Discrimination at Work: The Psychological and Organizational Bases (SIOP Organizational Frontiers Series)

This volume brings together top scholars in industrial and organizational psychology with social psychologists to explore the research and theory relating to various areas of workplace discrimination. Many of the contributors to this book participated in a conference on workplace discrimination held at Rice University in May 2000. The idea came from the realization that there had been no attempt to bring together the various literatures on the topic. Discrimination and issues of employment diversity are significant topics today in IO psychology, business, and human resource management. This edited volume examines the following components of this important discussion: how to explain discrimination in organizations; understanding discrimination against specific groups; and implications for practical efforts to reduce discrimination. This book brings together, in one volume, a review of the research on discrimination based on race, age, sexual orientation, gender, physical appearance, disability, and personality. In addition, it explores the multilevel antecedents and potential bases for a general model of discrimination in the workplace. While social psychological research and theory have provided invaluable insights, an understanding of discrimination in the workplace and solutions will require incorporating factors at the organizational level in addition to factors at the individual and group levels. Although a definitive model is not reached, the aim of this text is to facilitate future research and theory. "This volume, edited by Robert Dipboye and Adrienne Colella, reflects new thinking and research in the area of workplace discrimination. It identifies a large body of research and theory on the biases that can occur in the workplace based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical disability, and other employee characteristics such as appearance and personality. This focus here is on broadening our perspective on the entire issue and attempting to integrate disparate bodies of work." "This new book should provide readers with a clear understanding of the psychologically based workplace discrimination research. The theory, methodology, and suggested implications of this research are put forth to allow scholars and scientist-practitioners to gain a comprehensive view of the field. Much of the work in this volume discusses future directions for research on workplace discrimination."--Jacket. This volume in the "SIOP Organizational Frontiers" Series brings together scholars in Industrial and Organizational Psychology with social psychologists to explore the research and theory relating to the various areas of workplace discrimination