ABSTRACT
This chapter considers two important sociopsychological consequences of negative work experience resulting from management's control of labor process organization: self-esteem and sense of personal mastery. Management control over elements of task activities, job demand requirements, and the climate of attitudes and values leads to diminished self-esteem for many workers; however, lack of consideration by management has an overriding effect. The low contribution of work experience to self-esteem scores indicates that low levels of self-worth are already established through working-class experience for blue-collar workers. Large occupational differences were found in the experience of a lack of mastery. As occupational level decreases, level of personal control decreases. Blue-collar workers who experience the most alienating work also experience the least mastery. "Lack of consideration by management" is an important determinant of lack of mastery for both women and men. For women, "poor work relationships" also has a moderate effect on low mastery.
