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Fundamental Concepts of Industrial and Organizational Psychology

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Fundamental Concepts of Industrial and Organizational Psychology The “American Psychological Association” (2012) website explains industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology as a general practice specialty of professional psychology that focuses on scientifically based solutions toward human difficulties in work and other organizational settings. I/O psychology provides solutions by way of development and application of scientific principles to the workplace (Spector, 2008). This discipline contains a facet that focuses on research as well as an application facet. Some in I/O psychology invest much of their time conducting and cataloguing research regarding people at work, while others focus on the application of the concepts generated from such research. A general overview with an emphasis on the evolution, the contrast toward other disciplines, the use of, and the role of research can provide a clear understanding of industrial and organizational psychology. Amidst the full swing of the industrial revolution, factory managers were faced with the challenge of maximizing resources. Challenges like this created a need for workplace psychology and I/O psychology quickly filled that need. The beginning stages of this discipline solely placed emphasis on the industrial component of the workplace and viewed the employees as expendable (Spector, 2008). At this stage industrial psychology sought solutions toward creating the greatest return for the least amount of effort. The mid-1900s witnessed the introduction of organizational element to I/O psychology, which centers on the human relations side of the workplace (Spector, 2008). The organizational element examines the behaviors and well-being of employees to create a more productive and efficient workforce. This organizational element, combined with the industrial element shaped the field into

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