Critical perspectives on work and organizational psychology in practice

Nathan Gerard

Chapter 14 in Handbook of Critical Work and Organizational Psychology, 2026, pp 243-259 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Whereas previous chapters have critiqued W-O psychology as an academic discipline, the aim of this chapter is to provide a critical perspective on W-O psychology practice, and particularly the field's troubling forays into work and organizational life since its inception in the early 20th century and through the present. Specifically, the collusion between social science and organizational practice in advancing a managerialist agenda is illustrated with regard to the field's origins in the work of Hugo Munsterberg, and traced forward into psychometric testing and employee selection; human relations and the amelioration of “pessimistic reveries”; organizational development and the building of high-commitment cultures; and more recent shifts toward leadership, talent management, and evidence-based practice. Given this fraught historical context, imagining and enacting a more emancipatory role for W-O psychology practice is a significant challenge, the possibilities and preconditions of which are discussed. Throughout this chapter, particular emphasis is placed on the surrounding social conditions that influence W-O psychology practice and continue to determine its fate, often in spite of its own ideologically-fueled fantasies of social harmony and progress.

Keywords: Work and Organizational Psychology Practice; Managerialism; Capitalism; Workplace Politics; History of Work and Organizational Psychology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035331055
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781035331062.00021 (application/pdf)
Our link check indicates that this URL is bad, the error code is: 403 Forbidden

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:23244_14

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.e-elgar.com

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Jack Sweeney ().