ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how three domains traditional to I-O psychology, namely, staffing, learning and development, and performance management, can be applied to research on volunteerism. The work of many I-O psychologists in the training and development sub-specialty has the goal of enhancing worker skills and attitudes required for their jobs. Certain types of rewards have been proposed in volunteerism research, and their integration into humanitarian work psychology (HWP's) approach to performance management would be helpful. The learning and development domain of I-O psychology focuses on KSAOs, whereas volunteerism research highlights the relationship between training and volunteer retention, as well as the significance of interpersonal empathy, particularly to out-group helpees. In this reflection it have argued that by applying previous research in I-O psychology to this area one can strengthen projects aimed at meeting the SDGs, and at the same time by integrating our knowledge of volunteerism into HWP, further empirical research and conceptual advancement can be achieved.
