Psychological and Social Problems of Industrial Work in Affluent Societies

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Abstract
Working life is regarded as part of a larger ecological complex of human environment and human resources. Behavioural science research dealing with the human condition at work from the point of view of the workers' well‐being, health and use of leisure is briefly summarized. Adverse effects in these areas are tied to certain common features of mass‐production technology such as severe obstacles to man control over pace and methods built into the production system and severe obstacles to an all‐round use of social and creative resources at work. On the basis of such research, pressure for changes in working life has been elicited and in the Scandinavian countries the organization of work and its effects on health and well‐being to‐day count as a major social‐political issue. Account is given of the attempts now appearing in the Scandinavian countries to deal with the psycho‐social aspects of work in a combined effort of legislation and collective bargaining.