By Alex Al Kazzaz/reporter
Helping someone with stress or depression in the workplace is important to people in the industrial psychology field, a guest speaker said Nov. 11.
Dr. Nicolette Lopez, University of Texas at Arlington psychology assistant professor, told SE students how to pursue a career in industrial psychology.
Industrial psychology is the scientific study of employees, workplaces and organizations. An industrial psychologist contributes to an organization’s success by improving the performance and the well-being of its people, Lopez said.
Industrial psychologists also research and identify how behaviors and attitudes can be improved through hiring practices, training programs and feedback systems, Lopez said.
“This is to motivate everyone interested,” she said. “It’s not one of these easy careers.”
Lopez said the field could be considered more difficult because the career requires the knowledge of behaviors and attitudes.
Psychologists have to find solutions on how to fix the problems, she said.
One of the most important aspects of this career is to love the subject and always be willing to learn about other people’s lives, Lopez said.
“We have to love psychology,” she said. “It’s important to be interested in learning about people.”
Lopez said organizational, mathematical and communication skills are required for psychologists.
“A lot of people are going to struggle with those,” she said. “So it will be your duty to help them with that.”
SE student Stephanie Moore said industrial psychology was completely different than she expected.
“I thought this was another name for careers in psychiatry and therapy,” she said. “But, boy, was I wrong.”
Courses such as introduction to industrial psychology and business management are a great way to start pursuing a career in industrial psychology, Lopez said.
“Get involved in research,” she said.
Lopez said Michigan State, Penn State, Minnesota and Grambling State are schools with great industrial psychology programs.
SE student Jack Bowen said he was impressed by the lecture.
“I thought it was pretty helpful,” he said. “Now I am more convinced than ever, and I know I want to study this subject.”
Bowen said he was sorry the University of North Texas dropped the program.
When a student asked Lopez about her favorite part of the job, she said she loves teaching and helping people.
“I love psychology,” she said. “I love learning about people.”
