Introduction: Critical Pedagogies of Discomfort in Practice and Professional Education Fin Cullen, Mike Seal and Michael Whelan

The introduction to Critical Pedagogies of Discomfort in Practice and Professional Education lays the conceptual and thematic groundwork for the volume, exploring the origins, critiques, and evolving applications of pedagogies of discomfort in educational and professional contexts. Drawing on foundational work by Megan Boler and others, the editors situate discomfort as a vital pedagogical tool for interrogating ideological attachments, fostering critical inquiry, and promoting social justice. The introduction reflects on the editors’ motivations, professional experiences, and the ethical complexities of working with discomfort in higher education. It outlines the book’s structure, which is organized into three parts: the nature and extent of discomfort in education, discomfort as a pedagogy for exploring social justice issues, and working with discomfort in practice. The editors also address critiques of pedagogies of discomfort, including concerns about emotional harm, ethical boundaries, and institutional constraints. They advocate for discomfort as a transformative force when approached with care, reflexivity, and a commitment to equity. The introduction concludes by acknowledging the structural challenges in academia that shape who gets to contribute to such work, and by offering alternative ways to read the volume based on life course or thematic focus.