Which are the five Principles that have been suggested by psychologist Blum? Can you add a few more from your side?

Industrial psychology, as the name indicates, is that branch of psychology which studies human behaviour industrial circumstances. Psychology is a normative science of behaviour which can be observed in the social, economic, educational and other spheres. In the modern period, the different branches of psychology have developed during the study of human behaviour in these various fields.

This is an age of industrial progress, in which each progressive nation is expanding the scope of its industries. But industries cannot be made to function without human being, because individuals are required in the capacity of managers, administrators, programmers, etc. And, wherever there are human beings, their behaviour will be influenced by their relationships. If, in the industrial field, human relations deteriorate, then the result in strikes and lockouts which have a widespread impact upon the economy of the nation. Since the future of every nation depends its industrial development and progress, this particular aim of industrial psychology to study the principles governing behaviour in the industrial field and to undertake research.

According to M. L. Blum, the psychologist, “industrial psychology is simply the application or extension of psychological facts and principles to the problems concerning human relations in business and industry”.

Industrial sociology also studies problems concerning human relation in business and industry through from the sociological point of view. This common subject matter naturally creates a close relationship between industrial sociology and industrial psychology. Even when working in an industry, the individuals are never alone because he constantly comes in to contact with other workers, supervisors, managers and industrialists. In business, the worker has to deal with all kinds of people. For this reason it also becomes necessary to study the social foundations of industrial psychology. Efforts are being made to bring industrial organization to s scientific level. The more progressive countries try to improve the social life of the worker by organizing various kinds of social programmers. The following points need to be considered in a study of the relationship of industrial sociology and industrial psychology:

1.   Worker and social progress.

2.   Workers’ department and welfare schemes

3.   Industrial management

Principles that have been suggested by Psychologist M. L. Blum

The psychologist M. L. Blum has suggested the following principles for effective supervision 

1. Don’t be an autocrat: Autocratic leadership is self-defeating because the workers feel alienated and do not obey the leader willingly.
2. Listen carefully: The leader should be a good listener. He must listen carefully to everything told to him by subordinates. He must accord full opportunity to the worker to present his case, only after it should the leader express his opinion.
3. Don’t decide hurriedly: it is rash to form an opinion about some person hurriedly after a casual glance or brief hearing as most of the complains are not genuine. But some are certainly so and if these are not removed the morale in the company would suffer.
4. Don’t argue with subordinates: under no circumstances supervisor should indulge in argument with his subordinate, because if he fails to persuade or convince by his arguments, he is liable to issue orders to vindicate his point of view. This creates frustration and sense of insecurity among the workers. A good leader should not argue but listen carefully and issue orders only after careful listening.

Don’t criticism publicly: If a worker is rebuked publicly he feels insulted. The workers are rash and they tend to retaliate if they are wounded emotionally. Therefore, a good leader avoids discussing the faults of workers in public. He points them out to him in private and in a direct manner.