The Psychology of . . . Workplace The Psychology of . . . Workplace Technology Technology

a critical perspective of a critical perspective of some technologysome technology

Craig A. Jackson Prof. of Occupational Health Psychology

Head of PsychologyBirmingham City University

CommutingCommuting

CommutingCommuting

““Cattle Truck Syndrome”Cattle Truck Syndrome”

Chronic health problems exacerbated Chronic health problems exacerbated by train travel?by train travel?

Cumulative impact theoryCumulative impact theory

Increased B.P, Anxiety, Chronic Heart ConditionsIncreased B.P, Anxiety, Chronic Heart Conditions

Over-crowded trains / busesOver-crowded trains / busesStraining public transport systemStraining public transport systemLack of controlLack of control

““People develop a constant internal People develop a constant internal anger on crowded trains that they anger on crowded trains that they

cannot easily displace…an cannot easily displace…an individual's immune system could individual's immune system could

also be suppressed by stress, also be suppressed by stress, making passengers more making passengers more susceptible to illnesses”susceptible to illnesses”

The World of WorkThe World of Work

Sick Building Syndrome – A once popular theorySick Building Syndrome – A once popular theory

Air qualityAir quality NoiseNoiseChemical pollutantsChemical pollutants EquipmentEquipmentAir conAir con TelephonesTelephonesVentilation Ventilation OthersOthersDustDustTobaccoTobacco LightingLighting

ArtificialArtificialSpaceSpace GlareGlareCrowdingCrowding ControlControlIsolationIsolation

Job contentJob contentEquipmentEquipment vdu’svdu’sPrintersPrinters MonotonyMonotonyPC’sPC’s OverloadOverload

OrganisationOrganisationControl, communication, feedbackControl, communication, feedback Is STRESS the common link with SBS?Is STRESS the common link with SBS?

Computer KeyboardsComputer Keyboards

TendonitisTendonitis

Repetitive Strain InjuryRepetitive Strain Injury

Low Back PainLow Back Pain

Carpal Tunnel SyndromeCarpal Tunnel Syndrome

Cumulative Trauma DisordersCumulative Trauma Disorders

Chronic Fatigue Chronic Fatigue

FibromyalgiaFibromyalgia

Irritable Bowel SyndromeIrritable Bowel Syndrome

2121stst Century Satanic Mills Century Satanic Mills

Some problems never leaveSome problems never leave

Conditions are the same todayConditions are the same today

Views and values have changed Views and values have changed enormouslyenormously

Creating problems and solutions is Creating problems and solutions is an industryan industry

Kerching!!!!Kerching!!!!

HomeworkingHomeworking

Is this a reality?

More of us working from home

More of us working on-the-road

“Work-Life Balance”

“Life-Work Balance”

Remote / Isolated WorkingRemote / Isolated Working

‘‘any situation or location in which someone works without a colleagueany situation or location in which someone works without a colleaguenearby; or when someone is working out of sight or earshot of anothernearby; or when someone is working out of sight or earshot of anothercolleague’colleague’

Field operativesField operatives Sales Sales DriversDrivers

Lack of immediate assistance available to Lack of immediate assistance available to the worker;the worker;illnessillness accidents accidents personal safety personal safety

Social workersSocial workers JanitorsJanitorsDistrict nursesDistrict nurses DriversDriversFilling stationsFilling stations ShopsShopsHome workersHome workers SecuritySecurityReceptionistsReceptionists TeachersTeachersCleanersCleaners EngineersEngineers

CommunicationCommunication

A good sign or a bad sign?A good sign or a bad sign?

Personality typePersonality type

Optimism vs PessimismOptimism vs Pessimism

Negative AffectivityNegative Affectivity

HardinessHardiness

Hey. On way home. Left lecture early cos feel like crap. Next time!

Hi Claire. Are you around and do you fancy a brew?

