What do Psychologists Do Types of Psychologists Learning

What do Psychologists Do? Types of Psychologists

Learning Objectives Students should be able to: • Define psychology • Summarize the major goals of psychology • Explain the difference between a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist • Describe the major subfields within psychology

What is Psychology? • Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. • Psychology consist of the many theories – proposed ideas for reasons for relationships among events.

What are the goals of Psychology? • Psychology is a science and like other sciences, it seeks to: – – Describe Explain Predict Control

What do Psychologists do? • Psychologists may have multiple areas of interest but in general they engage in three major areas: – Research • Pure/basic and applied research – Practice – Teaching

Places/Settings Psychologists Work • • Schools Universities/Colleges Hospitals Mental Health Centers Organizations Private practice Jails/Courts/Prisons

Differentiations and Misconceptions • Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist • Psychologist vs. psychoanalyst • Psychologist vs. psychotherapist

Fields of Psychology • Clinical Psychologist: – Focus on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders as well as treatment of behavioral and emotional problems. – E. g. schizophrenia, OCD, depression. – Most represented field, accounts for about 47%

Fields of Psychology Counseling Psychologist – Tend to work with relatively normal people with temporary everyday problems (moderate severity). – E. g. marital conflict, sexual difficulties, work stress, adjustment.

Fields of Psychology • School Psychologist – Work with teachers, parents and children to help students’ behavioral, emotional and learning problems. – Assess children and develop intervention programs to eliminate or minimize the issues. • Experimental Psychologist – Study areas such as memory, language, and thinking of humans by using sophisticated research methods. – Work mostly in research settings

Fields of Psychology Developmental Study why and how people change over time Including physical, mental, social and emotional- from prenatal period through to old age. Subgroups: Child psychologist Adolescent psychologist Life-span psychologist

Fields of Psychology Physiological Psychologist Examine the biological bases of behavior, thoughts an emotions For example: Neuropsychologist – focus on the brain and nervous system Biological psychologist – focus on the body’s biochemistry. E. g. ways hormones, medication or drugs affect us. Forensic Psychologist Work in prisons, jails, and other settings to assess and diagnose inmates and assist with rehab and treatment Also research eyewitness testimony of jury decision making.

Fields of Psychology • Industrial/Organizational Psychologist • Apply the principles of psychology to the workplace. • Concerned with selecting and training personal and improving productivity and working conditions. • Human Factors/Engineering Psychologist • Design equipment to maximize employee performance and minimize employee accidents.

Fields of Psychology Consumer Psychologist Study behavior of shoppers in an effort to predict and influence their behavior. E. g. how to arrange good/products to be more appealing Health Psychologist Study how behavior and attitude are related to physical health. E. g. stress and cancer Sports Psychologist Help to improve performance of sports athletes

Reference • Morris, C. G. & Maistro, A. A. (2010). Understanding Psychology (9 th Ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. • Rathus, S. A. (2007) Psychology: Concepts and Connections (8 th Ed. ). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.