In human chemistry, Meg A. Bond (c.1952-) is an American psychologist noted for her 2007 Workplace Chemistry, wherein she employs chemical terms as metaphors.
Overview
In 2007, Bond, in her Workplace Chemistry, applied verbal chemical theory, in loose metaphor, e.g. activation energy, describing people as ‘elements’ (human element) that chemically react together (human chemical reaction), etc., to topics such as workplace diversity, company change, and others, along with plant or factory application of theory in consultation. The following is an extract of the opening to her book: [1]
“The word ‘chemistry’ is often used to describe relationships between people. When there is ‘good chemistry’, we understand it to mean that things are going well because of naturally occurring forces of nature. The basic elements—or individuals—involved seem to mix and complement one another well. They not only coexist with relative ease but may also synergistically bring out something new and positive in one another. ‘Bad chemistry’ implies an interpersonal mess—or even explosion—as personal elements collide and refuse to transform peacefully on contact.”
Here, similar to other new human chemistry authors, she sites Greek philosopher Empedocles’ famous circa 450BC oil-and-water chemistry aphorism, uses the word ‘collide’ in reference to collision theory, and speaks of explosions of reactions to people similar to William Fairburn (1914) and Thomas Dreier (1948).
Bond reasons, for instance, that the plant workplace diversity surveys and educational courses are activities that provide additional ‘activation energy’ to fuel plantwide chemical reactions between people in company transformation. [1] On the application of catalyst theory, Bond defines this as something that allows a reaction to proceed more quickly or with less resistance, but reducing the activation energy needed to make things happen, and reasons that the actions of initial process inquiries and staff feedback are catalysts in that they act to shift organizational sensitivities. [1]
A term employed in team consultations is ‘force field analysis’, coined by Kurt Lewin, in which consultants analyzed the resources or driving forces that the team could draw on in their initial state to reach their vision or final state and the various barriers or restraining forces that could make it difficult.
Education
Bond completed her AB in psychology at Stanford (1974) and her MA in clinical psychology (1976) and PhD in clinical and community psychology (1983) at the University of Oregon. Bond currently is a psychology professor at University of Massachusetts Lowell.
References
1. Bond, Meg A. (2007). Workplace Chemistry: Promoting Diversity through Organizational Change (activation energy, pgs. 50, 74, 87; catalyst, pgs. 35, 46, 74; force field analysis, pgs. 127, etc.). UPNE.
External links
● Bond, Meg A. – WorldCat Identities.
● Meg A. Bond (faculty) – Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell.
