Workplace Psychology and Organizational Behavior

Workplace psychology and organisational behaviour examine how individuals, groups and structures interact within professional settings to influence performance, wellbeing and organisational effectiveness. Drawing on theories of cognition, motivation, emotion and social dynamics, the field addresses phenomena such as job satisfaction, leadership effectiveness, team cohesion and employee engagement. Researchers investigate how organisational culture, managerial practices and systemic factors—such as diversity, equity and inclusion—shape the lived experience of work. Recent emphases include the psychological impacts of technological disruption, remote and hybrid work arrangements, and global socio‐economic transformations. Positive organisational scholarship has gained prominence, exploring resilience, creativity and strengths‐based approaches. Employing quantitative and qualitative methods, scholars seek to inform human resource strategies, leadership development and policy interventions that enhance both employee wellbeing and organisational outcomes on a global scale.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Workplace Psychology and Organizational Behavior publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in workplace psychology and organizational behavior across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Psychological safety: A shared belief in a team that it is safe to take interpersonal risks without fear of negative consequences.

Biopsychosocial model: An integrative framework that considers biological, psychological and social factors in understanding human behaviour and wellbeing.

Critical work and organizational psychology: An approach that interrogates the ethical, power and reflexive dimensions of workplace theories and practices.

Subjectivity: The internal perspectives and experiences that influence how individuals perceive and respond to their work environments.

Sustainable Development Goals: A set of global objectives established by the United Nations to guide social, economic and environmental progress.

References

1. Toward an Ethics of Ambiguity in Critical Work and Organizational Psychology: From ‘Blank’ to ‘Troubled’ Subjectivity. Journal of Business Ethics (2024).
2. Moving boundaries on what I-O has been, and what I-O can be: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as an organizing framework. Industrial and Organizational Psychology (2023).
3. Advancing a critical social psychological perspective on women's leadership: A case illustration from the Global South. Applied Psychology (2022).