Work and Human Behavior introduces a new character, man the worker, to behavioral and social scientists and to the helping professions. This stimulating volume presents a panoramic view of a relatively unmapped scientific terrainm—the work society comprising those aspects of human behavior centering on man in his work and productive roles. The work society interacts directly with many major social problems of our culture: pollution, poverty, disemployment, employment discrimination against the disabled and the disadvantaged, the decay of the central city, and alienation from work.
The author's scholarly examination of a burgeoning field outlines the history of work and presents a synoptic picture of the work society, the worker, vocational behavior, and work pathology. His multidisciplinary viewpoint illuminates the vocational life of man. Neff's primary interests are the formulation of a theory of work pathology and the conceptualization of a practice system applicable to the vocationally maladjusted members of society: