careers in psychology apa has 56 divisions/specialty areas in psych!
TRANSCRIPT
CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
APA has 56 divisions/specialty areas in Psych!
Basic Research Subfields
• Pure science or research
• Research for the sake of finding new information and expanding the knowledge base of psychology
• Cognitive Psychologist:– Study thought processes, perception, language, attention, problem
solving, decision making, memory, intelligence
• Developmental Psychologist:– Study age related behavioral, mental, biological & social changes
throughout the lifespan.
• Educational Psychologist:– Study processes involved in learning and work to find ways to
improve the learning process.
• Experimental Psychologist:– Use experimental research method to study a variety of areas in
psychology to search for cause & effect relationships.
• Psychometric & Quantitative Psychologist:– Create, administer, score and interpret psychological tests
• Social Psychologist:– Study how other people influence our behaviors and mental
processes.
Applied Research
• Research designed to solve specific practical problems
• Forensic Psychologist:– Apply psychology to legal issues & cases
• Health Psychologist:– Identify conditions & practices associated with health & illness and work to create
ways to treat/prevent them.
• Industrial-Organizational Psychologist:– Study ways to improve working environments.
• Neuropsychologist:– Study the structure and function of the brain/nervous system and its links to
behavior and mental processes.
• Rehabilitation Psychologist:– Work with people who have lost mental functioning after an accident or health
issue.
• School Psychologist:– Work with students, parents and teachers to diagnose and treat issues that are
disrupting a student’s learning.
• Sport Psychologist:– Work with athletes to help them improve the mental factors that lead to success.
The Helping Professions
• Clinical Psychologist:– Diagnose and treat patients with psychological problems– Largest number of professional psychologists– Have a doctoral degree (not a medical doctor)
• Community Psychologist:– Work to improve mental health of traditionally underserved
communities facing difficult issues (poverty, racism, natural disasters).
• Counseling Psychologist:– Help people having trouble adjusting to major lifestyle changes (not
major disorders).
REVIEW
QUESTION: The difference between basic and applied research is…
ANSWER: Basic is scientific research trying to find new information.
Applied is research that is trying to solve a practical problem.
REVIEWQUESTION: Based on your reading, where
do most psychologists work?
ANSWER: Private Practice or Colleges & Universities