This week is the first in a series of blogs from my students at Waikato University in 2023. We have a song in the lecture and there's a competition to write a short piece on how that song is related to the content of the lecture. Here are this week's winners!
Madelyn Stocker
The use of different instruments and sounds playing at the same time, represents the different personalities of individuals in the workplace. The fact that the instruments work together cohesively reflects how organisational psychology utilises the individual strengths of employees to help them come together as a team. The lyrics of the song further represent this ethos: “War… What is it good for? Absolutely nothing”. As organisational psychology teaches, teamwork promotes workplace productivity and satisfaction, while conflicts in the workplace result in lower employee satisfaction and decreased workplace efficiency.
Hunter Ludlam
I believe these ideas portrayed in song War by Edwinn Starr have no similarities with the values held by organizational psychology. The song's stance on war is black and white. By saying war is good for absolutely nothing, it creates a blanket statement about a complex issue. It also provides no alternative for war, but constantly reinforces how useless it is. In organizational psychology, as a type of applied psychology, it is vital to analyze issues from multiple perspectives. You need to create ways to solve issues rather than just identifying problems.
Brie Litchfield
War is, and was, a motivator of the industrial and factory areas. Men sent off to war were unable to continue running the industries left behind, which were handed over to the women. This led to the development of Meyers Brigg's system, a set of preferences that was used for a time to try and help place women with appropriate work. Originally based around Jung’s functions, it has become popularized over time with some people splitting off from the use of Jung’s work (like 16personalities.com), but others still make use of the Jungian functions. In either case, it provides fertile ground for personal growth and development. So, Edwin, I hope that answers your question. Though I would agree that the cost for that development was far, far too high.
Renee Leth
The song “war” connects to I/O psych to the influence of both WW1 & WW2 with the significant changes in the work place with women taking over traditional men’s roles and psychologists assisting to find the “best fit”, also Charles Myers providing services and support for men returning from war, suffering from what is now known as PTSD. Mother and daughter duo Myers & Myers – Briggs developed the well known Myers Briggs personality assessment during WW2 originally to assist women to match personality to potential work roles. War what is it good for? Mostly nothing except significant developments in Psychology.
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