Chapter 8.1: The Human- Basic Psychological Principles
Abstract
Work always involves humans. Humans are complex beings and their behaviour, and their health is the result of interaction within and between their internal biological, psychological and social systems and their physical and social environment. This chapter outlines elements of psychology relevant to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professional practice. Although the discipline is influenced by many different schools of thought, modern psychological practice employs scientific methods. Particularly relevant to OHS practice, are behavioural psychology (the foundation of behaviour-based safety) and cognitive psychology (which highlights the cognitive capacities of workers, and errors that can occur in decision making). Also, this chapter describes the physiological bases of some psychological phenomena to be considered when improving and protecting the health and safety of workers and provides basic information about personality psychology and mental disorders. Finally, implications for OHS practice are considered using incentive schemes and behaviour-based safety as examples.
Keywords: health, behaviour, cognition, personality, attributions, psychological disorders, OHS, work
First year of publication: 2012
Current Version: 2012
Chapter 8.1: The Human- Basic Psychological Principles
Table of contents
| 1 | Introduction |
| 1.1 | Distinguishing between psychology and psychiatry |
| 2 | Historical development of modern psychology |
| 3 | Psychobiology |
| 3.1 | Structure and function of the brain |
| 3.2 | Some physiological consequences of stress |
| 4 | Behavioural psychology |
| 4.1 | Types of reinforcement |
| 4.2 | Learned helplessness |
| 5 | Cognitive psychology |
| 5.1 | Cognitive architecture and information-processing models |
| 5.2 | Models of memory |
| 5.3 | Cognitive biases in decision making and causal attribution |
| 6 | Personality psychology |
| 6.1 | Personality testing |
| 6.2 | Accident-prone personality |
| 7 | Mental disorders |
| 8 | Implications for OHS practice |
| 8.1 | Incentive schemes |
| 8.2 | Behaviour-based safety |
| 9 | Summary |
Key authors and thinkers
References
Dr Carlo Caponecchia BA(Psych); PhD (Psychology)
Senior Lecturer, School of Aviation, University of New South Wales
Carlo is an academic at the University of New South Wales, and holds a Bachelors degree and PhD in Psychology. He specialises in psychological hazards at work and teaches workplace safety and risk management. His research comprises human factors issues (fatigue, stress, bullying); risk perception, communication and behaviour; and error classification. Carlo has provided expert opinions and consultancy advice to several industries on safety-related projects, and is involved in training, independent workplace investigations, and organisational development.
Peer reviewer
Bill Pappas BBSc, BA, BEd, DipTeaching, MVocCouns
Organisational Psychologist National Convenor, Australian Psychological Society, Occupational Health Psychology Interest Group
No learning outcomes have been developed for the chapters considered introductory or underpinning knowledge (that is chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15.)
Podcast
Safety of Work Podcast: Ep 2: Why do people break rules?
Rules and procedures are integral to OHS management programs. This podcast explores how to figure out which rules will be effective, why rules are broken, how certain rules can be contradictory or problematic and balancing the need for compliance with decision-making. How to get to the heart of the matter.
Date: 2019
Presenter: Drew Rae & David Provan
Source: https://safetyofwork.com/episodes/ep-2-why-do-people-break-rules
Webinar
AIHS Webinar: Safety and the Brain
This webinar is about the role of neuroscience and behaviour related to safety. It explores how leadership style impacts the brain and performance outcomes; provides a new perspective on an individual’s personal connection with safety, discusses the 4 factors in driving safety performance and provides knowledge of how to achieve safer outcomes through creating a ‘safe brain’ environment
Date: 2020
Presenter: Abby Hunt
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylE8kySMTaU
AIHS Webinar: Does inattention impact safety
Much attention is given to safety at an organisational level but we also need to think about it at the individual level. Neuroscience has mapped the internal functions of the human brain with research indicating that we are biologically designed to function on autopilot, with our conscious brains going into ‘neutral’ when we do familiar or repetitive tasks. Mental stress, generated from external events and internal perceptions also disrupts our ability to pay attention. This webinar presents a simple model for how inattention comes about, and what can be done to deal with it more effectively, enabling people to make safer ‘in the moment’ decisions. It presents examples of how organisations which adopted this thinking have seen an improvement in safety.
Date: 2020
Presenter: Cristian Sylvestre
Source:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seaK2YfPagc