Articles
The Hawthorne Effect
Although the stigma of Humanism is often attached to Psychology, the study of the human mind is, in purest form, a field of knowledge extremely beneficial to our understanding. One particular branch of this discipline is Industrial and Organizational Psychology. In I/O Psychology, the idea is to understand the human mind within the context of work; various practical aspects arising from the field include increasing work productivity and performance, increasing contentment and happiness within the work environment, etc. I/O Psychologists often refer to something called “the Hawthorne Effect” to explain temporary increases in work productivity when a new variable is introduced into the workplace.
The principle originates from a series of studies done in the mid to late 1920s at the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric Company, an electric company that remains open to this day. Researchers from Harvard University attempted to analyze different lighting effects on work efficiency. In some areas, workers were required to work in highly illuminated rooms and some in “moon-lit” rooms. The researchers found a negligible difference between the efficiency of the different rooms, but they did notice something unexpected. Work productivity drastically increased during the initial presence of the researchers and gradually declined back to normal after the novelty of the situation.
So, what does this have to do with the spiritual realm? We often describe the “work of the Lord” and how we are all “workers in the kingdom.” Perhaps being more aware of the Hawthorne Effect may help us. It’s easy to get excited when a new variable is introduced. For instance, when a new preacher arrives, when new deacons or elders are appointed, when new evangelistic efforts are being made, or perhaps most notably during the immediate time period following our baptism. It is just as easy to lose excitement or zeal after a portion of time has passed. So what can we do to avoid these natural decreases in our spiritual work productivity?
Several things might help. First, we need to be persistently innovative in our efforts to reach others. This will help our spiritual lives to be alive and active, not dull and dismal. Also, this will not only help others, but it will help us! Second, we need to recall daily the prestige attached to being a servant of Christ. We are children of the living God! That is the chief motivation for every single one of us! Third, we need to recognize the need for workers in the kingdom (see Matthew 9:37f).
Try and find more ways to stay motivated and share them with your brothers and sisters! Let’s keep working in His kingdom at the highest capacity to convert souls and keep our own fires stoked! (2 Timothy 1:6).
