Treason or Reason? Psychoanalytical Insights on Whistleblowing

• Author: Ishan Jalan
• Published date: 01 July 2020
• Date: 01 July 2020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12224

International Journal of Management Reviews, Vol. 22, 249–263 (2020)

DOI: 10.1111/ijmr.12224

Treason or Reason? Psychoanalytical

Insights on Whistleblowing

Ishan Jalan

Nottingham Business School, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4BU, UK

Corresponding author email: ishan.jalan@ntu.ac.uk

This paper critically examines and reviewsthe dominant and mainstream perspectives

and literature on whistleblowingand offers a new approach to understanding this com-

plex phenomenon using a psychoanalytical lens. Almost all studies on whistleblowing

perceive it as an ethical, moral or altruistic act on the part of the whistleblower and

overlook the whistleblower’s subjectivity in question. This paper offers an in-depth

review of the literature to explore this and addresses the emergent but nascent dis-

courses on whistleblower’s subjectivity, offering an alternative perspective suggesting

that not all whistleblowers may be prompted by moral compulsion or desire to speak

truth to power. It suggests that underlying emotional and unconscious dynamics such

as narcissism, in particular narcissistic rage, disillusionment and a sense of betrayal,

can be possible factors in deciding to ‘blow the whistle’. Furthermore, the concept of

psychological defences and defence mechanisms is discussed in depth and is used to

illustrate the dynamics above. In doing so, this paper draws upon extant literatures to

challenge and shift existing paradigms on normativewhistleblowing literature, offering

novel and significant theoreticalcontributions and an alternative strategic platform for

new directions in researchand practice .

Introduction

Whistleblowing has drawn considerable attention

in recent years, including to important issues such

as privacy and surveillance and their impact on

management practices (Kenny et al. 2018). It often

involves disclosure of organizational wrongdoing,

unethical practice, illegal activity or misconduct at

workplaces in the interests of the public (Miceli and

Near 1994). Some regard whistleblowers as heroes,

saviours, selfless martyrs and individuals who would

risk everything for the larger good (Contu 2014;

Kenny et al. 2018; Vandekerckhove and Lewis 2012),

and whistleblowing as a moral responsibility of the

individual, as an act motivated by conscience (Roth-

schild and Miethe 1994, 1999). Others, however,

explore whether whistleblowers can also be traitors,

defectors and greedy individuals out to garner atten-

tion, glory and fame (see Davis 1989; Latimer and

Brown 2008; McDonald and Ahern 2000). So, whilst

some paint the picture almost of a heroic battle,

one of epic struggles and taking on a system that is

often less forgiving of the individuals who decide

to tell against it, others would see a conspiracy plot

infused with revenge, malice and greed. Irrespective

of how whistleblowers are regarded and portrayed,

it makes for a compelling study, one that begs to

explore, through the literature, the motivations of the

whistleblower, his or her intentions, and their stories

which prompted them to speak truth to power and

rise above the obstacles. This is best captured by

Graham (1993, p. 683), who writes ‘the phenomenon

of whistleblowing is a compelling one from a variety

of perspectives because it can involve emotion-laden

moral dilemmas and conflicting loyalties, heroic

confrontations between individual David’s and

institutional Goliath’s, and dramatic revelations of

unsavoury organizational secrets’.

Building on these growing discourses within

whistleblowing literature, this paper aims to con-

tribute to ongoing discussions, particularly around

exploring the ‘emotion-laden’ moral dilemmas

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