Work & Health Psychology
Lecture 1
Three types of demand
- Emotional (clinical psychologist)
- Cognitive
- Psychical (construction worker)
All three demands: firefighter
Definition of work
Work is defined as a set of coordinated and goal directed activities that are conducted in
exchange for something else, usually some form of monetary reward.
Work of a waitress is coordinated because there are specific tasks that need to be done and
the work has to be done in expecting certain things.
Work of waitress is goal directed because they want to generate revenue for the
employer/restaurant but also for the customers to have a good experience.
Activities of a waitress are conducted in exchange for salary.
Definition and Importance of work psychology
Psychology: individual level, people’s behavior, motivation, thoughts and emotions
Work psychology is defined as a use of insights from psychology to help workers achieve
their work goals in an optimal manner, and to help organizations achieve their goals.
1. Because of the amount of time we spend working
2. Work has the potential to make us happy
3. Work has the potential to make us sick
4. Because of the increasing expectations of employers
Balanced approach
Balancing employee well-being and performance.
The belief is that engaged employees are more productive and efficiency is enriching.
Performance
The action or process of performing a task or function.
Work performance as an action:
Performance is what the organization hires on to do, and do well.
If performance is an action then we look at how someone does it
Work performance as an outcome:
The consequence or the result of the individual worker’s behavior.
If we see it as an outcome then we look at the revenue for example that someone generates.
,Dimensions of individual job performance
- Task performance (proficiency): doing what is asked, what is in the job description
- Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB; going the extra mile): different form first
task performance, it is not in the job description -> you do more than that. If you do it
then it is seen as organizational citizenship behavior
- Counterproductive work behaviors: not good, employee withdraws themselves from
work,
- Employee withdrawal behaviors
Definition well-being
The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.
Well-being at work:
- Physical well-being (health)
Decrease disease and injuries, stress and increase health benefits.
- Social well-being (relationships)
Increase trust, support and decrease exploitation and power abuse.
- Psychological well-being (happiness)
Increase pleasure, satisfaction and fulfillment/engagement and decrease the opposite
thereof.
Future of work psychology
- Increase in service work (efficient -> enriching) so employee feels satisfied.
- Globalization, aging, diversity -> workforce is becoming more diverse, more inclusive.
- Flexibility in the organization (workforce) in time/space -> employees are able to
choose their preferred time and space for working
Artificial Intelligence
AI is changing how we see work and how we do work.
, Lecture 2
Theoretical perspectives on work
Definition of design
The art or action of producing a plan or drawing of something before its is made.
The purpose of planning that exists behind an action, fact, or object.
Definition job design
Specification of the contents, methods, and relationships of jobs in order to satisfy
technological and organizational requirements as well as the social and personal
requirements of the jobholder.
From theory X to theory Y
Job characteristics model
Classic theory of job design.
Core job dimensions:
Skill variety: not doing the same skills/tasks the whole day and doing different things during
your work.
Task identity: finishing your task and having a big impact on something by having a big value
in the outcome of the task/work.
Task significance: the work you’re doing is important and of significance.
Lecture 1
Three types of demand
- Emotional (clinical psychologist)
- Cognitive
- Psychical (construction worker)
All three demands: firefighter
Definition of work
Work is defined as a set of coordinated and goal directed activities that are conducted in
exchange for something else, usually some form of monetary reward.
Work of a waitress is coordinated because there are specific tasks that need to be done and
the work has to be done in expecting certain things.
Work of waitress is goal directed because they want to generate revenue for the
employer/restaurant but also for the customers to have a good experience.
Activities of a waitress are conducted in exchange for salary.
Definition and Importance of work psychology
Psychology: individual level, people’s behavior, motivation, thoughts and emotions
Work psychology is defined as a use of insights from psychology to help workers achieve
their work goals in an optimal manner, and to help organizations achieve their goals.
1. Because of the amount of time we spend working
2. Work has the potential to make us happy
3. Work has the potential to make us sick
4. Because of the increasing expectations of employers
Balanced approach
Balancing employee well-being and performance.
The belief is that engaged employees are more productive and efficiency is enriching.
Performance
The action or process of performing a task or function.
Work performance as an action:
Performance is what the organization hires on to do, and do well.
If performance is an action then we look at how someone does it
Work performance as an outcome:
The consequence or the result of the individual worker’s behavior.
If we see it as an outcome then we look at the revenue for example that someone generates.
,Dimensions of individual job performance
- Task performance (proficiency): doing what is asked, what is in the job description
- Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB; going the extra mile): different form first
task performance, it is not in the job description -> you do more than that. If you do it
then it is seen as organizational citizenship behavior
- Counterproductive work behaviors: not good, employee withdraws themselves from
work,
- Employee withdrawal behaviors
Definition well-being
The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.
Well-being at work:
- Physical well-being (health)
Decrease disease and injuries, stress and increase health benefits.
- Social well-being (relationships)
Increase trust, support and decrease exploitation and power abuse.
- Psychological well-being (happiness)
Increase pleasure, satisfaction and fulfillment/engagement and decrease the opposite
thereof.
Future of work psychology
- Increase in service work (efficient -> enriching) so employee feels satisfied.
- Globalization, aging, diversity -> workforce is becoming more diverse, more inclusive.
- Flexibility in the organization (workforce) in time/space -> employees are able to
choose their preferred time and space for working
Artificial Intelligence
AI is changing how we see work and how we do work.
, Lecture 2
Theoretical perspectives on work
Definition of design
The art or action of producing a plan or drawing of something before its is made.
The purpose of planning that exists behind an action, fact, or object.
Definition job design
Specification of the contents, methods, and relationships of jobs in order to satisfy
technological and organizational requirements as well as the social and personal
requirements of the jobholder.
From theory X to theory Y
Job characteristics model
Classic theory of job design.
Core job dimensions:
Skill variety: not doing the same skills/tasks the whole day and doing different things during
your work.
Task identity: finishing your task and having a big impact on something by having a big value
in the outcome of the task/work.
Task significance: the work you’re doing is important and of significance.
