Psychology Industry

Industrial Psychology

What is Psychology?

“Psychology is the science of behavior and mental Processes”.

- the sum or characteristics of the mental states and processes of a person or class of persons, - or of the mental states and processes involved in a field of activity: 

the psychology of a soldier; the psychology of politics.

What is Industry?The aggregate of manufacturing or technicall

y productive enterprises in a particular field, often named after its principal product: the automobile industry; the steel industry.

Commercial production and sale of goods.A specific branch of manufacture and

trade: the textile industry. The sector of an economy made up of

manufacturing enterprises

Industry

1. (Economics) organized economic activity concerned with manufacture, extraction and processing of raw materials, or construction

2. (Business / Commerce) a branch of commercial enterprise concerned with the output of a specified product or service

What is Industrial Psychology?“Industrial psychology is simply the

application or extension of psychological facts and principles to the problems concerning human beings operating within the context of business and industry.”

-M.L. BLUM

-J.C. NAYLOR

What is I/O psychology?Textbook definition:

“Application of psychological principles and theories to the workplace”

In most people:“Study of how people get along at work and

are able to perform effectively”

Psychology is the science of human behaviorI/O psychology is the science of human behavior

at workDual focus (attention)Efficiency/productivity of organizationsHealth/well-being of employeesDual natureApplication of the science of psychology to the

workplaceDevelopment/discovery of scientific psychological

principles at work

WHAT IS I/O PSYCHOLOGY?

Who are I/O psychologists?Two general groups

Practitioners HR and organizational specialists in

consulting, private, and public organizations Major activities

Job analysis, diagnosis, surveying employees, designing and administering selection & performance appraisal systems, training, developing psychological tests, implementing and evaluating OD & change, data analysis

“Other” category Research institutes, think tanks (e.g., RAND)

SPECIFIC AREAS OF CONCERNRecruiting and selecting employees for jobsTraining employeesAssessing performanceDefining and analyzing jobsDetermining people feel about workDetermining why people act as they do at workEffects work has on peopleEffects people have on one anotherHow organizations are structured and functionDesigning workDesigning tools and equipmentEmployee Health and Safety

The Industrial PsychologistIndustrial psychologists work for businesses, helping to improve the working conditions

and productivity of employees. They help companies hire, train, and manage

employees. They also advise companies on ways of

getting consumers interested in products and services.

History of I/OBegan early 1900’ s World War I first mass testingBetween wars psychology helping business: I sideHawthorne studies impact of social aspects: O

side Western Electric’s  Hawthorne plant, near Chicago

World War II: Psychology and the war effortCivil rights movement: Job relevanceTechnological change

(Walter Dill Scott)

Leading Historical FiguresHugo Münsterberg: Psychology and Industrial

EfficiencyWalter Dill Scott: The Theory of AdvertisingFrederick Winslow Taylor: Scientific

ManagementRobert Yerkes: Army Alpha and Beta testsLillian Gilbreth: Time and motion; Human factorsBruce V. Moore: First I/O PhD?Roethlisberger & Dickson: Hawthorne Studies

Walter Dill Scott:

Prospects for I/O FieldRapidly growing

New areas/topicsAttracting more graduate studentsMore graduate programsMore psychologists in the world

Job market strong: Academic and appliedArea of psychology making an impact on the

worldRelevant to anyone who works

Interdisciplinary connectionsBusiness, engineering, health fields, other areas of

psychology

Aims and Objectives of Industrial Psychology.To improve the situation on the job.To affect high morale and enthusiasm (interest)

at work.To restore the mental health of upset and

confused individuals.To remove risks to health's or threats to safety.To increase efficiency of people at work.To increase productivity and hence the profits.

Scope of Industrial Psychology(by McCollom 1959)

Personnel selection:-Selection and assessment of employees

and executives.Personnel development:

-Performance appraisal,-Attitude measurement,-Management development-Employee counseling

Human engineering :

-Equipment and product designProductivity study:

-Worker’s fatigue (tiredness), lightingManagement:

-Activities involving administrative skillsOther:

Major Problems of Industrial Psychology