31 Mar 2026
UNIL - Géopolis, room 2137
from 16:30 to 17:30
Abstract
This presentation introduces a psychology of precarity framework for understanding how unstable social, political, and economic conditions shape psychological well-being across the life course. Drawing on research from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and related fields, precarity is defined as the experience of ongoing uncertainty, insecurity, marginalization, and limited access to essential resources. The framework highlights three interconnected elements: structural contexts (such as labor instability and social inequality), material conditions, and lived psychological experiences, including alienation, anxiety, and diminished agency. The presentation reviews emerging empirical applications of the psychology of precarity and discusses implications for counseling practice, prevention, and public policy. Emphasis is placed on how this framework can inform research, intervention, and advocacy aimed at promoting dignity, stability, and well-being across diverse life contexts.
Biographical Note
David L. Blustein serves as Professor and Golden Eagle Faculty Fellow in the Department of Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology at Boston College. His scholarship focuses on the experiences of unemployment, decent, dignified, or precarious work among marginalized populations, within the Psychology of Working. Grounded in social justice principles, Blustein has also advanced the field by introducing the Psychology of Precarity, which conceptualizes vulnerability and powerlessness as a critical concern for psychology. Beyond academic contributions, his work engages broader audiences, notably through his book The Importance of Work in an Age of Uncertainty: The Eroding Experience of Work in America. Blustein’s expertise has also informed global policy discussions, such as with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
