1. Careers in Psychology
Module 3

2. Describe what psychologists in various professions do and where they work.
Lesson Objective

3. Why a Psych Degree You Ask?
Benefits of a Psychology Degree:
Graduate with a scientific mind-set
Awareness of human behavior
Prepares you for success in multiple areas.
Business
Health Services
Marketing
Law
Sales
Teaching

4. Basic Research Subfields
Focus
Careers
Cognitive Psychologists
Research: designing-computer based models of thought processes and identifying biological correlates of cognition.
Study thought processes
Focus on language, perception, attention, problem solving, memory, judgement & decision making, forgetting and intelligence.
Professor
Industrial consultant
Human factors specialists – education or business
Developmental Psychologists
Research: topics related to learning or develop innovative methods of teaching to enhance the learning process.
Interested in the psychological processes involved in learning
Study the relationship between learning & physical and social environments.
Design tests – measures of aptitude & achievement.
Develop strategies for enhancing the learning process.
Universities
Schools or Government Agencies
Agencies that design & implement effective employee-training programs.
Experimental Psychologists
Research: not limited to the field!
Comparative methods of science, motivation, learning thought, attention, memory, perception, and language.
Investigate a variety of basic behavioral processes in humans and other animals.
Very diverse group
Most identify with a particular subfield.
Academic setting – teaching, supervising students’ research in addition to conducting your own.
Research Institutes
Zoos
Businesses
Government Agencies
Psychometric & Quantitative Psychologists
*Must be well trained in research methods, statistics, and computer technology!
Study the methods and techniques used to acquire psychological knowledge.
Updates existing neurocognitive or personality tests
Devises new tests for businesses, schools, and industry & clinical settings.
Administer, score, and interpret the tests.
Collaborate with researchers to design, analyze, and interpret the results of research programs.
University or college
Testing company
Private research firm
Government agency
Social Psychologists
Study Topics:
Attitudes
Aggression
Prejudice
Interpersonal attraction
Group behavior
Leadership
Interested with our interactions with others.
Study how our beliefs, feelings, and behavior are affected by and influence other people.
University or College
Organization Consultation
Market Research
Social Neuroscience
Hospitals
Federal agencies
Businesses performing applied research.

5. Applied Research Studies
Focus
Careers
Forensic Psychologists
Apply psychological principals to legal issues.
Conduct research on the interface of the law & psychology.
Help to create public policies related to public health.
Consult on jury selections & deliberation processes.
Assessment to assist the legal community.
Most are clinical psychologists
University
Law school
Research organization
Community mental health agency
Law enforcement agency
Courts
Correctional settings.
Health Psychologists
Promote health & preventing disease
Help individuals lead healthier lifestyles by designing, conducting, & evaluating programs
Identify conditions and practices associated with health *& illness to help create interventions
Public Service – study & work to improve govt. policies & health care systems.
Hospital
Medical School
Rehabilitation center
Public health agency
College
Clinical psychologists private practice
Industrial-Organization (I/O) Psychologists
Study the relationship between people & their working environments.
Develop new ways to increase productivity, improve personal selection, or promote job satisfaction.
Interests are organization structure & change, consumer behavior, & personal selection & training.
Conduct workplace training or provide organizational analysis & development.
Business
Industry
Government
Self employed consultant
Management consulting firm
Neuropsychologists
Investigate the relationship between neurological processes and behavior.
Assess, diagnose, or treat the central nervous system disorders.
Evaluate individuals for evidence of head injuries, learning & developmental disabilities, & adhd
Academic Settings
Rehabilitation Psychologists
Work with people who have lost optimal functioning after an accident, illness, or other event.
Federal rehabilitation agency
Private practice
School Psychologists
Assess and intervene for children in educational settings
Diagnose & treat cognitive, social & emotional problems that affect student’s learning.
Collaborate with teachers, parents, & administrators to improve students learning.
Academic setting
Government Agency
Behavior research laboratory
Sports Psychologists
Study the psychological factors that influence sports.
Research, teaching, & participating in sports.
Counsel those with psychological problems (with counseling degree)
Academic Setting
Sports team
Private capacity

6. Careers/Requirements
Helping Professions
Focus
Careers/Requirements
Clinical Psychologists
Promote physical health in all.
Treat a range of disorders or may specialize in a specific one
Engage in research, teaching, assessment, & consultation
Hold workshops, lectures
Doctorate from a clinical psychology program required
Private Practice
Universities
Mental heath service organizations
Schools
Industries
Legal & Medical Systems
Counseling centers
Government agencies & military services
Community Psychologists
Study broad problems of mental health in community settings.
Believe that human behavior is influence by the interaction between people and their environment.
Seek to promote psychological health by enhancing environmental settings, focusing on preventive measures and crisis intervention.
PREVENTION
Work with public health psychologists to understand their focus better.
Federal department of mental health, corrections, & welfare
Independent Consultant
Universities or Colleges
Counseling Psychologists
Help people adjust to life transitions or make lifestyle changes.
Conduct therapy and provide assessments to individuals and groups.
Provide emphasis on client’s strengths, helping them to use their own skills, interests, and abilities to cope during transitions.
Academic Setting
Community Mental health center
Business
Private practice (must have state license to provide counseling)