. 18) that in the past, with the exception of Jahoda et al., there have been very few attempts to trace the interaction of the economic and psychological effects of unemployment. This the authors do. They assert ‘Behaviour in response to unemployment is the outcome of complex interactions between the psychological condition of the individual and the economic circumstances of his household fp. 18). In other words, the authors are stressing the necessity of considering the social psychological implications of unemployment in the context of the unemployed person’s general environment and his experience within this. Hence few would disagree with their conclusion that ‘the most profound effects of unemployment are on the way in which the unemployed individual
Sook reviews
247
comes to see himself’ (p. 371, and whilst these may differ with economic circumstances the most influential factors will be how ‘he, his family and friends, and society at large conceive of unemployment and the unemployed’ (p, 37). What is patently clear is the complexity of the problem of unemployment and its effects. British society is still one where the majority are employed and where employment and labour predominate. To this extent the unemployed are an ‘out’ group and it is from this position the unemployed are perceived. The importance of this observation is crucial to the assumption that ‘an individuai’s self-concept is significantly defined by how he is seen, and especially by how he perceives himself to be seen by others’ (p. 49). The point being that ‘psychologically as well as economically, unemployment is a condition of forced dependence, which makes the individual deeply vulnerable to others’ (p. 49). Indeed this is a theme present throughout the book, the authors maintaining that any adequate account of the social psychological effect of unemployment must be aware of, and take note of the reactions of others towards the unemployed. To this extent Kelvin and Jarrett have definite ideas of what they consider to be valid research within the confines of a social psychological view of unemployment. It is difficult to see how an unemployed individual is not affected by the perception and attitude of others; the problem being that the attitude of others towards the unemployed exhibits a degree of confusion and ambivalence (p. 90). To an extent, the authors believe this is illustrated by the trends in the research on the social psycholo~cal effects of unemployment. Fundamentally, when unemployment is high, research is primarily concerned with the psychological effects of unemployment on the ordinary person, and when unemployment is low, research centres on the psychological cause of the unemployment of individuals who have special problems (p. 15). The different emphasis is important, however, it is a theme which is not fully developed in the book, although the recognition that attitudes change with the level and duration of unemployment in society is a crucial one. This is particularly true if, as the authors believe, the role of public opinion in defining the stereotype of the unemployed individual is as important as stated in the book. The interaction of public opinion, public sector agencies and the unemployed would seem to be central to the unemployed indi~dual’s self-image, to the way in which society reacts with him and to the way in which he perceives society (p. 90). The authors emphasise this (p. 94) ‘Public opinion has a significant
248
Book reviews
effect on how the unemployed are treated by “society” as represented by the state: for the provision which the state makes for the unemployed , . . is very largely determined by public opinion’. The authors also believe it is this relationship which will help define the attitude of the unemployed to society for it is the contact which the unemployed individual has with public sector agencies which give him the most substantial contact with society (p. 90) and thereby society’s attitude towards him. In their discussion of public opinion and its influence, the authors recognise the difficulty of isolating its effect on policy towards the unemployed and the effect public opinion has on the treatment of the unemployed by state agencies (p. 90) ‘ . . . the present situation is a mess of ambiguities and ambivalences. ~nde~ably there is confusion in society towards the unemployed, sympathy and mistrust coexist. This is taken into account by the authors in their discussion. They exhibit an awareness of the fact that attitudes towards unemployment and the unemployed are not constant, and that reactions and actions change. The authors’ consideration of the ‘stigmatization’ of the unemployed is a good example of their awareness of change. They argue (p. 122) that the stigmatization of the unemployed may be related to a critical level of unemployment, and point out that when unemployment is high to stigmatize the unemployed lacks credibility, This is of potential importance to the way in which the unemployed individual sees himself and others. This, however, is only part of the problem, abundantly clear from Kelvin and Jarrett’s treatment of the literature is the complexity of the problems unemployment creates for the in~~du~ and for those who interact with him. At the outset they state that social psychology is concerned with what people believe and how they act. Throughout the book, the authors have discussed and analysed this relationship in the context of unemployment and the effects on the unemployed individual. The book is therefore valuable in that Kelvin and Jarrett have drawn together a wide range of sources, all concerned with unemployment and its associated effects and have attempted to present them in a coherent and thou~t-provo~ng form. IXane Jackson ~~rna~~ti~s and Social Sciences University of Bath Bath BA2 7A Y, U.K.
