The Importance of Industrial - Organizational Psychology

Emily Neff

The Importance of Industrial/Organizational Psychology

to Corporate America

October 28, 2013

McKendree University

In 2012, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) deemed the fields mission, values, and purpose were to increase peoples' well-being and performance. This was all credited by enhancing and promoting industrial and organizational practice, classroom and hands on teaching, and the science behind it. (Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2012). In theory, the goal was meant to help people, businesses, organizations, and society with a better work environment and peace of mind. Likewise, Steven Rogelburg, the current professor and director of I/O psychology at UNC, made it clear that this fields goals were to increase understanding, effectiveness, and enhance mental and physical health and well-being in both the organization and the individuals working there.

The foundation of psychology had many contributors over the years. William Wundt was coined the founder, although other great names such as ErnstWeber, Fechner, and von Helmholtz also paved the way. Wundt separated this science and gave it a start. His theory of combing philosophy with biology opened up a new and interesting view of the world (Cherry, 2013). However, after meeting Wundt in his first psychology lab, Hugo Munsterberg of Germany was inspired to cultivate industrial-organizational psychology. After many years of lecturing about psychology under Wundt's influence, Munsterberg wrote “Psychology in the Market” in 1909. His paper suggested that psychology could have a first hand in motivation, performance, skills, education, and success in various areas of application to the work industry. His release of Psychology and Industrial Efficiency in 1913 mentioned that certain personalities, mental and physical capabilities, and motivation lead individuals to work in a profession that was best suited for them and the organization (2013).

Although industrial-organizational psychology is considered an applied area of science, there is an experimental aspect that includes interaction between individuals and the organization. With the individual and experimental interaction, industrial-organizational psychology further broken down into six

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