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Contact details +6469517903

Dr Andrew Dickson

Senior Lecturer

School of People, Environment and Planning

I am a lecturer in Organisation Studies. I hold undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and business. My research interests involve applying a psychoanalytic lens to topics in the wider ‘health’ industry including: the impact of managerialism; gender relations; and embodied alienation in the sport sector. My PhD research was specifically on the weight-loss industry, where I used radical psychanalytic theory to understand how the diet industry produces faithful consumers.

I am an organisational sociologist based interested in critical theory and its application to the wider health sector. I am an expert in radical qualitative methods such as autoethnography and in the psychoanalytic study of organisations and organising (particularly Lacanian analysis). You can follow me on Twitter: @AndrewDickson13

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Research Expertise

Research Interests

My research interests revolve around the use of psychoanalysis to critically consider the structure and function of organisations and institutions, particularly in the 'health' sector I am also interested in the use of critical qualitative research methods such as autoethnography.

Thematics

Health and Well-being

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Business and Management (150300): Commerce, Management, Tourism And Services (150000):
Medical And Health Sciences (110000):
Organisation and Management Theory (150310): Organisational Behaviour (150311):
Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences (179900): Psychology And Cognitive Sciences (170000):
Public Health and Health Services (111700): Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified (111799):
Social Theory (160806): Sociology (160800): Studies In Human Society (160000)

Keywords

Psychoanalysis

Autoethnography

The Diet Industry

Organisational Sociology

Organisational Change

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position Current Completed
Project Leader 1 3

Current Projects

Project Title: Agri-food systems Working Group (Our Land & Water National Science Challenge)

Date Range: 2022 - 2023

Funding Body: AgResearch Ltd

Project Team:

Research Outputs

Journal

Rao, V., Tootell, B., & Dickson, A. (2021). Re-Thinking the Impact of Organisational Sponsorship with Lacanian Theory. Advancing Women in Leadership Journal. 40(1), 49-62
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A., Rao, V., Tootell, B.
Salter, L., & Dickson, A. (2021). The fantasy of healthy food: desire and anxiety in healthy food guide magazine. Critical Public Health. 31(5), 548-560
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A., Salter, L.
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Dickson, A., & Manning, J. (2020). A balanced opinion? Considering the role of the external clinical advisor in ACC processes. New Zealand Medical Journal. 133(1515), 97-107 Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/a-balanced-opinion-considering-the-role-of-the-external-clinical-advisor-in-acc-processes
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
Warbrick, I., Came, H., & Dickson, A. (2019). The shame of fat shaming in public health: Moving past racism to embrace indigenous solutions. Public Health. 176, 128-132
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
Ruth, D., Wilson, S., Alakavuklar, O., & Dickson, A. (2018). Anxious academics: talking back to the audit culture through collegial, critical and creative autoethnography. Culture and Organization. 24(2), 154-170
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A., Ruth, D., Wilson, S.
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Holland, K., Dickson, AG., & Dickson, AJ. (2017). To the horror of experts: Reading beneath scholarship on pro-ana online communities. Critical Public Health. , 1-12
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Alakavuklar, ON., Dickson, AG., & Stablein, R. (2017). The alienation of scholarship in modern business schools: From marxist material relations to the Lacanian subject. Academy of Management Learning and Education. 16(3), 454-468
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Alakavuklar, ON., & Dickson, A. (2016). Social movements, resistance and social change in Aotearoa/New Zealand: an intervention for dialogue, collaboration and synergy. Kotuitui. 11(2), 83-88
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Dickson, A., & Alakavuklar, ON. (2016). (un)Ordering intellectual freedom. Continental Thought & Theory: A Journal of Intellectual Freedom. 1(1), 58-61 Retrieved from http://ctt.canterbury.ac.nz/about-ctt/
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
Dickson, AG., & Holland, K. (2016). Hysterical inquiry and autoethnography: A Lacanian alternative to institutionalized ethical commandments. Current Sociology. 65(1), 133-148
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Warbrick, I., Dickson, A., Prince, R., & Heke, I. (2016). The biopolitics of Māori biomass: towards a new epistemology for Māori health in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Critical Public Health. 26(4), 394-404
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A., Prince, R.
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Dickson, A. (2015). Hysterical blokes and the other's jouissance. Gender, Work and Organization. 22(2), 139-147
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Dickson, A. (2015). Re:living the body mass index: How A Lacanian autoethnography can inform public health practice. Critical Public Health. 25(4), 474-487
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Dickson, A. (2011). The jouissance of the Lard(er): Gender, desire and anxiety in the weight-loss industry. Culture and Organization. 17(4), 313-328
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Pausé, C., Brown, S., Carryer, J., Wolber, F., Finn, L., Longhurst, R., . . . Dickson, A. (2011). Response to letter 'New Zealand's shocking diabetes rates can be reduced-9 urgently needed actions'. New Zealand Medical Journal. 124(1343), 87-89
[Journal article]Authored by: Cain, T., Carryer, J., Dickson, A., Hoverd, W., Wolber, F.

