Psychology
Psychology
In terms of content and outlooks, psychology is a very diverse discipline. Although psychology is a scientific discipline, it has philosophical roots. The fact that the American Psychological Association (APA) has 54 divisions is proof of the diverse nature of psychology. Each of these divisions addresses a different outlook of psychology (Plante, 2010). It is because of this unparalleled diversity that psychologists are able to expand in areas of assessment, diagnosis, and explanation. Due to its diverse nature, psychology encompasses various areas and subfields. Today, psychology can be applied and is valued in numerous fields. It has been successfully applied to fields such as business, education, sports, and vocational medicine.
Psychology can be defined as the scientific way of studying the human mind and human behavior (Feldman, 2013). In the field of psychology, a psychologist’s work involves using research to define, explain, and predict human behaviors, emotions so that they can change and enhance the lives of people. Everything that we do, feel, say, and think is rooted in how well our mind functions and if it functions properly ("What is psychology?"). Thus, by studying human behavior, scientists are able to test theories on the mind.
Diversity of Careers in Psychology
Psychology is a popular discipline and is taught at universities in all states and territories in the U.S. Psychology can prove to be a very gratifying and worthwhile career choice since there is a diverse array of specialties and workplace settings to choose from. Qualified psychologists bring a unique set of skills that of great value in vast variety of workplace contexts. Psychologists are highly and increasingly in demand in academic applied research settings, consulting firms, defense forces, law courts, hospitals, schools etc.
Subfields of Psychology
It is evident that psychology is a diverse field, and thus, over the years many subfields have developed within it (Terre and Stoddart, 2000).
Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology focuses on assessing, diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental disorders. Although clinical psychologists work in clinical and medical settings, they are not medical doctors and generally, cannot prescribe medications. Clinical psychology is a very large subfield and includes a variety of specialties, such as a child psychologist.
Child psychologist: Child psychologists study the behavior and the mind of children, from birth until adulthood. Child psychologists usually work with children of all ages. They may also work with children suffering from psychological disorders. As a part of their job, child psychologists may administer psychological tests on children, carry out research on child development, treat children suffering from psychological disorders, etc. It is always better to enter the field of child psychology with at least a Masters Degree in Psychiatry (Child Psychology); however, a Ph.D in Psychiatry, with child psychology as the specialization, can ensure a more fulfilling career. Child psychologists usually work in different settings, including academic and research settings, in the legal system, and even as social workers.
Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology focuses on the application of psychology in a legal setting to investigate crimes. The subfield of forensic psychology has become very popular in recent years because of its portrayal in films and television shows. Forensic psychologists make use of psychology within civil courts and the criminal justice system as a whole.
Forensic psychologist: Forensic psychologists lend their psychological expertise in criminal and legal matters. Forensic psychologists are usually present in criminal trials in order to assess and evaluate prisoners, and testify based on their expertise ("Criminal forensic psychologist"). They may evaluate whether a defendant is legally insane before being acquitted by reason of insanity. They may also assess and provide psychotherapy to victims of crimes. Those who want to pursue a career in forensic psychology should start by earning a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology, which can take five to seven years. They can also increase their potential by earning a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. Since forensic psychologists are involved in the criminal justice system, they usually work in criminal courts and law enforcement agencies.
Practical Applications of Psychology
Three major psychological concepts learned in the course that can be applied in real life and can help understand patients better, from the perspective of a health professional, include theory of emotion, approach and avoidance, and cognition.
Theory of emotion: Different aspects of human emotion are explained by this theory. For instance, emotions signs of how human beings respond towards different things and the reactions of their bodies reveal their emotions. Since thoughts are also a part of emotions, often these thoughts are expressed in outside behaviors. A better understanding of emotion can help health professionals understand the cause of particular feelings that a patient might be feeling.
Approach and avoidance: Behavior that stems from positive stimuli is referred to as approach motivation, while behavior that stems from negative stimuli is referred to as avoidance motivation (Elliot, 2006). This course has helped understand the concept of approach and avoidance motivation. For instance, people display happiness or react in a positive manner when experiencing positive stimuli, while they display anxiety and fear when experiencing negative stimuli. Health professionals can apply this concept to understand whether patients are reacting to positive or negative stimuli.
Cognitive behavior: Cognitive behavior is a concept within cognitive psychology that suggests that the behavior of people follows their thoughts, so if their thoughts are altered their behavior will also change and vice versa (Plante, 2011). Therefore, health professionals can apply cognitive-behavior therapy to treat numerous mental disorders since it allows them to change a patient’s thoughts to change their behavior and vice versa.
Conclusion
Psychology is applicable in various aspects of life. Psychologists study numerous aspects of human life through psychological testing, and as shown, psychology is a diverse discipline and field, where there are a myriad of career opportunities.
References
Criminal forensic psychologist: Career info, duties and requirements. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://education-portal.com/articles/Criminal_Forensic_Psychologist_Career_Info_Duties_and_Requirements.html
Elliot, A. J. (2006). The hierarchical model of approach-avoidance motivation. Journal of Behavioural Sciences, 30(2), 111–116. doi: 10.1007/s11031-006-9028-7
Feldman, R. S. (2013). Psychology and your life. (02 ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
Plante, T. G. (2010). Contemporary clinical psychology. (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Terre, L., & Stoddart, R. M. (2000). Cutting-edge specialties for graduate study in psychology. Kansas: University of Missouri.
What is psychology?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/articles/psychology/what_is_psychology.shtml
