Public defence: Marius Øien

Marius Øien will defend his PhD degree in humanities, cultural and educational sciences. His dissertation is a study of cultural clashes between Nav employees and clients – how group membership shapes the way you think.

13 Jun

Practical information

  • Date: 13 June 2025
  • Time: 10.00 - 15.00
  • Location: Porsgrunn, A2-71 and Zoom
  • Download calendar file

    • Link to digital participation (Zoom)

    Programme

    10.00 - 10.45 Trial lecture: “Cultural psychology and the study of the welfare state: limitations and future prospects”

    12.00 Public defence: A cultural psychology study of Nav’s role-related challenges

    Assessment committee

    • First opponent: Professor Kerstin Jacobsson, Gøteborgs Universitet
    • Second opponent: Associate professor Mads Solberg, NTNU
    • Administrator: Associate professor Steffen Fagernes Johannessen, Univeristy of South-Eastern Norway

    Supervisor

    • Instituttleder for helse-, sosial- og velferdsfag, Hans A. Hauge, Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge.

    The public defence will be hosted by Head of Department Jørn Varhaug.

Any questions?

Marius Øien is defending his dissertation for the degree philosophiae doctor (PhD) at the University of South-Eastern Norway.portrett marius øien 

The doctoral work has been carried out at the Faculty of Humanities, Sports, and Educational Science.

You are invited to follow the trial lecture and the public defence.

Summary

This dissertation sheds light on cultural clash within the Norwegian welfare system. The study explores how identity and role expectations affect the relationship between Nav clients and caseworkers.

Øien’s research reveals that many clients experience a disconnect between how they see themselves (internal identity) and how they are perceived by the system (external identity). Caseworkers, in turn, face pressures from institutional rules and expectations that can shape how they interpret and respond to clients, which again tend to differ from how the clients view themselves. These dynamics often lead to frustration, mistrust, and miscommunication on both sides.

Through qualitative interviews and field observations, the dissertation uncovers how these identity tensions are reinforced by institutional roles. The result is what Øien calls a sociocultural clash – a mismatch between the lived realities of clients and the structural realities of the welfare system.

“This study reveals that even minor discrepancies in role and group realities can lead to significant differences in interaction outcomes,” says Øien.

“It is crucial for Nav to recognize these dynamics when implementing policies.”

The dissertation offers practical insights for public services and highlights the importance of role awareness, reflexivity, and institutional responsiveness. While focused on Nav, the findings have broader relevance for relevant institutions.