BDO 121

BDO 121
Study Unit 1
Fields of Study / Practice areas in Psychology
and I-O Psychology
Chapter One
Introduction . . .
 Industrial and Organisational (I-O) Psychology is an applied field
of Psychology, they share a history
 Psychology originated in the 5th century BC in ancient Greece
 Structure and Functioning of the Psyche
 Psyche – refers to mind or soul
 Debate  the relation between body and mind, do they influence

each other?
 17th Century  new developments paved the way for psych as an

experimental science
Sub-fields of Psychology . . .
 CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
 Relief of psychological and
emotional distress caused by
psychological disorders and to
promote psychological well-being
 Abnormal behaviour such as
anorexia, developing coping skills
 COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY
 Manage life pain, facilitate an
improved understanding of life,
coping skills
 Depression, making good life
decisions
Sub-fields in psychology . . .
 EDUCATIONAL AND SCHOOL
PSYCHOLOGY
 Study factors, behaviour, processes,
learning problems related to
teaching and learning
 Dyslexia, teaching assessments
 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
 Uses psychological knowledge to
identify causes and symptoms of
physical health and illness
 Stress, unhealthy lifestyle
 CAREER PSYCHOLOGY
 Facilitate career development
across the life-span
 Placing workers in jobs matching
ability, values, personality
 FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
 Study criminal behaviour and
provide evidence legal
procedures
 Defendant’s state of mind at time
of offence
 NEUROLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
 Study relationship between human
behaviour and neurological and
physiological systems
 Brain trauma
 COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY
 Use psychological knowledge to
improve quality of life of
individuals, community and society
 Develop interventions in
collaboration with community to
manage & prevent HIV/Aids
 CONSULTING PSYCHOLOGY
 Professional involvement of
psychologists with individuals,
groups and organizations
 Assessment, Training and
Development, Organisational
Change
 POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
 Improvement of optimal human
functioning
 What makes normal functioning
more fulfilling e.g. happiness,
 INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY
 Utilises principles of psychology to study and influence
human behaviour in the work context
 Assess and develop individuals and groups in workplace
Nature and identity of IO Psychology . .
.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGY AND IO PSYCHOLOGY:
 Psychology focuses on the  IO Psychology focuses on

Individual Individuals and Groups
operating in the Work
Environment
 eg. Trauma, Depression,  eg. Team Dynamics, Culture,

Personal Health Organisational Development
Nature and identity of IO
Psychology . . .
 IO Psychology has its
own theory, research,
applications & academic
training programs . . .
 Advanced knowledge &

application of
psychology in work
situation differentiates
IO psychologists from
other professionals
Sub-Fields of I-O Psychology . . .
 ORGANISATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
 Work organisations as systems
 Structure and dynamics of the organisation
 Organisational theory and models, leadership, decision-making,

organisational culture and transformation
 I-O Psychologists specialising in

organisational psychology are
employed in business, government,
private practice
 Activities include career

management, performance
 PERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY
 Focus on the individual and

individual differences
 Assessment & appraisal of
personnel
 Selection, placement, promotion
 Training & Development
 Work attitudes & motivation
 Reward systems
 Effective utilization of HR
 Job analysis
 HR Managers / Consultants
 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 Finding, exploring or verifying psychological

knowledge using
various methods of scientific engagement
 Fundamental to all psych fields
 Test development
 WORK-RELATED PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT –
PSYCHOMETRICS
 Development and use of assessment instruments to measure

individual differences with regard to:
 Selection
 Training
 Motivation of employee
 Support discipline for

personnel, career,
counselling and
research psychology
 CAREER PSYCHOLOGY
 Studying issues of career
development
 Individual’s nature of
employment & unemployment
 Career-related issues in
organisations
 Non-work factors (personal

problems)
 Career guidance, career planning,

career development
 EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
 Development and maintenance of
good relations between employers
and employees through
 Negotiation
 Conflict management
 Strike negotiations, disciplinary

proceedings
 Sound knowledge of Labour Law

and Trade Unions
 EMPLOYEE AND
ORGANIZATIONAL WELL-BEING
 Development of health and well-
being policies in the organisation
 Development of abilities to
handle stress and related health
aspects
 Purpose: Psychological well-

being of employee
 Evaluate health and adjustment

but also maladjustment and
impaired work performance
 ERGONOMICS
 Study human performance in the

socio-technical environment
 Interaction between physical and

human factors in the
development of the workplace
 Development of equipment,
workplace and work itself
 Design workplaces that enhance

optimum performance and
prevent injuries and discomfort
 CONSUMER PSYCHOLOGY
 Study psychological aspects of

consumers like purchasing behavior of
customers
 Development of marketing and

advertising strategies
 What will make you buy a product?

needs, values etc that contribute to
making a decision.
History and background factors of
I-O Psychology . . .
 TAYLORISM
 Man is a rational, economic being:
 Man is inherently lazy, ineffective
and unreliable
 Only motivation is financial
 Training according to standards
 Analysed work processes, best work
methods
 Critique:
 Doesn’t consider individual differences
and the need for growth; employees
became too specialized
 Exploitation, misuse of employees
History and background factors of
I-O Psychology . . .
 Development of I-O Psychology is closely
related to Psychology and the different
schools of thought (Chapter 2)
 Early developments in IO Psychology include

the intelligence tests for instance, the Binet-
Simon test
 Founding fathers of IO psych:

 Walter Dill Scott – advertising & selection
techniques
 Hugo Munsterberg - considered total

employee & all possible influences
 Frederick W Taylor – influence on work

methods & utilization of employees
Professional training & practice
issues . . .
 Professional Board of Psychology (PBP): Overarching
regulating body
 Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA):

Practice requirements, professional & ethical conduct
 South African Board of Personnel Practice (SABPP):

Training and Practice of HR practitioners
 Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology in

South Africa (SIOPSA): Interest group
Chapter One, Complete!!
Activities:
• Complete the Case Study on Page 18
• Make a list of the different types of Psychologists

and IOPs . . . Know the difference between the 2
• Give an in depth description of 3 types of IOP

specialists

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 Psychology originated in the 5th century BC in ancient Greece

 Structure and Functioning of the Psyche

 Psyche – refers to mind or soul

 Debate  the relation between body and mind, do they influence

 17th Century  new developments paved the way for psych as an

 Psychology focuses on the  IO Psychology focuses on

 eg. Trauma, Depression,  eg. Team Dynamics, Culture,

 Advanced knowledge &

 Work organisations as systems

 Structure and dynamics of the organisation

 Organisational theory and models, leadership, decision-making,

 I-O Psychologists specialising in

 Activities include career

 Focus on the individual and

 Finding, exploring or verifying psychological

 Fundamental to all psych fields

 Development and use of assessment instruments to measure

 Support discipline for

 Non-work factors (personal

 Career guidance, career planning,

 Strike negotiations, disciplinary

 Sound knowledge of Labour Law

 Purpose: Psychological well-

 Evaluate health and adjustment

 Study human performance in the

 Interaction between physical and

 Design workplaces that enhance

 Study psychological aspects of

 Development of marketing and

 What will make you buy a product?

 Training according to standards

 Analysed work processes, best work

 Early developments in IO Psychology include

 Founding fathers of IO psych:

 Hugo Munsterberg - considered total

 Frederick W Taylor – influence on work

 Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA):

 South African Board of Personnel Practice (SABPP):

 Society for Industrial and Organisational Psychology in

• Make a list of the different types of Psychologists

• Give an in depth description of 3 types of IOP

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