This article takes as its point of departure concepts derived from couple therapy to better understand collusive relationships in organizations. As we examine these dysfunctional workplace relationships-these interpersonal "gridlocks"four main types of collusive superior-subordinate interaction patterns are identified-the narcissistic, the controlling, the paranoid, and the sadomasochistic-and the consequences of each such dyad in organizations are explored. In conclusion, the paper presents a number of recommendations on how to recognize the presence of such collusive arrangements (taking leadership behavior as a point of departure) and suggests preventive steps that can be taken.
ACKERMAN, N. W.The psychodynamics of family life. New York: Basic Books, 1958.
2.
ACKERMAN, N. W. In B. L. Green (Ed.), The psychotherapies of marital disharmony. New York: Free Press, 1965, pp. 153-167.
3.
AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION. Diagnostic and statistical manual of the mental disorders, DSM-IV (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1994.
4.
AULETIA, K.The human factor, New Yorker, September 1994, pp.54-69.
5.
BAUMEISTER, R.F Masochism and the self. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 1989.
6.
BION, W. R.Experiences in Groups. London: Tavistock, 1959.
7.
BOWLBY, J.Attachment and loss (Vol. I). Attachment. New York: Basic Books, 1969.
8.
BOWLBY, J.Attachment and loss (Vol. II). Separation: Anxiety and anger. New York: Basic Books, 1973.
9.
DEAN PARSONS, R., & WICKS, R. J. (Eds.). Passive-aggressiveness: Theory and practice. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1983.
10.
DICKS, H. V.Marital tensions: Clinical studies toward a psychological theory of interaction. New York: Basic Books, 1967.
11.
FREUD, A.The ego and the mechanisms of defense. New York: International Universities Press, 1946.
12.
GEERTZ, C.The interpretation of cultures. New York: Basic Books, 1973.
13.
GEERTZ, C.Local knowledge. New York: Basic Books, 1983.
14.
GLICK, R. A., & MEYERS, D. I.Masochism: Current psychoanalytic perspectives. Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press, 1988.
GRALNICK, A.Folie a Deux-The psychosis of association: Review of 103 cases and entire English literature with presentations," Parts 1 and 2. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1942, 16, 230-263, 491-520.
17.
GROSSMAN, W.Notes on masochism: A Discussion of the history and development of a psychoanalytic concept. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1986, 55379-413.
18.
GROVER, R.Jeffrey Katzenberg: No more Mr. tough guy?Business Week, January 31, 1994, p. 46-46.
19.
HOROWITZ, M. J. (Ed.). Person schemas and maladaptive interpersonal patterns. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991.
20.
HUY, J.Eisner explains everything, Fortune, April 17, 1995, pp. 33-48.
21.
JAQUES, E.Social systems as a defense against persecutory and depressive anxiety. In M. Klein, P Heimann, and R. E. Money-Kyrle (Eds.), New directions in psycho-analysis. New York: Basic Books, 1955.
22.
KERNBERG, O.Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism. New York: Jason Aronson, 1975.
23.
KERNBERG, O.Internal world and external reality. New York: Jason Aronson, 1985.
24.
KERNBERG, O.Clinical dimensions of masochism. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1988, 361005-1029.
25.
KETS DE VRIES, M. F. R.Folie a deux: Acting out your subordinates' fantasies. Human Relations, 1978, 31(10), 905-924.
26.
KETS DE VRIES, M. F. R.Prisoners of leadership. New York: Wiley, 1989.
27.
KETS DE VRIES, M. F. R.Organizations on the couch. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1991.
28.
KETS DE VRIES, M. F. R.Leaders, fools, and impostors. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1993.
29.
KETS DE VRIES, M. F. R.Life and death in the executive fast lane: Essays on irrational organizations and leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1995.
30.
KETS DE VRIES, M. F. R., & MILLER, D.The neurotic organization. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1984.
31.
