Review of Psychology in industry: A psychological approach to industrial problems

Abstract

Reviews the book, Psychology in industry: A psychological approach to industrial problems by Norman R. F. Maier (1946). This kind of book has been long overdue. It is a systematic but nontechnical presentation of the applications of psychological principles and techniques to the functioning of industrial organizations. As such, it is "primarily intended for the many who are concerned with human problems in industry and who themselves are not industrial psychologists." It should find wide use in college courses aimed at acquainting industry's potential executives and technicians with psychology's significance for their future vocational activities and responsibilities. Dr. Maier places strong emphasis throughout his book on the dynamics of human behavior in industry, specifically on matters of motivation, attitudes, and morale. Five of the nineteen chapters are devoted exclusively to problems of attitudes, frustration, morale, and motivation. For an introductory college course on psychology's applications for business and industry "Psychology in industry" is an excellent text. A nontechnical book on industrial psychology that will capture the interest of industry's first-line supervisors without sacrificing accuracy is still to be written. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)