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Book

Prichard, GC., Alamgir, F., Alakavuklar, O., Dickson, A., & Wilson, S. (2017). Having an impact: Qualitative research traditions in the critical study of management and their modes of influence. In C. Cassell, A. Cunliffe,, & G. Grandy (Eds.) The Sage handbook of qualitative business and management research methods. (pp. 69 - 85). : Sage Publications Ltd
[Chapter]Authored by: Dickson, A., Wilson, S.
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Conference

Dickson, AG., & salter, L. (2017, December). Healthy Food (the Pervert’s) Guide: Capitalising on the Culture(s) of Health. Presented at Cultures of Capitalism. Wellington, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickson, A., Salter, L.
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Dickson, A., & Dresler, EK. (2017). (Re)Minding the Unconscious: Mindfulness and leadershiT.. , Doing business with the unconscious conference
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Dickson, A., Dresler, E.
Dickson, A., & Dresler, EK. (2017). (Re)minding the unconscious: Mindfulness and the leadershit industry. (pp. 38 - 39). , Doing Business with the Unconscious
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Dickson, A., Dresler, E.
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Dresler, EK., & Dickson, A. (2017). Minding the unconscious: Mindfulness, social Dukkha and leadership. (pp. 8 - 8). , Doing Business with the Unconscious
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Dickson, A., Dresler, E.
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Dickson, A., & Thomson, J. (2016, June). Why runners reject fat bodies. Presented at Fat Studies: Identity, Agency, Embodiment Conference. Palmerston North, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Dickson, AG. (2016, August). The business of anorexia: Expertly mediating the (consumptive) real. Presented at Mediating the Real. Otago University, Dunedin.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Dickson, A., & Alakavuklar, ON. (2016, September). Global capital playing the role of the pseudo-hysteric: An analysis of a protest. Presented at Social movements, resistance and social change III: The academic and activist interface. Wellington, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickson, A.
Ruth, DW., Alakavuklar, O., Wilson, S., & Dickson, A. (2015, November). The Bridge at IROR. Presented at 6th Australasian Caucus of the Standing Conference on Organizational Symbolism (ACSCOS). Macquarie University Sydney.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickson, A., Ruth, D., Wilson, S.Contributed to by: Wilson, S.
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Dickson, AG., & Zeiher, C. (2015, July). How are we enjoying? Some notes on attempting to harness a semblance of feminine jouissance in the neoliberal workplace.. Presented at Reason plus enjoyment. University of New South Wales, Sydney.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Dickson, AG.Surviving modernity's 'fadism': Exploring the potential ethics of ancestral health. . Massey University, Wellington
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Catley, BE., & Dickson, A. (2014). Shrouds of violence: Revealing acts of workplace violence. In A. Hermens, S. Benn, K. Redfern, M. dela Rama, A. Fee, S. Harris, . . . B. Perrott (Eds.) 28th Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Conference: Reshaping Management for Impact. (pp. 92 - 92). : 28th Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Conference
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Catley, B., Dickson, A.
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Dickson, AG.Body Mass, Public Perceptions and the Psycho-Sociology of the Endurance Athlete. . Wanaka
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Dickson, AG., & Catley, B. (2014, December). Shrouds of Violence: Revealing Acts of Workplace Violence. Presented at Australia New Zealand Academy of Management. UTS, Sydney.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickson, A.
Dickson, AG.Society’s discontent : Profiting from dismay in the health sector. . Wellington, New Zealand
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Dickson, AG. (2012, July). Autoethnography, Fat Studies and Endurance Running: “The case of the fat athlete”. Presented at Fat Studies: Reflective Intersections 2012. Wellington, New Zealand.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Dickson, AG. (2010, February). Perhaps fat is not a feminist issue: Masculine fat in the phallic-symbolic order. Presented at 3rd Annual Conference of the Centre for Lacanian Analysis. Auckland.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickson, A.
Dickson, AG.The (thin) Master and the (fat) Hysteric Lacanian discourse theory and the 'obesity epidemic'. . Auckland
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Dickson, A.
Dickson, AG.The Jouissance of the Lard(er): Anxiety in weight loss. . Auckland
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Dickson, A.
Dickson, AG.The Jouissance of the Lard(er): Gender, desire and anxiety. . Sydney
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Dickson, A.
Dickson, AG.'Centre's of Research Excellence' scheme: An immutable mobile?. . Auckland
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Dickson, A.
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Consultancy and Languages

