The Dark Side of Mindfulness

Purpose: The aim of our paper is to analyze the role mindfulness in organizational socialization, particularly how these techniques are mobilized by corporations reshape employees’ subjectivities.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: Mindfulness a process awareness moment-to-moment experience, allowing subjects deal with emotions, sensations and thoughts non-judgmental way (Kabat–Zinn, 1991). has been characterized as new opiate masses (Dawson Turnbull, 2006) flagship technology self neoliberal capitalism (Zizek, 2005), adjusting individuals “to very conditions that cause their problems” (Purser, 2019, p.5). Over past decade, several interventions, such MBSR (Mindfulness-based-stress reduction), have implemented corporate settings, aiming improve resilience, flexibility, well-being self-control. Recognizing selfhood requires rely on self-regulation devices enhance health happiness, interventions emblematic examples workers should undergo set performances control, manage regulate affective states, thus increasing productivity. By “dark side mindfulness”, we refer ways which practices promoted, disseminated applied reconfigure workers’ subjectivities, leading articulations governmentalities coupling technologies self, affect efficiency. becomes disciplinary tool self-control aims at maximizing productivity through management affect. Our draws qualitative methodology, including thematic analysis 44 papers published Harvard Business Review, examination specific program carried out big tech corporation Amazon, generated controversy.
 Findings: empirical findings organized around four main themes: an expansion selfhood; ability turn inner work into driver productivity; epiphenomenon late capitalism; technofix.
 Research Limitations: relies relatively limited data set, extending research wider range journals it would possible identify alternative themes. Moreover, theoretical framework (stemming from critique) may overshadow relevant phenomenological embodied aspects.
 Theoretical practical implications: This contributes scholarship within Social Studies Organization Studies, unpacking contemporary mindfulness, neoliberalism, governmentality.