Industrial Psychology

COURSE MATERIALS        
Upon enrolment, you will receive all of the materials that are essential to complete the course. Course materials vary depending upon the subject and the study mode, but they may include subject guides, printed notes, textbooks, videos and practical equipment. .  In certain circumstances you may be required to do extra research – in which case your tutor is able to advise you where necessary.

COURSE AIM
To develop an understanding of how the psychological state of employees in the workplace, affects both their work, and their overall well being.

CONTENT
There are ten lessons in this course, as follows:

1. Introduction

Free Will versus Determinism, Developmental and Interactive Expressions of Behaviour, NATURE versus NURTURE, Influence of Environment on Learning Behaviour, Modelling and Conformity, Conditioning involves Certain Environmental Factors which Encourage Learning to Take Place, Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Reinforcement & Punishment

 2. Understanding the Employees Thinking

Sensation and perception, thinking and day dreaming, the Gestalt approach, unconscious and conscious psychic elements. explaining behaviour, knowledge of brain processes, personal interpretation of a given situation, instinct. Terminology including: Mating, Curiosity, Maternal, Acquiring, Repulsion, Constructiveness, Rivalry, Laughter, Fighting, Walking, Swallowing, Play, Imitation, Sleep, Modesty, Domineering, Religion, Self Asserting, Sneezing, Thirst, Cleanliness, Workmanship, Parenting, Food seeking, Flight, Collecting, Sympathy.

Mature & immature temperaments (eg. Sanguine, Melancholic, Choleric, Phlegmatic), emotional types, fear, intelligence, knowledge, deviation, etc

4. Psychological Testing

The Application Form; Psychological Test; The Interview; Intelligence Tests; Laws of Learning; Devising Tests; Selecting Appropriate Tests.

 

5. Management & Managers

Qualities of Managers, Understanding morale, discipline, training, etc

6. The Work Environment

Noise, Space, Light, Temperature, Speed of Work, etc. Accidents, Breakages, Fatigue etc.

7. Motivation and Incentives

Maslows model of self actualisation, Security, Money, Ambition, Companionship, Social reinforcement, Labour wastage, etc

8. Recruitment

Ways of seeking applicants, types of interview, ways of selecting staff.

9. Social Considerations

Group Behaviour, Conformity, Industrial Groups, THE HAWTHORNE EFFECT

10. Abnormalities and Disorders

Psychosis Neurosis Personality Disorders, Variance, Partial Disability (eg. arm.leg injuries; epilepsy, digestive disorders etc), The Psycho Neurotic

 

EXAMPLE OF A SET TASK

Discuss the following questions with one or two friends, and make notes of the answers you consider.

1. Discuss the environmental circumstances that you feel have affected your life.
   
2. In your opinion, to what extent are mental characteristics inherited?
   
3. 'In certain conditions, a committee may pass a resolution for which no member of the committee will hold themself responsible'. What is your interpretation of the meaning of the previous statement.
   
4. "The environment can give or withhold the requisite stimuli for the development of mental abilities". Discuss this statement.

Interview at least four people. Two of these should have a management role in a business or similar organisation. Two should be involved in a non-managerial position. Ask each of them such questions as:

• The role of morale and discipline in their workplace.
  
• Do they feel that they have good morale and discipline in their workplaces? Why do they think this?
  
• Who do they feel should be responsible for ensuring suitable levels of morale and discipline in their workplace (e.g. management, workplace groups, all employees, etc.)?
  
• How is morale and discipline maintained in their workplace?