245
BOOK REVIEWS Peter Kelvin and Joanna E. Jarrett, Un~~p~oy~e~~: its socialpsychoiogieffects. Cambridge university Press, Camb~dge~ 1985. pp. 149, 66.95 (paperback).
cd
Peter Kelvin and Joanna Jarrett are concerned primarily with the literature on the social psychological effects of unemployment and the impact these effects have on the relationships of the unemployed individual. The relations~ps discussed by the authors are those with family, friends, the social service agencies, potential employers and that with society as a whole. Inco~orated within this discussion is also a consideration of the unemployed individual in his own right, with the effect of unemployment on his behaviour in general and on his atti. tudes. The starting point of the book is an assertion by the authors that they will show that the basic and often contradictory attitudes towards todays unemployed are products of a pattern created in the conditions of the mid fourteenth century. Whether .or not this is achieved is unimportant within the overall context of the book, of much greater import are the questions and issues the authors raise during the course of their review of the literature, and the themes they isolate for discussion. What is apparent from Kelvin and Jarrett”s amount is the previous relative lack of academic discussions on the social psychological effects of unemployment. They correctIy point out that psy~hologic~ research and the problems of the unemployed spans only the last fifty years, starting with ‘~a~enthal’, a study of unemployment in an Austrian village by Jahoda, Lazersfeld and Zeisel, and ‘The unemployed man’ by Bakke, both published in 1933. Kelvin and Jarrett argue that the literature since this date tends to be ‘descriptive, diffuse and fragmentary, and almost entirely concerned with the unemployed man’ (p. 1). They note the lack of literature on the unemployed woman, and their discussion on this aspect of unemployment, albeit brief, provides ground for thought and exposes areas for possible future research. ~~67~87~/86/$3.~~
0 1986, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (Nort~“~ol~and~
Within their analysis of the literature the authors raise four basic questions which they maintain are ‘the essence of the social psychological effects of unemployment (p. 2): (i)
How does his unemployment affect the way in which the unemployed individual sees himself? (ii) How does his unemployment affect how he perceives others? (iii) How does his unemployment affect the way in which he perceives himself to be seen by others? (iv) How do others actually see the unemployed? Their contention is, therefore, that their review of the literature is more complex than a straightforward review. The authors argue that ‘ostensibly the social psychological questions posed by them are inherently more complex than they first appear’ (p. 7). The authors, as a result, are forced to consider the general economic setting in which the unemployed individual exists, as well as his wider social environment. It is perhaps at this level that the book is open to criticism. The authors’ attempt to discuss the economic and social environment in relation to the social psychologic~ effects of unemployment is important, but whilst they recognise the problems and raise potentially valuable areas for research, the task of encompassing all of the issues results in a tendency to cover too much too ‘thinly’. However, having said this, the value of the book is in its coverage of a multiplicity of issues. Of particular interest is the attempt by the authors to relate the economic consequences of unemployment to its psychological effects. The authors state ‘The psychology of unemployment must now equally stress that to be unemployed is to be poor’ (p. 18). They note (p. 18) that in the past, with the exception of Jahoda et al., there have been very few attempts to trace the interaction of the economic and psychological effects of unemployment. This the authors do. They assert ‘Behaviour in response to unemployment is the outcome of complex interactions between the psychological condition of the individual and the economic circumstances of his household fp. 18). In other words, the authors are stressing the necessity of considering the social psychological implications of unemployment in the context of the unemployed person’s general environment and his experience within this. Hence few would disagree with their conclusion that ‘the most profound effects of unemployment are on the way in which the unemployed individual
Sook reviews
247
