IntroductionWork is more than making money, it is an opportunity to use your skills and feel successful and effective. It also helps build meaningful relationships with other people. Work is an essential part of a good and satisfying life (Scollon & King, 2004). The American worker puts in more hours on the job than anyone else in the world (King, 2013). According to the United Nations International Labor Organization, American workers work longer hours and are more productive, but not necessarily more efficient, than their European counterparts (King, 2013). Industrial organizational psychology (I/O psychology) applies the science of psychology to work and the workplace (King, 2013) to improve worker efficiency and productivity. Researchers in the field of I/O psychology have researched a wide range of topics related to the work environment, including; job placement, attitudinal influences on job performance, understanding how people work in groups (King, 2013). These topics are also the subject of psychological research, such as cognition, personality, motivation, emotion, and social psychology (King, 2013). I/O psychology is unique because it tests theories from basic research and applies them to the workplace. There are three important influences of I/O psychology; scientific management, ergonomics and relational approach to management. The early influence of I/O psychology has improved American work environments since the 1800s (Meacham, 2012). Origins Industrial and organizational psychology is a new idea, applied less than 100 years ago. At that time, many people working in the field had a background in engineering, and some had a background in history and law (Spector, 2008). The roots of the industry and...... middle of paper ......ncy, safety, morale and humane treatment of workers. Works CitedKing, LA (2013). Industrial and organizational psychology. The science of psychology: an appreciative view (). University of Missouri at Columbia: McGraw-Hill Humanities & Social Sciences. Koppes, L. and Pickren, W. (2007). Industrial and organizational psychology: an evolving science and practice. Historical Perspectives in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, , 3-36.Meacham, Wesley. History of industrial and organizational psychology. Pages Hub, 2012. Web. April 7, 2014. .Scollon, CN and King, LA (2004). Is the good life the easy life? Social Indicators Research, 68, 127-162. Spector, P. (2008). Industrial and organizational behavior. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. (Original work published)