LASU Journal of Employment Relations and Human Resource Management
(LJERHRM)
ISSN: 2705-3482
Volume 6, No. 1, 2026
Pages 90-109
DOI: 10.36108/ljerhrm/6202.60.0170
Psychodynamic Theories and Union Leadership Behaviour
Foluso Ilesanmi JAYEOBA1*, Kabiru Ishola GENTY2, Rasheed Olawale AZEEZ3, & Foluso Abimbola OJAPINWA4
1,2,3,4Department of Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Lagos State University
Abstract
Theories are in the service of man in his quest to understand seemingly perplexing behaviours, especially of human beings. The psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud offers a plausible explanation of the behaviours of union leaders and could serve as a tool of prediction of possible behaviour of union leaders in several organisations. The main objective of this monograph therefore is to apply the psychodynamic theories pioneered by Sigmund Freud as a veritable tool in the explanation of behaviour of union leaders. The explanatory power of this theory is explored to draw specific attention to the role of the personality of actors in industrial relations in both the dynamics of unionism and employment relations. While this approach to understanding actors in industrial relations may appear to be unique, it is not any different from earlier attempts at theorizing in the field of industrial relations. It is hoped that, besides ameliorating the lack of reference to personality factors in the popular systems theory of J T Dunlop, other efforts can be directed at how other psychological and sociological theories can be adapted as valid theories of employment relations in terms of their purports and propositions.
Keywords: Psychoanalytic Theory, Union Leadership Behaviour, Id, Ego and Superego, Defence Mechanisms