Introduksjon Organisasjonspsykologi og ledelse Bøk415

Introduction to Leadership and Organizational Psychology

  • Course by Gunhild Bjaalid and Kjersti Berge Evensen

  • Focus on organizational behavior and individual psychology.

Course Overview (BØK415)

  • Who are we?

  • Teaching methods and syllabus.

  • Class structure: lectures, group case studies, mandatory assignments, examinations.

  • Use of Canvas for discussions and resources.

  • Access to library services.

Key Topics in Organizational Psychology

  • Individual psychology

  • Organizational psychology methods

  • Research methodologies

  • Personality theories

  • Cognitive psychology and biases

  • Emotions and motivation

  • Social psychology

  • Group processes and leadership

  • Conflict management

  • Negative organizational behavior

  • Psychological experiments.

Expectations for Students

  • Attend lectures actively for self-benefit.

  • Participate in class discussions and Canvas contributions.

  • Engage in voluntary group work for enhanced learning.

  • Emphasize the importance of personal effort in learning.

Questions and Feedback

  • No question is too trivial; encourage asking.

  • Feedback on lectures is welcomed, whether difficulty or ease.

  • Clarify any uncertainties by asking questions.

Student Representatives

  • Sebastian Andresen and Thomas Gerhardsen serve as semester trust representatives.

  • Ine Emilie Helland Isberg as student assistant.

History of Organizational Psychology

  • Based on philosophy and historical writings by Plato and Adam Smith on leadership and efficiency.

  • Max Weber and Frederick Taylor explored organization and worker motivation.

Organizational Behavior (OB)

  • Definition: study of thoughts, feelings, and actions within organizations.

  • Interaction with external environments crucial (e.g., hospitals and community services).

  • Areas covered include organizational effectiveness and measurement.

Indicators of Organizational Effectiveness

  • Positive student experiences signify effective organizations.

  • Student engagement and success key to organizational success.

Components of Organizational Culture

  • Visible behaviors, ethics, and values.

  • Underlying assumptions and communication styles affect workplace dynamics.

Developing Organizational Culture

  • Establish simple, practical guidelines.

  • Define norms and values that align with shared expectations and goals.

Psychosocial Work Environment

  • Encompasses interpersonal relations, the impact of work conditions on individuals, and organizational culture.

Student Loneliness

  • Surveys indicate nearly one in three students experience loneliness.

  • Serious effects comparable to significant alcohol issues.

Student Learning Environment

  • Over 50,000 students participated in health and wellness studies.

  • Increased psychological struggles; one in four report difficulties.

Psychology as a Discipline

  • Focuses on behavior and mental processes, distinct from philosophy/medicine.

  • Scientific methods involve measurable and repeatable studies.

Historical Development of Psychology

  • Wilhelm Wundt established psychology as a science in 1889.

  • Key movements include psychoanalysis (Freud), behaviorism (Watson & Skinner), and cognitive psychology (Beck).

Crisis in Psychology?

  • Recent issues with replicating psychological experiments bring scrutiny.

  • Importance of controlled experiments for valid conclusions.

Issues with Western-Centric Research

  • WEIRD populations dominate psychological studies (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic).

  • Represents only 12% of the global population.

Müller-Lyer Illusion

  • Demonstrates cultural influences on perception.

  • Environmental factors affect cognitive processing and susceptibility to visual illusions.

Cultural Influences on Cognition

  • Different growth environments result in diverse cognitive processing styles.

  • WEIRD individuals often classify based on category, while others focus on specific attributes.

Self-Perception Across Cultures

  • Western views of self as independent vs. collectivist cultures.

  • Social roles and interdependence highlighted in non-Western contexts.

Group Dynamics

  • Similarities in color perception across cultures.

  • Emphasis on respectful collaboration during group activities.

Rules for Group Work

  • Establish roles and communication norms for efficiency.

  • Respectful behavior is essential for productive teamwork.

Simple Model for Group Work

  1. Define the task.

  2. Assess available resources.

  3. Determine ambition levels.

  4. Set collaborative rules.

  5. Discuss leadership needs.

  6. Distribute work fairly.

  7. Resolve conflicts as a team.

  8. Evaluate work quality continuously.

Expectations from Students

  • Engage and share expectations on course and teaching effectiveness through provided links.