The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-07
II XII 3 z g ER
Business Psych oIogy
III srpry rtsrf1. ~ Y,sr<s1,olo-rv nm
By Frederic ]. HasIEin.

Until very recently psychology has
lbeen looked upon by the public as an
Iabstract science with no practical
lbearing upon the real work OF life.
1T has been Of interest only to educa-
Itors, and the members Of a. few other
lprofe LESSONS. Now 1t is being applied
Ito almost every industry and calling,
while new possibil ties for its use
fare being developed daily #
Within the last six months a large
tistreet car company, q steel corpora
I1tion, an automobile factory and a
number OF big department stores have
added consulting psychologist to
their stats of assistants. Already
practical results have demonstrated
1.-The success of rlle innovation.
This practical psychology is desfG-
mated as psychotec logy Psychol-
logy teaches what mental attitude will
bring certain results, but technical
knowledge is required to know what
lresults are desirable and IloW they
are to be applied Fol. example, phrsi-
|cal labor consists of movements OF
various kinds. It. IS usually a repe-
ltltion Of the same motion or group
of. connected motions. The control OF
lthese muscular m Movements is psyche
logical problem involving such co1idi-
mons as rhythm, fatigue and interest.
l Their motions must be learned and
1.-THE psychoteehno1ogist knows the
most efficient method OF teaching them
by adjusting the mental peculiarities
Iof the individual 10 the conditions Of
the work
Most street car accidents occur be-
cause the mo torme en- lack certain men
Ital qualities. 1t is no longer suffice
est and capable Of caring for the ma
lchinery Of his car. III must also pos
sess a certain hysic foresigh which
will enable him to foresee danger and
to act quickly in a crisis. Accidents.
are often due to mistakes Of unskill-
Led chauffeurs. or of confused pedes-
trians who obstruct the course of the
street carr Some motormena almost
always avoid such accidents because
they possess peculiar mental char
acteristic which seems to warn them
Of what the other fellow is going to
do Power quick decision is also re-
quired. When a. child is seen cross.
ing the track in front of the moving
car, it is only the quick decision Of
the motorman that can save its life.
a method of tests to determine Wheth-
el. men have these qualities has been
agsky Nt4l
street car company in the country.
will make usesof these psychological
tests in the selection of its employ
EeeS 45
Several years before the Titanic dis
aster, the captain Of large steam
boat suggested to the head of the psy-
theological laboratory of Harvard uni-
iyersity the need Of some mental or
psychic tests which would GABLE
those responsible for the selection OF
lntticers to Judge how they would be-
have in ar emergency Such tests
have now been devised, 4 and 1t is 1ia-
lieved that hey Will determine with
reasonable accuracy her an offic-
s er may be depended upon to keep his
head in face of a crisis such as al col-
tlision with an iceberg. ol. whether
5she will become paic stricken.
Isl The best feature of these tests is
that the men taking them enter unto
THE spirit Of them. They become in
tterested, themselves, in determining
whether or not they are psychology
Fcally qualified for the calling to
(which circumstances or their own irl-
8clination directs them.
The psychote sist decides
what mental characteristics are Sc
5quired to secure the highest efficiency
lin the perfo rmances Of every task. The
l increased efficiency not only benefits
the employer, but each worker, who,
though being assigned the work for
(which nature has best fitted him, is
Enabled to do 1t with least fatigue and
1 greatest pleasure. In a large factory
lit was noted that some Of the men
who were earnest. industrio us splor>
ders were unable TO keep in mind a
fnumbersof subje cts. Having the ability
Ito concentrate upon a single detail,
they were Invaluable asSexperts to de-
| wise Improvements for that one thing,
1 but they were unsuccessful as fore
fmen Another man. having thesEbil-
lily to supervise several processes at
lonce, made an excellent foreman, all
Though he lacked the conc entra tlun Is
1.-THE expert VI rkman. 5as
The department. store psychologist
4 has many prob ems calling for an i'm
innate knowled &c Of the re.ation Of
business: Such a man began his ca-
Ireer last year by al two weeks study
Eof the books and records ofsthe con-
fcern. He noted which departments
hWere securing the heaviest profit and
(which fell below the required amount.
i E5e then began to study the people In
1charge n s IN
He noted a Il oorWalker in the base
Hment bargain room who seemed to
lose his head completely when 3ur-
rounded by a number of women Gus
\ toners, each IN sisting pom instant
ignition and service. When he
SHOULD have been able to give quick
ffEattentio to half a dozen. lie was only
liable to ANONYMOUSLY lead one woman
Int q time to the counter ataWhich she
,fmades trffimg Il purchase While
DEMONSTRATING conscienti ous, he was a
failure. because The lacked a certain
mental qnickness OF perception and
Eexerution. 58a5s
This man was transferred to the
fine dress goods department.. which