Exploring the human-technology constellation to understand our entangled modern world

This ‘Food for Thought’ lunchtime talk will be an online event, taking place via Zoom.

In this talk, Dr Nick Waggett will explore how digital technologies have become incorporated into our intra- and inter-psychic processes to the extent that we may have moved beyond a point where we can think only of human relations and social dynamics, distinct from the technologies through which these are mediated, both at an organisational and societal level. Drawing on his doctoral research at the Tavistock Clinic, Nick will connect key elements of psychoanalytic and systems-psychodynamic theory with ideas from actor-network theory and sociomateriality that reframe what we think of as the social world as being more-than human. Developing Kurt Lewin’s field theory he will propose the use of the term human-technology constellation as a way of theorising the entangled nature of our modern world. Nick will invite the audience to consider ways in which we might respond, as individuals, organizational practitioners and members of society.

Dr Nick Waggett is course lead for the Professional Doctorate in advanced practice and research: consultation and the organisation, and the Qualification in consultation at the Tavistock Clinic. He has a Masters in health service studies and a Masters in consultation and the organisation: psychoanalytic and systemic approaches, and completed the Professional Doctorate in consultation and the organisation in 2018. His Prof Doc thesis investigated the impact of new technologies on organisational processes and the implications for consultancy practice. Nick was previously Chief Executive of the Association of Child Psychotherapists. He has taught on several academic programmes and provided consultancy to organisations in the public sector.

Fun fact: He has a Good Grief! Charlie Brown tattoo!