What is the main focus of industrial-organizational psychology?

The main focus of industrial-organizational psychology is the study of human behavior in organizations and the workplace. This field applies psychological principles and research methods to understand employee behavior, motivation, job satisfaction, workplace dynamics, and the overall functioning of organizations. By examining factors such as leadership, teamwork, recruitment, training, and performance appraisal, industrial-organizational psychologists aim to improve workplace productivity and employee well-being.

This focus on the intersection of human behavior and organizational structures sets industrial-organizational psychology apart from other fields of psychology. For instance, while individual behavior may be an aspect of this discipline, it is not studied in isolation, as option A suggests. The study of animal behavior in labs is a central concern of comparative psychology, making option C irrelevant. Likewise, investigation into cognitive processes as an isolated domain falls under cognitive psychology, which does not specifically address workplace or organizational contexts found in option D. Thus, the emphasis on human behavior within the workplace environment is what clearly defines the essence of industrial-organizational psychology.