Implications of psychological research to the economy

Question 1

How does psychological research contribute to the economy?

Answer 1

• UK university psychology departments receive £50 million anually due to the impact the research findings have on wellbeing
• Mental health issues cost UK economy £70-100 billion per year
• 40% of people claiming incapacity benefits (unemployed) suffer from anxiety and depression, psychological research can lead to effective therapies to reduce anxiety and depression, so people are employed

Question 2

How does pschological research contribute to society?

Answer 2

• Effective therapies, developed through research, make huge savings in financial costs, allowing people to work and contribute to the economy
• Helps to treat addiction
• Can help to run health promotion campaigns. Health workers can use findings to recommend eating diets

Question 3

Psychological contributions to the work place:

Answer 3

Psychological research creates a happy and successful work place by:
* Developing effective recruitment strategies to ensure the right people are employed
* Changing the way** shift patterns are organised,** increasing productivity and time off work
* Stress management programmes have been designed to reduce days lost through illness

Question 4

Links to Bowlby:

Answer 4

• Bowlby highlighted the importance of early childhood experiences on adulthood
• Lead to the development of new working practices encouraging them to form strong emotional bonds with the children + contributing to the introductionof parent leave
• Its raised awareness of the importance of early adoption and changing the way institutions look after children
• Implications to economy = children grow to be mentally healthy adults, living independent lives working + contributing to the economy