Careers in Psychology
Instructions:
During Weeks 3 and 5 of the course, you will select three professional psychology sub-specialties from a list at the end of these instructions and submit a 2-3 page (total length) report addressing the issues below. Page length does not include a title page, abstract, references, direct quotes, or graphs/illustrations (should you choose to include them). Utilize the American Psychological Association website at http://www.APA.org and at least one other occupation-related website (e.g. the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Online) related to the sub-specialties (the latter must be professional and not commercial sites) to help you understand:
Using your own words (that is, do not use any direct quotes), define and describe type of work in which professionals within a particular sub-specialty engage. For example, name a specific career someone with a degree in clinical psychology might have and provide the job description (“Someone with a doctoral degree in clinical psychology may choose to work as a clinical psychologist. A clinical psychologist is someone who [include tasks of a clinical psychologist here].)”
The educational preparation and training the sub-specialty requires.
Any professional license or certification required, and how it is obtained, before one may practice within the sub-specialty (if these are not required, this must be noted in the paper). Use the requirements of the state in which you live or the state in which you are interested in practicing to complete this section.
Describe a specific professional organization supporting a sub-specialty (e.g. National Council on Family Relations, NCFR, supports the sub-specialty of Developmental Psychology). Explain how the professional organization supports the psychologists it represents, and include the websites of each organization within the body of the paper.
The last paragraph at the end of the paper will summarize the student’s interest, or lack of interest, in one of the sub-specialties discussed this week based on learning obtained while researching it.
THIS ARE THE THREE SUB-SPECIALTIES (BOTH HAVE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ESSAY. ON WEEK THREE THE WRITTER INCLUDED ONLY ONE I NEED THE THREE IN THE ESSAY)
Experimental Psychology
Health Psychology
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Solution.
Careers in Psychology
Health Psychology
Health psychology as a branch of psychology focuses on how psychosocial and biological factors affect a person’s physical well-being regarding illness and health (American Psychological Association, 2016). Evidently, it concentrates on the common factors that contribute to our health. Health psychologists majorly take part in explaining the paradigm of how people manage their illness. They are responsible for developing efficient strategies that foster the emotional and physical well-being of individuals. Health psychologists mainly operate in clinical settings where they conduct clinical assessments and interviews. Also, they take part in intervention plan for patients in programs such as reducing stress, avoiding deskbound behaviors as well as quitting smoking.
Evidently, a Ph.D. in psychology or a PsyD Degree allows one to practice as a clinical health psychologist, community health psychologist or a public health psychologist. Additionally, one can take a degree to become a medical doctor. For an individual to be licensed to practice, he or she must have a doctoral degree and a completion of an exam provided by the APA. The Society for Health Psychologists (SfHP) under Division 38 of the American Psychological Association comprises of qualified health psychologists who advance their contributions of the understanding psychology of illness through intensive clinical research. Also, the division helps in publishing journals for health psychologists in the bimonthly Health Psychology journal and in the quarterly newsletter, The Health Psychologist. (https://societyforhealthpsychology.org/index.cfm) Also, they offer a listing of educational programs in the field and awards students annually. Also, there is the National Alliance of Professional Psychologist (NAPP) which is an organization with all psychologists that focus on improving healthcare policy and promotion of doctoral level practice. The website is http://www.nappp.org/index.html
Experimental Psychology
Experimental psychology involves the use of scientific methods to explore human and animal behavioral patterns (Pursuing a Career in Experimental Psychology, 2016). The unique part that experimental psychologist utilize is the use of scientific to collect and analyze data as well as perform research. Experimental Psychologists contribute a lot in different fields as they provide insights that improve teaching and the learning processes, health promotion, creating conducive workplaces, and so on. A career involves eloquent statistical skills in collection and analysis of data. Research by the U.S Bureau of Statistics suggests , experimental psychologists must attain a Ph.D. in experimental psychology to attain a license to practice. Additionally, one can pursue a Master’s Degree in Experimental Psychology.
Most Experimental Psychologist work on colleges, consulting firms, government research institutes, private institutions, and so on. They primarily possess skills such as problem-solving abilities, being dedicated, being organized and are detail-oriented. Also, under division three of the APA, there is the Society of Experimental Psychologists just as the SfHP.(website: www.sepsych.org/) Also, the Society of Multivariate Experimental Psychology is an association of experimental psychologist that focuses on research in multivariate quantitative methods and their application to substantive problems in psychology. Website https://www.smep.org/
Industrial/Organizational Psychology (I/O)
I/O psychologists focus on the behavioral patterns of employees in a work environment (American Psychological Association, 2016). I/O psychologists apply the knowledge and principles in psychology coupled with extensive research to improve the overall work environment, in areas of performance, communication, safety and professional satisfaction. Most of the organization psychologists work in diverse sectors within multiple types of industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, labor unions as well as commercial enterprises.
For one to attain a license as an Organizational psychologist, he or she must have a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Although, multiple opportunities present themselves when one holds a Master’s Degree in psychology. The Occupational Outlook Handbook rated I/O psychologist area of expertise as the largest area of employment this is the largest area of employment. High-paying I/O psychologists are in fields such as management and technical services (Bureau Labor of Statistics, 2016). Just as health and experimental psychologist, Division 14 of the APA have the Society of I/O psychologists which provide publishing and research contribution for the betterment of psychology. Website http://www.siop.org/
After an intensive research on these fields, I have much interest in undertaking a career in I/O psychology since the area has vast opportunities for employment. Also, understanding the work environment and applying psychological skills in the world of business is an interest on my side.
References
American Psychological Association. (2016). Pursuing a Career in Health Psychology. Retrieved October 7, 2016, from American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/action/science/health/education-training.aspx
American Psychological Association. (2016). Pursuing a Career in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Retrieved October 7, 2016, from American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/action/science/organizational/education-training.aspx
Bureau Labor of Statistics. (2016). Occupation Outlook handbook.Retrieved October 7, 2016, from Bureau Labor of Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Pursuing a Career in Experimental Psychology. (2016). Retrieved October 7, 2016, from American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/action/science/experimental/education-training.aspx