The Importance Of Industrial And Organizational Psychology

Industrial and Organizational Psychology is the scientific study of human behavior in the work place. In order to understand human behavior they must first understand human development. This paper will discuss the job duties of an Industrial and Organizational Psychologist and how having an understanding of life span development can make them better equipped to perform the research required of them. This paper will also discuss Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory and how it relates to the position of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

I/O Psychology Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychologist apply concepts, research studies and analysis to workforce performance and retention. (Sternberg, 2010)

With the many opportunities I/O psychologist have to impact the lives of others they need to have a deep understanding of human development in order to understand human behavior. Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory provides an explanation of why certain people react the way they do in particular situations. Understanding how Erikson’s theory applies to human development will also assist I/O psychologist to improve the selection process as well as improve the effectiveness of training and development

According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory how a person feels about themselves is what their personality portrays. Someone who has already developed a sense of being inferior or inadequate is not very likely to perform well in a leadership or management role. Same goes for Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory, someone who lived in an underdeveloped community or attended a poor school system is not very likely to be concerned with the goals or the well-being of the company. The reasoning behind this is that they are more likely to hold little value regarding the needs of others and focus more on their own immediate needs. This is not to say either of the people in these examples would make poor employees but it provides I/O psychologist with more information to use in determining if an employee is ready for a leadership role or if a potential employee is the right fit for a particular