Psychology, Criminology And Their Link In Human Resources
The Human Resources (HR) area It is one of the most important for any private sector corporation. Every organization must have an area like this, aimed at the correct management of human assets, and more specifically, the workforce.
Selection, hiring, training, training and talent retention are just some of the most important tasks in this area, which is frequently led by psychology professionals, since they perfectly understand mental processes such as motivation, personal and interpersonal skills, needs… factors among others that are closely related to the efficiency of human capital.
However, more and more companies are choosing to include a criminologist within this area , since their knowledge about the criminal phenomenon is extremely useful. But what exactly are the competencies of a criminologist in the area of human resources?
A criminologist in HR? Aren’t they supposed to work for the attorney general’s offices and penitentiary centers?
First of all, it is necessary to clarify that the job of the criminologist is to analyze, study, quantify, and intervene. about antisocial behavior (that is, those that violate the common good and that generally transgress social norms) using the scientific method, understanding man as a biopsychosocial entity and that, therefore, criminal behavior develops in a conjunction of these three aspects. (social, biological and psychological).
Since crime is a universal and complex phenomenon Not only the public sector demands their collaboration but also the private sector, that is, companies.
If you are interested in knowing more about the work of the criminologist, you may be interested in this article: “Criminology: the science that studies crimes and crimes.”
Main areas where the criminologist can intervene
Once the work of the criminologist has been defined, now it is the turn to define What are your areas of development? within the Human Resources department to better understand how you can perform your job:
Competencies of the criminologist in HR
Within Human Resources departments, criminologists can intervene in the following processes:
Staff selection
There will be profiles within the template that will require go through much more delicate selection filters For example, if we require someone to have access control to sensitive information, the criminologist can intervene in such filters. Furthermore, in this process you will be able to determine the possible antisocial tendencies of the future candidate.
Staff training
Suppose a company is dedicated to provide security services through the provision of security elements. Who better than a corporate criminologist (who took police organization as a subject in his career) to train these personnel?
Monitoring and processing of dismissals
The dismissal of a person from the staff can be an extremely complicated situation that even could put the integrity of the company at risk if not managed correctly.
The criminologist perfectly understands the definition of low criticism: that situation of abandonment of a member of the company whose dismissal could cause problems, for example, in the case of people who leave dissatisfied with the organization or are fired for aggressive behavior and who, depending Depending on the level of access the employee had, they will have more sensitive information and privileged resources.
The criminologist has standardized tools that allow you to evaluate antisocial tendencies, tolerance for frustration, criminogenic threshold, criminal dangerousness, proclivity for dishonesty, abuse, etc. and that are extremely useful in the hiring and retention process of personnel.
Labor disputes
The criminologist can act as an intermediary in conflict resolution for his knowledge in conciliation and arbitration matters
Prevention of occupational hazards
His knowledge in risk assessment and management makes him a valuable element to mitigate objects and events that could harm employees
Identification of criminogenic factors within the organization
The timely detection of criminogenic factors to which each employee or each area is subject is an effective way to prevent future crimes against the corporation.
Staff investigation
You can work for determine absenteeism, determine responsibilities for crimes committed by employees, to evaluate the social aspect of the candidate for a position, etc.
The criminologist and the psychologist in HR
Because it is important that the criminologist and the psychologist work together in the Human Resources area?
As the well-known saying goes, “unity is strength” and as we have seen, the criminologist can become a valuable element in this area of the company. This joint relationship should be seen as a valuable effort that can increase the company’s performance since it will allow productive and effective management of the organization’s human resources.
The psychologists who work and direct this department must ensure a relationship of interdependence with the criminologist since this will allow better management of the workforce within the corporation.
Given the both are experts in behavioral sciences ensuring reciprocity between the knowledge that each of them has, will allow greater, better and deeper knowledge about the competencies, skills, motivations, defects and needs of workers and future candidates.
Correct management of human capital It is the first step towards a competitive company, given that it will not only be recognized by the international organizations that regulate and audit them, but also by the employees themselves; At the same time, its value in the market increases.