KETS DE VRIES, M. F. R., & MILLER, D.Narcissism and leadership: An object relations perspective. Human Relations, 1985, 38(6), 583-601.
32.
KETS DE VRIES, M. F. R., & MILLER, D.Unstable at the top. New York: New American Library, 1987.
33.
KETS DE VRIES, M. F. R., & PERZOW, S.Handbook of character studies. Madison, CT: International Universities Press, 1991.
34.
KOHUT, H.The analysis of the self. New York: International Universities Press, 1974.
35.
KOHUT H.The restoration of the self. New York: International Universities Press, 1977.
36.
LACHKAR, J.The narcissistic/borderline couple. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1992.
37.
LASEQUE, C., & FABRET J. La folie a deux ou folie communique. Annales Medicales de Psychologie, 1877, 5 serie, T18.
38.
LUBORSKY, L. P.Understanding Transference. New York: Basic Books, 1990.
39.
LUBORSKY, L. P., CRITS-CHRISTOPH, P., MINZ, J., & AUERBACH, A.Who will benefit from psychotherapy?New York: Basic Books, 1988.
40.
MAHLER, M. S., PINE, F., & BERGMAN, A.The psychological birth of the human infant. New York: Basic Books, 1975.
41.
MASTERSON, J. F.The narcissistic and borderline disorders. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1981.
42.
McDOUGALL, J.Theaters of the mind. New York: Basic Books, 1985.
43.
McWILLIAMS, N.Psychoanalytic diagnosis. New York: The Guilford Press, 1994.
44.
MEISSNER, W. W.The paranoid process. New York: Jason Aronson, 1978.
MENZIES, I.A case study in the functioning of social systems as a defense against anxiety: A report on a study of the nursing system of a general hospital. Human Relations, 1960, 13, 95-121.
47.
MILLER, A.Prisoners of childhood: The drama of the gifted child and the search for the true self. New York: Basic Books, 1975.
48.
MILLON, T.Disorders of personality. New York: Wiley, 1981.
49.
MINUCHIN, S.Families and family therapy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1974.
50.
REICH, W.Character analysis. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1949.
51.
RIOUX, B.A review of folie a deux: The psychosis of association. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 1963, 37, 405-428.
52.
RUSZCZYNSKI, S. (Ed.). Psychotherapy with couples. London: Karnac Books, 1993.
53.
RUSZCZYNSKI, S.Narcissistic object relating. In S. Ruszczynski, and P Fisher, (Eds.), Intrusiveness and intimacy in the couple. London: Karnac Books, 1995.
54.
SAGER, C. J.Couples therapy and marriage contracts. In A. S. Gurman and D. P. Knisper (Eds.), Handbook of family therapy (Vol. 1). New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1991.
55.
SALZMAN, L.Treatment of the obsessive personality. New York: Jason Aronson, 1980.
56.
SHAPIRO, D.Neurotic styles. New York: Basic Books, 1965.
57.
SHARPE, S. A.The symbiotic marriage: A diagnostic profile. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 1981, 45(2), 89-114.
58.
SHARPE, S. A.The oppositional couple: A developmental object relations approach to diagnosis and treatment. In R. A. Nemiroff and C. A. Colarusso (Eds.), New dimensions in adult development. New York: Basic Books, 1992.
59.
SMITH, S.The golden fantasy: A regressive reaction to separation anxiety. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 1977, 58(3), 311-324.
60.
STORR, A.The art of psychotherapy. New York: Methuen, 1979.
61.
STREAN, H. S.Resolving marital conflict: A psychodynamic perspective. New York: Wiley, 1985.
62.
WHITAKER, C. A.Psychotherapy with couples. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 1958, 12(1), 18-23.
63.
WILLI, J.Couples in collusion: The unconscious dimension in partnerships. Claremont, CA: Hunter House, 1982.
64.
WILLI, J.Dynamics of couples therapy. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1984.
65.
WINNICOT'TF D. W.Through paediatrics to psychoanalysis. New York: Basic Books, 1975.