comes to see himself’ (p. 371, and whilst these may differ with economic circumstances the most influential factors will be how ‘he, his family and friends, and society at large conceive of unemployment and the unemployed’ (p, 37). What is patently clear is the complexity of the problem of unemployment and its effects. British society is still one where the majority are employed and where employment and labour predominate. To this extent the unemployed are an ‘out’ group and it is from this position the unemployed are perceived. The importance of this observation is crucial to the assumption that ‘an individuai’s self-concept is significantly defined by how he is seen, and especially by how he perceives himself to be seen by others’ (p. 49). The point being that ‘psychologically as well as economically, unemployment is a condition of forced dependence, which makes the individual deeply vulnerable to others’ (p. 49). Indeed this is a theme present throughout the book, the authors maintaining that any adequate account of the social psychological effect of unemployment must be aware of, and take note of the reactions of others towards the unemployed. To this extent Kelvin and Jarrett have definite ideas of what they consider to be valid research within the confines of a social psychological view of unemployment. It is difficult to see how an unemployed individual is not affected by the perception and attitude of others; the problem being that the attitude of others towards the unemployed exhibits a degree of confusion and ambivalence (p. 90). To an extent, the authors believe this is illustrated by the trends in the research on the social psycholo~cal effects of unemployment. Fundamentally, when unemployment is high, research is primarily concerned with the psychological effects of unemployment on the ordinary person, and when unemployment is low, research centres on the psychological cause of the unemployment of individuals who have special problems (p. 15). The different emphasis is important, however, it is a theme which is not fully developed in the book, although the recognition that attitudes change with the level and duration of unemployment in society is a crucial one. This is particularly true if, as the authors believe, the role of public opinion in defining the stereotype of the unemployed individual is as important as stated in the book. The interaction of public opinion, public sector agencies and the unemployed would seem to be central to the unemployed indi~dual’s self-image, to the way in which society reacts with him and to the way in which he perceives society (p. 90). The authors emphasise this (p. 94) ‘Public opinion has a significant
248
Book reviews
effect on how the unemployed are treated by “society” as represented by the state: for the provision which the state makes for the unemployed , . . is very largely determined by public opinion’. The authors also believe it is this relationship which will help define the attitude of the unemployed to society for it is the contact which the unemployed individual has with public sector agencies which give him the most substantial contact with society (p. 90) and thereby society’s attitude towards him. In their discussion of public opinion and its influence, the authors recognise the difficulty of isolating its effect on policy towards the unemployed and the effect public opinion has on the treatment of the unemployed by state agencies (p. 90) ‘ . . . the present situation is a mess of ambiguities and ambivalences. ~nde~ably there is confusion in society towards the unemployed, sympathy and mistrust coexist. This is taken into account by the authors in their discussion. They exhibit an awareness of the fact that attitudes towards unemployment and the unemployed are not constant, and that reactions and actions change. The authors’ consideration of the ‘stigmatization’ of the unemployed is a good example of their awareness of change. They argue (p. 122) that the stigmatization of the unemployed may be related to a critical level of unemployment, and point out that when unemployment is high to stigmatize the unemployed lacks credibility, This is of potential importance to the way in which the unemployed individual sees himself and others. This, however, is only part of the problem, abundantly clear from Kelvin and Jarrett’s treatment of the literature is the complexity of the problems unemployment creates for the in~~du~ and for those who interact with him. At the outset they state that social psychology is concerned with what people believe and how they act. Throughout the book, the authors have discussed and analysed this relationship in the context of unemployment and the effects on the unemployed individual. The book is therefore valuable in that Kelvin and Jarrett have drawn together a wide range of sources, all concerned with unemployment and its associated effects and have attempted to present them in a coherent and thou~t-provo~ng form. IXane Jackson ~~rna~~ti~s and Social Sciences University of Bath Bath BA2 7A Y, U.K.