Introduction Flashcards
Occupational Psychology
concerned with ‘people in relation to work - in the widest sense, both paid employment and other constructive and cooperative activities
Aims of OP
Safety at work:- with regards to catastrophic effects of human error (slips & mistakes), e.g. Pilot error, Medical error
Stress at work:- removing stressors at work through good work design, but also by selecting the right people and giving them the training they need.
Unstressed employees are less likely to make errors. Their decision making should be better than a stressed employee.
Good OP should reduce stress, therefore reduce error and improve safety.
Stressful situations
A negative discrepancy between an individual’s perceived and desired states
A perceived gap between perceived resources and perceived demands.
Wellbeing
Weinberg & Cooper (2007) - healthy and motivated employees
Work engagement - vigour, dedication and absorption (Schaufeli and Bakker, 2004).
Warr et al (1979) ) - ‘psychological wellbeing’ at work and ‘psychologically good’ employment. Model of affective well-being in terms of arousal level and degree of pleasure. Gives ‘position’ on anxiety-contentment and enthusiasm-depression axes.Happiness and Unhappiness (2007)
Sources of stress: Role and Responsibility
Role conflict, role ambiguity, supervising
Sources of stress: Career Development
job security, opportunities for advancement, training promotion
Sources of stress: Home-Work Interface
Relocation, financial situation, work/family balance
Sources of stress: Shiftwork
sleep loss
Sources of stress: risk at Work
safety critical jobs, physically demanding jobs
Sources of stress: Workload
not overload or under-load
Sources of stress: Workspace
the design of ‘tools’ to do the job
The individual and their cognitive appraisal of their work
Moderated by:
Abilities
Personality
Motivation (expectancies, goals, needs)
Levels of Stress Management at Work: Tertiary Stress Management
Employee assistance programmes, started for alcohol use, drug abuse.
Workplace counselling. Counsellor and confidentiality? Counsellor appreciative of work matters?
Secondary Stress Management
Healthy living/smoking
Promotion and participation in health events (no smoking for a day)
Health checks
Gym facilities/exercise classes
OP: the Person/Work FIT
Fitting the person to the job (FPJ)
Assessment and selection
Training and development
Fitting job to the person (FJP)
Social environment design - relations with others
Job characteristics/providing motivating work
