Swan(sea) Song – personal research during my six years at Swansea ... and bey...
Organizational Psychology
1. ORGANIZATIONS PSYCHOLOGY
HRM4053
ASSIGNMENT
T.SATHAKARAN.
EU/IS/2007/MS/51.
FACULTY OF COMMERCE AND MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT
EASTERN UNIVERSITY, SRILANKA
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2. 01) What do you understand about psychology?
Psychology has been defined in various ways, perhaps the simplest yet most accurate definition
is that provided by miller (1966), “the science of mental life” mental life refers to three
phenomena: behaviors, thoughts and emotions. Today, most psychologists would agree that
psychology involves all three.
Psychology is the study of the mind, occurring partly via the study of behavior. Grounded
in scientific method, psychology has the immediate goal of understanding individuals and
groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases, and for many it
ultimately aims to benefit society. In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is
called a psychologist, and can be classified as a social scientist, behavioral scientist,
or cognitive scientist. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in
individual and social behavior, while also exploring the
physiological and neurobiological processes that underlie certain cognitive functions and
behaviors.
Aristotle and Socrates - Psychology evolved out of both philosophy and biology.
The word psychology is derived from the Greek word psyche, meaning 'soul' or
'mind.'
The British Psychological Society - Psychology is the scientific study of people, the
mind and behaviour. It is both a thriving academic discipline and a vital professional
practice.
American Psychological Association - The scientific study of the behaviour of
individuals and their mental processes.
Wikipedia - Psychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific
study of mental processes and behaviour.
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3. William James (1842-1910) - An American psychologist, developed an approach
which came to be known as functionalism. This emphasis on the causes and
consequences of behaviour has influenced contemporary psychology.
Wundt- psychology is a science it attempts to investigate the causes of behaviour
using systematic and objective procedures for observation, measurement and analysis,
backed-up by theoretical interpretations, generalizations, explanations and predictions.
APA - Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour. The discipline embraces all
aspects of the human experience from the functions of the brain to the actions of
nations, from child development to care for the aged. In every conceivable setting
from scientific research centres to mental health care services, "the understanding of
behaviour" is the enterprise of psychologists.
Medilexicon's medical dictionary - psychology is "The profession (clinical
psychology), scholarly discipline (academic psychology), and science (research
psychology) concerned with the behaviour of humans and animals, and related mental
and physiologic processes."Although psychology may also include the study of the
mind and behaviour of animals, in this article psychology refers mainly to humans’
conformity, aggression and prejudice.
Psychology is the study of the mind, occurring partly via the study of behavior.
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4. 02 How you can differentiate organizational psychology from other part
of psychology?
General psychology vs. organizational psychology:
General Psychology is just that. It deals with psychology in general. It encompasses
the fundamentals of psychology itself.
Organizational psychology is commonly referred to as IO Psychology or Industrial-
Organizational Psychology. Industrial-Organizational Psychology deals with the
application of psychology concepts to organizations and workplace settings. In the
said settings, you will usually find IO practitioners in the human resources
department.
Industrial psychology vs. organizational psychology
There seems to be a trend, where both industrial psychology and organizational
psychology are used interchangeably nowadays. There is the field of industrial-
organizational psychology as well, which encompasses both.
Industrial psychologists have been concerned with individual factors in selection,
placement, job analysis and design, safety and training while Organizational
psychologists, on the other hand, have examined the role of interpersonal relations,
and individual differences especially in modifying and changing organizations,
examining decision making, group dynamics, leadership, organizational development
and change.
Plain psychology vs. Organizational psychology –
Psychology is the discipline of studying mental processes and human behaviour.
Organizational psychology is a subfield of industrial and organizational psychology,
also known as I/O for short. Organizational psychology deals with the impact of work
environment and management styles on the workers' motivation, job satisfaction, and
productivity.
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5. Cognitive Psychology vs. Organizational Psychology
Cognitive Psychology is the study of human thought processes and cognitions. Cognitive
psychologists study topics such as attention, memory, perception, decision-making, problem-
solving and language acquisition.
Organizational psychology is commonly referred to as IO Psychology or Industrial-
Organizational Psychology. Industrial-Organizational Psychology deals with the application of
psychology concepts to organizations and workplace settings. In the said settings, you will
usually find IO practitioners in the human resources department.
Development psychology vs. Organizational Psychology.
Developmental Psychology is the branch of psychology that looks at human growth and
development over the lifespan. Theories often focus on the development of cognitive abilities,
morality, social functioning, identity and other life areas.
Organizational Psychology is the science of human behaviour at work. Industrial-
Organizational Psychology is the area of psychology that uses psychological research to
enhance work performance, select employee, improve product design and enhance usability.
Development psychology Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Developmental Psychology is the branch of
psychology that looks at human growth and is the area of psychology that uses
development over the lifespan. psychological research to enhance following:
Theories often focus on the development of Work performance
following: Select employee
Cognitive abilities Improve product design
Morality Enhance usability.
Social functioning
Identity and other life areas.
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6. 02) Why do you want to study organizational psychology?
Organizational psychology is important as it helps me in understanding myself
better in the work, it helps me to perceive things positively and it assists me in
determining the things that I enjoy doing the most and the kind of stuff I like to
write about. It also contribute a lot of great help in the way I handle things in
work, the way I face challenges and problems that occurs at an unexpected time
and of course the way I make decisions in my work.
Organizational psychology is important as it is concerned with the study of
behavior and mental processes at work and at the same time, it is also applied to
many different things in work. Everything we perform is very much related to or
with organizational psychology.
Why we must study the organizational psychology because of the following reasons.
Increase profitability of the organization
Recruit and select suitable employees
Identify and development leaders
Improve operational efficiency
Train and develop their workforces
Improve employee morale to achieve the organizational goals
Organizational psychology is important as it is concerned with the study of
behaviour and mental processes at work and at the same time, it is also applied to
many different things in work. Everything we perform is very much related to or
with organizational psychology.
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