The Early Years of Industrial and Organizational Psychology

by Andrew J. Vinchur

Overview

This book provides a history of the origins of industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology, focusing on the late nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries. Taking an international perspective, The Early Years of Industrial-Organizational Psychology examines the context in which the field emerged, and its origins in the measurement of individual differences. Andrew J. Vinchur covers the initial applications of psychology in advertising, the study of fatigue, and especially employee selection, as well as the role industrial psychology played in World War I and the post-war expansion of the field. He also examines the education of industrial psychologists, their efforts to establish industrial psychology as a profession, and the beginnings of the organizational side of the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107065734
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/08/2018
Pages:	370
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Andrew J. Vinchur is a Professor of Psychology and former department head at Lafayette College. Long interested in the history of psychology, his published work has focused on the history of industrial and organizational psychology, especially the history of psychology applied to employee selection.

Table of Contents

1. Work, psychology, and history; 2. Historical context and influence; 3. Measurement, individual differences, and psychological testing; 4. Initial forays into industry; 5. Industrial psychology and the Great War; 6. The post-war expansion of industrial psychology; 7. Employee selection in the 1920s; 8. The education of industrial psychologists; 9. Establishing a profession; 10. The beginnings of organizational psychology; 11. Reflections on the early years of I-O psychology.

Editorial Reviews

'This book provides a compelling look at the extent of research on applied topics in the early years of the 20th century and at how it affected current theory and research. In unfolding industrial and organizational psychology, the author links the work of the applied psychologists to the major historical figures in psychology, showing that the connection between theory and application was closer than is apparent from standard histories. This book is a welcome addition to the history of applied psychology.' B. C. Beins, Choice

‘This is, in one sense, a very ambitious book, aiming to provide a ‘comprehensive picture’ of the early years of what is now known as industrial-organizational (IO) psychology. It has a global scope (although the United States receives most attention) and covers roughly half a century, from the late 1800s to the 1930s … it is impressive in its offerings and scope.’ Maarten Derksen, Isis

From the Publisher