The Science of Psychology: Understanding Applied Psychology and Industrial Psychology, Lecture notes of Psychology

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INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

PYH 581

Unit 1

The word psychology is derived from two Greek words-

Psyche +Logos, which means Soul + study of

Hence, initially it was defined as the study of soul

Then it was defined as the study of mind

In the middle of 19th^ century, with the establishment of the first Scientific (experimental) laboratory by Wilhelhm Wundt in 1879 at Leipzig, Germany, Psychology was defined as the Scientific study of ‘conscious experiences’. Since, then it is treated as a scientific subject which takes into account the laws and principles to understand its content

PSYCHOLOGY

Its Meaning…

           Psychology is regarded as science because just as science is a systematic and controlled study of any phenomenon, so is psychology a very systematic and controlled study of behavior. It has all the characteristics of science, as follows- Objective systematic controlled Factual, logical definiteness replicable generalization verifiability validity universality

Psychology as Science

When we use the psychological laws and principles in the other areas of behavioural study, we call it applied psychology. WHAT IS APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY? Applied Psychology is the "professional application of psychological knowledge to the solution of problems associated with human behaviour" (Graham Davey in Applied Psychology). Just as Psychology is the scientific study of human behaviour, Applied Psychology is the professional application of psychological knowledge to the solution of problems associated with human behaviour.

Meaning and Areas of Applied Psychology

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Psychology can be divided into two broad areas- Pure or general psychology- It is concerned with the laws and principles in the study of its basic subject matter like- Learning, motivation, memory, perception, physiology, development etc Applied Psychology- is concerned with the application of these laws and principles in other areas of behavioral study like- industrial psychology, clinical psychology, consumer psychology, geo psychology, environmental psychology, sports psychology, community psychology, health psychology, neuro- psychology, legal psychology, criminal psychology, forensic psychology etc.

Areas of Psychology…

Educational Psychology: psychology as applied to educational practice and related research Clinical Psychology: the branch of psychology responsible for understanding and treating mental health problems. Counselling Psychology: the application of psychological knowledge generally to therapeutic practice Industrial Psychology: is concerned with the study of behaviour at any work place Engineering/Occupational Psychology: the professional application of psychological knowledge to organisations to make them better places in which to work. Forensic Psychology: the application of psychological knowledge within the criminal justice system. Consumer Psychology: the study of human responses to product and service-related information and experiences. Health Psychology: the professional application of psychological knowledge to the solution of problems associated with human health behaviour.

Areas of Applied Psychology

Applied Psychology has been most closely

identified with the application of psychology in

business and industry.

The ‘Journal of Applied Psychology’, established

in 1917, was largely concerned with industrial

Psychology. In 1920’s, textbooks and courses

entitled ‘Applied Psychology’ began to appear.

They covered problems of personnel selection,

efficiency of work and advertising.

INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Industrial psychology may have gotten its start on December 20, 1901 by Dr. Walter Dill Scott. But the honor of being the first industrial psychologist has been awarded to Hugo Munsterberg.

It is exceedingly difficulty to apply a date to the founding of any discipline. Hugo Munsterberg, a Harvard Professor, in his book entitled, ‘Psychology and Industrial Efficiency’ 1913, included personnel selection and efficiency of work as two areas of study. He outlined the possible use of Psychology in business and industry.

Another pioneer in applied Psychology was ‘Walter Dill Scott’. He did a lot of research on personnel selection. In 1908, he wrote a book ‘Psychology of Adverting’. In 1919, he founded ‘The Scott Company’, a consulting

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

During World War 1 (1914-18)psychologists were

quite active in the war effort, developing group

tests for army recruits and aiding in the

development of procedures for the selection 0f

officer personal.

During the post-World War 1 years industry first

began to show an interest in the discipline of

industrial psychology.

Without much question World War 2 (1939-45)was

a major factor in the growth of psychology in

industry.

Although the American Association for Applied

Psychology was formed in 1937 as the official

organization of industrial psychology (it later

became Division 14 of the APA).

History Cont….

Notable development in applied psychology since World War 2 was the establishment of other separate division of the APA devoted to various aspects of the field:

The division of Military Psychology (Division 19). The Society of Engineering Psychologists, a division of APA (Division 21). The Division of Consumer Behaviour (Division 23). While the percentage of joint membership in these divisions and division 14 is high.

 A second change concerned a new interest in the

application of cognitive psychology to industry.

For example, articles written about performance

appraisal in the 1970s primarily described and

tested new methods for evaluating employee

performance.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, however, many

articles approached the performance appraisal

issue by examining the thought process used by

managers when they conduct such appraisals.

interest in developing methods to select

employees.

 (^) The third change was the increased interest in the effects of work on family life and leisure activities (McCarthy, 1998). Though stress had long been of interest to Hawthorne studies A series of studies, conducted at the Western Electric plant in Hawthorne, Illinois, that have come to represent any change in behavior when people react to a change in the environment. Hawthorne effect When employees change their behavior due solely to the fact that they are receiving attention or are being observed. It was during the last two decades of the twentieth century that employee stress—especially stress resulting in workplace violence—received attention. The final major change in the 1980s and 1990s came about when I/O psychologists took a renewed interest in developing methods to select employees.

According to American Psychological Association (API)- The specialty of industrial-organizational psychology (also called I/O psychology) is characterized by the scientific study of human behavior in organizations and the work place. The specialty focuses on deriving principles of individual, group and organizational behavior and applying this knowledge to the solution of problems at work.

According to Blum and Naylor ‘Industrial psychology is simply the application or extension of psychology facts and principles to the problem concerning human beings operating within the context of business and industry’,

INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

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Specialized knowledge and training in the science of behavior in the workplace requires- in-depth knowledge of organizational development, attitudes, career development, decision theory, human performance and human factors, consumer behavior, small group theory and process, criterion theory and development, job and task analysis and individual assessment. In addition,the specialty of industrial-organizational psychology requires knowledge of ethical considerations as well as statutory, administrative, and case laws and executive orders as related to activities in the workplace

Specialized Knowledge