Phychologists Essay, Research Paper

Psychologists

Essay submitted by Jem

Psychology is the study of human behavior, how we think, feel and act. Psychologists

study both normal and abnormal behavior to understand it. Psychologists also try to

use what we learn from that study to help people change aspects of their behavior

that they want to change. Areas of psychology are clinical, industrial, and

developmental. Careers in Psychology offer varied opportunities. Employment

opportunities for capable psychologists are expected to be slightly better than average

over the next several years. However, if you’re interested in a career in Psychology,

you should know that the training program to become a psychologist is a long one.

There is also stiff competition for places in graduate training programs in Psychology.

So why major in Psychology if it is going to take so long? First of all, it is an interesting

profession that offers the opportunity to increase the well-being of one’s life. It

requires critical thinking skills, statistical reasoning skills, and research design skills. Also

a major part of being a successful psychologist is having practical knowledge about

people and a charismatic self.

People who want to major in psychology usual get a 4-year degree at a university.

During the first four years, the student obtains scientific and clinical knowledge in

Psychology. It is also possible to get an internship during the third year of schooling. As

well, students will get some opportunity to see what applied practice in Psychology will

actually look like by taking courses and seminars in areas of special interest. Following

the undergraduate degree, a two year program of graduate studies in Psychology in a

university will lead the student to a Master’s degree. Part of that two-year program will

usually involve completing a research project in Psychology. Some areas allow persons

with a Master’s degree in Psychology to be registered as a psychologist. However,

many people, particularly those who want to practice in a specialty area of Psychology,

will go on to complete their doctoral degree in Psychology before becoming registered

or licensed to practice. This will take another three to four years of study on average.

As part of the doctoral program, students will complete a more complex research

project in Psychology that will serve as their doctoral thesis. They will also complete an

intensive one-year internship program outside the university that will prepare them with

the clinical skills they need to practice Psychology following completion of their degree.

With a bachelor’s degree in Psychology it is possible to be a child welfare worker, a

mental health therapist, a psychiatric aid, a crisis intervention worker, a rehabilitation

worker, a group home worker, and even an employee in human resources. A person with

only a bachelor’s degree cannot legally practice psychology in the states. They can

hold psychology related positions. With a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, salary starts

at about $17,000 a year.

With a doctoral degree in Psychology and one year of a supervised internship, a

student can become a legal psychologist. In many states, it is required that one pass

an exam before practicing Psychology. One with a doctoral degree can have a salary of

$45,000 per year, on the low end. After schooling, the field of Psychology can expand

many ways. To give you an idea, here are some indepth looks at various fields.

Some psychologists work in the health care field. They practice in hospitals,

rehabilitation facilities, and both public and private clinics. They may work individually or

in teams with other health care professionals such as physicians, nurses, social

workers, and so forth. Psychologists in health care provide assessment and treatment

services to persons with mental and emotional disorder. Because of the growing body of

scientific knowledge about the role of psychological factors in physical health and

disease, psychologists also play a role in the management of various physical disorders,

such as heart disease, neurological illnesses and injuries, gastrointestinal disorders,

pulmonary disorders, chronic pain, and diabetes. Psychologists in health care may

teach, do research, and consult to other health care professionals on how

psychological factors affect health and disease. Health psychologists are also involved

in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment methods and programs for health care.

Psychologists also work in the school system where they provide assessment and

treatment to kids with learning difficulties. They may also work with children who have

various emotional disorders. School psychologists may be involved in the assessment of

children’s mental abilities and emotional skills and in the design of learning programs in

the school and at home. School psychologists may do research on psychological factors

related to child development and learning.

Industrial/organizational psychologists work in businesses to help organizations and the

people who work for them function better. They may use psychological methods to help

in employee selection and improving productivity within the organization. Human factors

psychologists may use psychological methods to design better workplaces in which

people can work more comfortably and effectively.

Psychologists may teach and do research in university settings. Their research may

extend all the way from intricate studies of fundamental abilities such as visual

perception and the behaviour of single cells in the brain to complex studies of the

behavior of large groups of people.

Psychologists may choose to work in a firm, dealing one on one with people who have

enlisted for the psychologist’s help. In this area, a psychologist may work with abuse

victims, abusers, drug abusers, children, marriage problems, and people with an array of

disorders, problems, and some who just need help with a problem.

Ted Bosack, the director of the Psychology department of Providence University, was

kind enough to answer a few questions I sent to him about psychology. He stressed

that the best psychologist isn’t necessarily the one with the highest I.Q. It takes

dedication and an extreme connection with people.

Mr. Bosack said, “When you’ve got a high I.Q., you can write a book on marriage. When

you’ve got a high E.Q., you have a great marriage.” He thinks the best psychologist

needs, not only high intelligence, but high emotional understanding to better

understand people. I think his outlook sums up what a psychologist should be; someone

open to those in need of one’s understanding, one that will be a confident, as well as a

friend.