Discussion: History and Critical Issues

Psychology was not a well-recognized discipline until the late 1880s, when major founding figures began to emerge in Germany and the United States. Most notably, individuals from Leipzig, Germany and Harvard University in the United States began to influence each other’s work. This transformed the field of psychology until I/O psychology became a subdiscipline in approximately 1910 (Landy, 1997). How did the context (e.g., social, historical, and/or economic) of the times influence these founding figures’ theoretical contributions to the field of I/O psychology, as well as the critical issues that organizations faced during that time?

To prepare: Review this week’s Learning Resources. Research critical issues in I/O psychology using the Walden Library and other peer-reviewed, scholarly sources.

Post by Day 4 a brief description of the two founding figures of I/O psychology that you selected. Explain the influence of historical context (e.g., social, historical, and/or economic) on their major theoretical contributions, as well as the influence of critical I/O issues of their time period. Then, describe a critical I/O issue facing organizations today and explain why it is critical. Finally, explain the current contextual influences (e.g., social, historical, and/or economic) contributing to the critical organizational issue.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources as well as additional peer-reviewed, scholarly resources.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.