About the Author
Steven Shorrock is an interdisciplinary humanistic, systems and design practitioner interested in human work from multiple perspectives.
Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) & Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist (CErgHF)
Tag Archives: Humanistic psychology
The Commodification of Human Decency
Many ideas spring up in the world of management and organisational behaviour aimed at ‘treating people better’ – humanely. Very few of these, if any, are really new. Mostly, they stem from basic human values, which might be called humanistic … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Humanistic Psychology
Tagged Humanistic psychology, just culture, psychological safety
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Work and how to survive it: Lesson 3. Encourage the whole self
This is the third in a series reflecting on excerpts from Life and How To Survive It, by the psychotherapist Robin Skynner and the comedian John Cleese, with some reflections on work and organisations. Continue reading
Posted in Humanistic Psychology
Tagged ABCD, Carl Rogers, congratulations, experience, holism, Humanistic psychology
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Four Kinds of ‘Human Factors’: 1. The Human Factor
This is the first of a short blog post series, on four kinds of ‘Human Factors’: ‘The Human Factor. Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics
Tagged blame, ergonomics, human factors, Humanistic psychology, just culture, Systems Thinking, the human factor, work
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Reducing ‘the human factor’
If you work in an industry such as transportation or healthcare – where human involvement is critical – you have probably heard people talk about ‘the human factor’. This elusive term is rarely defined, but people often refer to reducing it, or perhaps mitigating it. … Continue reading
If it weren’t for the people…
In Kurt Vonnegut’s dystopian novel ‘Player Piano’, automation has replaced most human labour. Anything that can be automated, is automated. Ordinary people have been robbed of their work, and with it purpose, meaning and satisfaction, leaving the managers, scientists and … Continue reading
Posted in Safety, Systems Thinking
Tagged Humanistic psychology, safety, Systems Thinking
6 Comments
Recovery from Command-and-Control: A Twelve-Step Program
Most of us in democratic countries would hate to see the rise authoritarianism. When we hear about authoritarian regimes around the world, we feel lucky not to live there. We know that people do not thrive under authoritarianism, where high levels of … Continue reading
Posted in Systems Thinking
Tagged command and control, Humanistic psychology, management, Systems Thinking
8 Comments
Maslow’s hammer: How tools bias attention and straightjacket thinking
In May 2013, Edition 5 of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was published by the American Psychiatric Association. According to the American Psychiatric Association, the DSM handbook establishes consistent and reliable diagnoses that can be used … Continue reading
Empathy: A core condition for humanistic design
Many involved in human-centred design (ergonomics, human factors, UX, interaction design, etc) have an internal or external consulting role. Much of the time is spent thinking about task/interaction design, user interfaces, work environment, and many technical and project management issues. … Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics, Humanistic Psychology
Tagged design, empathy, ergonomics, human factors, Humanistic psychology
7 Comments
Human Factors and Humanistic Psychology: Distant cousins
Human factors and humanistic psychology are two human disciplines that emerged from adversity during the same era (1940s and 1950s). Both focus on the human, and should have a lot in common. In some fundamental ways they do, but the … Continue reading
Posted in Human Factors/Ergonomics
Tagged ergonomics, human factors, Humanistic psychology
2 Comments
