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Chapter 18
Psychology
Work Description
• Psychologists study the behavior of individuals
or groups to ascertain and understand the
fundamental processes of human behavior.
• Some psychologists interview people and
develop, administer, and score a variety of
psychological tests.
• Others work in mental health and rehabilitation
centers, hospitals, and private practice providing
counseling and therapy to persons suffering
emotional or adjustment problems.
Psychology
• Psychology is a non-medical science
• Different from Psychiatry – a branch of
medicine; Psychiatrists diagnose, provide
therapy and prescribe drugs for mental health
• SOME Clinical psychologists can prescribe
drugs but this requires more training and
extensive testing (state)
Work Description: Clinical
Psychologist
• Clinical psychologists specialize in the assessment and treatment
of persons with mental and emotional problems and illnesses.
• They apply experience and scientific knowledge of human behavior
to diagnose and treat psychological problems ranging from the
developmental crises of adolescence to extreme psychotic
conditions.
• Working in hospitals, clinics, or similar medical institutions, clinical
psychologists design and conduct research either alone or in
conjunction with physicians or other social scientists.
• All clinical psychologists apply scientific knowledge of human
behavior to the care and treatment of the handicapped and the
disturbed.
Work Description: Counseling
psychologists
• Counseling psychologists help normal or moderately
maladjusted persons, either individually or in groups, to
gain self-understanding, recognize problems, and
develop methods of coping with their difficulties.
• Counseling psychologists pay particular attention to the
role of education and work in a person’s behavior and
to the interaction between individuals and the
environments in which they live.
• This type of counseling primarily emphasizes
preventing the onset of mental illness.
Work Description: Developmental
psychologists
• Developmental psychologists specialize in
investigating the development of individuals
from prenatal origins through old age.
• They seek to determine the origins of human
behavior and the reasons for human growth
and decline.
Work Description: Educational
psychologists
• Educational psychologists design, develop, and
evaluate materials and procedures to resolve problems
in educational and training programs.
• These psychologists analyze educational problems,
develop instructional materials, determine the best
conditions for instruction, and evaluate the
effectiveness of educational programs.
• Educational psychologists are employed by school
systems, the military, private research and development
firms, and industrial concerns.
Work Description: School
psychologists
School psychologists are concerned with
developing effective programs for improving the
intellectual, social, and emotional development
of children in an educational system or school.
Work Description: Social
psychologists
Social psychologists study the effects of groups
and individuals on the thoughts, feelings,
attitudes, and behavior of the individual.
Employment Opportunities
• Educational institutions = employed about 29% of
psychologists in positions such as counseling,
testing, research, and administration.
• About 21% were employed in health care,
primarily in offices of mental health practitioners,
hospitals, physicians’ offices, and outpatient
mental health and substance abuse centers.
• Government agencies at the state and local levels
employed psychologists in correctional facilities,
law enforcement, and other settings.
Education and Training
• A doctoral degree usually is required for
independent practice as a psychologist.
• Psychologists with a PhD or Doctor of Psychology
(PsyD) qualify for a wide range of teaching, research,
clinical, and counseling positions in universities,
healthcare services, elementary and secondary schools,
private industry, and government.
• Psychologists with a doctoral degree often work in
clinical positions or in private practice, but they also
sometimes teach, conduct research, or carry out
administrative responsibilities.
Licensure
Psychologists in independent practice or those
who offer any type of patient care—including
clinical, counseling, and school psychologists—
must meet certification or licensing
requirements in all states and the District of
Columbia.
Other Qualifications
Aspiring psychologists who are interested in direct patient care must
be:
• Emotionally stable
• Mature
• Able to deal effectively with people
• Sensitive
• Compassionate
• Good communication skills
• Able to lead and inspire
• Professional Boundaries (see handout on Canvas)
Patience and perseverance are vital qualities, because achieving results
in the psychological treatment of patients or in research may take a
long time.
Advancement - specializing
• The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
recognizes professional achievement by awarding specialty
certification in 13 different areas, such as psychoanalysis,
rehabilitation, forensic, group, school, clinical health, and couple
and family.
• Candidates for ABPP certification must meet general criteria that
consist of a doctorate in psychology, as well as state licensure.
• Each candidate must then meet additional criteria of the specialty
field, which is usually a combination of postdoctoral training in
their specialty, several years of experience, and professional
endorsements, as determined by the ABPP.
• Applicants are then required to pass the specialty board
examination.
Employment Trends
• Employment of psychologists is expected to
grow 12% from 2008 to 2018, faster than the
average for all occupations.
• Employment will grow because of:
– increased demand for psychological services in
schools, hospitals, social service agencies, mental
health centers, substance abuse treatment clinics,
consulting firms, and private companies.
Earnings
Median annual earnings of wage and salary
clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in
May 2008 were $64,140.
• The middle 50% earned between $48,700 and
$82,800.
• The lowest 10% earned less than $37,900.
• The highest 10% earned more than $106,840.
Earnings
Median annual earnings of wage and salary
industrial-organizational psychologists in May
2008 were $77,010.
• The middle 50% earned between $54,100 and
$115,720.
• The lowest 10% earned less than $38,690
• The highest 10% earned more than $149,120.
Related Occupations
Other occupations with similar duties include:
• Counselors
• Social workers
• Clergy
• Sociologists
• Special education teachers
• Funeral directors
• Market and survey researchers
• Recreation workers
• Managers and specialists in human resources, training, and
labor relations