Psychological Connections with Work

This chapter explores the psychological aspects of the worker-job relationship, covering:

• Historical context:
  • Evolution from scientific management to modern theories of motivation and wellbeing
  • Shift from "fitting the person to the job" to "fitting the job to the person"
• Key psychological constructs in the workplace:
  • Core needs: autonomy, belongingness, competence
  • Additional factors: positive emotions, psychological safety, fairness, meaning
• Main arguments:
  • Satisfaction of fundamental psychological needs is crucial for:
    • Worker wellbeing
    • Positive organizational outcomes
  • Empirical research supports the importance of these psychological factors
• Strategies for building healthier workplaces:
  • Integrate need satisfaction into job design and organizational interventions
  • Involve workers in change processes
  • Adopt interdisciplinary approaches to workplace wellbeing
• Conclusion:
  • Psychology plays a central role in understanding and improving worker-work environment connections
  • A comprehensive approach considering multiple psychological factors is necessary for optimal outcomes