Consultancy

  • September - October 2013 - New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER)
    Evaluation of economic impact in the science sector

Teaching and Supervision

Courses Coordinated

  • 176.704 Working Sociologically: An Advanced Practicum
  • 230.110 Tūrangawaewae: Identity & Belonging in Aotearoa NZ
Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Main Supervisor 0 1
Co-supervisor 0 2

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • 2021 - ~ Omer Nazir - Doctor of Philosophy
    CRITICAL INSIGHTS INTO MODERN SLAVERY: CASE OF DEBT BONDED LABOUR IN INDIAN BRICK KILNS

Co-supervisor of:

  • 2021 - Steven Scott - Doctor of Philosophy
    Running Amok - The Diary of the Hysteric: business education, the Self, & other oxymorons
  • 2019 - Ellen Nelson - Doctor of Philosophy
    The Social Well-being of Women Officers who have Left the NZ Army

Media and Links

Media

  • 31 Aug 2014 - Newspaper
    Anti-sugar campaigners 'wowsers'
  • 29 Dec 2016 - Newspaper
    Andrew Dickson: Taking the weight off our minds
    Opinion editorial in The Herald
  • 27 Jun 2017 - Online
    Body mass and evolution: why the body mass index
    Article in The Conversation website: Charles Darwin died in 1882 at the age of 73, likely of a heart attack. At the time, the average life span in England was about 44 years. Darwin, by any stretch of
  • 27 Jul 2017 - Online
    The leadership industry has infected...
    Article in The Spinoff website: ‘Leadership’ positions are reportedly set to skyrocket under a new DHB restructure plan. But what’s needed isn’t yet more overpaid leaders, writes Andrew Dickson – it’s
  • 25 May 2013 - Newspaper
    Nicky Pellegrino: Change your attitude and keep
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  • 24 Jul 2013 - Newspaper
    Parents blind to kids' fat problem
    Commentary
  • 23 May 2017 - Newspaper
    Food providers more about weight anxiety
    Opinion Editorial
  • 23 Jul 2012 - Newspaper
    'Big' runner seeks Clydesdale category
  • 23 Jan 2018 - Magazine
    Defence and pretence
    Magazine feature for VetScript the magazine of the Veterinary Association of New Zealand
  • 20 Mar 2015 - Newspaper
    Milk for Schools – great programme, wrong product
    Opinion Editorial for National Business Review
  • 16 Sep 2016 - Newspaper
    Doing Business with the Unconscious - Part 3
    Beyond the Leadership Industry
  • 16 May 2013 - Newspaper
    Andrew Dickson: Unethical weight loss mantra
  • 14 Jul 2012 - Magazine
    Weight! There's more
    NZ Listener
  • 14 Jul 2012 - Radio
    Losing Weight: Andrew Dickson
    Saturday morning with Kim Hill: National Radio
  • 13 Jul 2012 - Television
    Fit and fat: A weighty issue
    Close Up: TVNZ
  • 10 Jun 2014 - Newspaper
    Focus on fat puts thin at risk
  • 10 Jul 2013 - Newspaper
    Fighting for fat pride
  • 10 Jul 2013 - Radio
    The Anti-Diet
    Afternoons with Jim Mora: National Radio
  • 10 Jul 2013 - Newspaper
    Teacher tries anti-diet approach
  • 09 Sep 2016 - Newspaper
    Doing Business with the Unconscious - Part 2
    The Social Bond
  • 09 Dec 2016 - Magazine
    Weight: There's more
    Interview in The Listener
  • 07 Jun 2012 - Newspaper
    Weight-loss industry feeds of fat anxiety
  • 07 Jul 2014 - Online
    QOTD: Andrew Dickson and Bill Kaye-Blake
  • 07 Jul 2012 - Newspaper
    Shedding the obesity myth
    NZ Herald
  • 07 Jan 2017 - Magazine
    Mind over platter: Does mindful eating actually...
    Interviewed for feature on Mindfulness
  • 06 Jun 2014 - Newspaper
    Look at the illness, not the fantasy
    Commentry
  • 05 Jun 2016 - Newspaper
    Mindfulness: Is living in the here and now...
    Interviewed for this newspaper article
  • 04 Oct 2012 - Newspaper
    Andrew Dickson: Weight-loss plan feeds anxiety
  • 02 Sep 2016 - Newspaper
    Doing Business with the Unconscious - Part 1
    Managing the Other
  • 01 Jul 2014 - Newspaper
    Food label scheme under fire
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Other Links