Vocal HygieneVocal Hygiene

Golden Age of CommunicationGolden Age of Communication

Most jobs have increased vocal useMost jobs have increased vocal use

Vocal load “unaware”Vocal load “unaware”

Equipment modifications requiredEquipment modifications required

Exacerbated by stress, alcohol, exposureExacerbated by stress, alcohol, exposure

““Revenge Effect”Revenge Effect”

Death of the BookDeath of the Book

Anti-Social Networking SitesAnti-Social Networking Sites

No longer “safe” at your own workstationsNo longer “safe” at your own workstations

Luke WilliamsI think they do spoil relationships & cause alot of arguments at work. My g/f has facebook (i do 2) and she seems 2 add more bois thn gals n the otha day i was lookin at hers at work, n thers a new boi on ther n it sez thy hooked up n she sed she dnt kno who it is, i dnt kno wot 2 think? We also argue bare bout it...so i think it does cause problems.

PrivacyPrivacy

Length of data on webLength of data on web

Details Details

Google mapsGoogle maps

News storiesNews stories

DefamationDefamation

JealousyJealousy

JealousyJealousy

Cyber StalkingCyber Stalking

Personal detailsPersonal details

MapsMaps

Accessible dataAccessible data

PicturesPictures

““Googling” peopleGoogling” people

Obesity & Techno-DeclineObesity & Techno-Decline

TechnobesityTechnobesity

Different problems but similar anthropometric outcomesDifferent problems but similar anthropometric outcomes

Poor-fitting PPEPoor-fitting PPE

Ergonomic problemsErgonomic problems

Equipment modifications requiredEquipment modifications required

Exposure abnormalities e.g. welding plumeExposure abnormalities e.g. welding plume

Depression / Ennui / DespairDepression / Ennui / Despair

GamblingGambling

““Bingo for the girls . . . Poker for the boys”Bingo for the girls . . . Poker for the boys”

CasinosCasinos

BettingBetting

EmploymentEmployment

Off-shoreOff-shore

GamesGames

Polarized opinion since early 1980sPolarized opinion since early 1980s

BenefitsBenefits

DetrimentsDetriments

MMORPGsMMORPGs

World of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft1.5 Billion subscribers1.5 Billion subscribers

ResearchResearch

Models for human behaviour Models for human behaviour e.g. e.g. disease spreaddisease spread

commercecommerce

crimecrime

cohesioncohesion

CCTVCCTV

Erosion of civil libertiesErosion of civil liberties

Reduced privacyReduced privacy

Nothing to hide . . . Nothing to fearNothing to hide . . . Nothing to fear

Feel safer?Feel safer?

Reliability - - Ian Tomlinson / Dianna / De MenezesReliability - - Ian Tomlinson / Dianna / De Menezes

SexualitySexuality

Sexual offencesSexual offences

Pornography accessPornography access

Offending SpaceOffending Space

RelationshipsRelationships

AvatarsAvatars

FantasyFantasy

OffendingOffending

FraudFraud

Violent pornographyViolent pornography

Fantasy sharingFantasy sharing

PaedophiliaPaedophilia

VirusVirus

HackingHacking

SnoopingSnooping

IdentityIdentity

FraudFraud

Violent pornographyViolent pornography

Fantasy sharingFantasy sharing

PaedophiliaPaedophilia

VirusVirus

HackingHacking

SnoopingSnooping

Further ReadingFurther Reading

Coupland D. Coupland D. Microserfs. Microserfs. Flamingo, New York 1996.Flamingo, New York 1996.

Coupland D. J-pod. Bloomsbury, New York 2007.Coupland D. J-pod. Bloomsbury, New York 2007.

Feynman RPFeynman RP What do you care what other people think? What do you care what other people think?. Harper Collins, . Harper Collins, London 1993.London 1993.

Lewin R. Lewin R. ComplexityComplexity. Phoenix, London 1997.. Phoenix, London 1997.

Orkin M. Orkin M. Can you win?Can you win? Freeman, New York 1991. Freeman, New York 1991.

Spuford F, Uglow J. Cultural Babbage: Technology, Time and Invention. Faber Spuford F, Uglow J. Cultural Babbage: Technology, Time and Invention. Faber and Faber, London 1997.and Faber, London 1997.

Tenner E. Tenner E. Why things bite back.Why things bite back. Fourth Estate, London 1996. Fourth Estate, London 1996.