By Louie Vogel

Psychology the science of mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand behavior and mental processes by researching and establishing both general principles and specific cases. For many practitioners, one goal of applied psychology is to benefit society.

Nature of Work Many psychologists work directly with clients or patients. They treat people with emotional or mental disorders, people who have problems with their spouses or families, people who have psychological problems linked to illness or disease, and people who have trouble adapting to school, work, or life events. All in all, psychologists study people’s feelings, thoughts, and behavior and use this knowledge to help them function better in their day-to-day lives.

Working Conditions Clinical, school, and counseling psychologists, as well as neuropsychologists, are employed by institutions or agencies like hospitals and schools. Although they may have to work during the evenings, they typically keep regular office hours. Clinical, school, and counseling psychologists, as well as neuropsychologists, are employed by institutions or agencies like hospitals and schools. Although they may have to work during the evenings, they typically keep regular office hours. Psychologists have high levels of stress, due to tight schedules and heavy workloads. Treating clients can be extremely rewarding, but also emotionally draining. Clinical and counseling psychologists witness a lot of difficulty and pain, and sometimes have to deal with disturbing and violent behavior. Psychologists have high levels of stress, due to tight schedules and heavy workloads. Treating clients can be extremely rewarding, but also emotionally draining. Clinical and counseling psychologists witness a lot of difficulty and pain, and sometimes have to deal with disturbing and violent behavior.

Training, Qualifications, and Advancement Most psychologists have to be licensed to practice, and licensing requirements are set by individual states. All states require a graduate degree in psychology: either a master’s degree or a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD), depending on your area of specialization. It takes a total of about 6 years to earn a master’s degree (4 years for a bachelor’s degree and 1 to 2 years for a master’s degree). A doctoral degree takes an additional 4 to 5 years to complete. School psychologists usually need an Education Specialist (EdS) degree in school psychology. An EdS takes about 3 years to complete, including a year- long internship, but you need to have a master’s degree before enrolling in a specialist program

Job Outlook/Employment In Michigan there are an average of 4,760 psychologists in circulation. Annual job openings are… Total: 106 Growth: 36 Replacement: 67

Earnings According to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), the median annual income for full professors of psychology at 4-year colleges is about $75,000. After many years in the field, professors can earn over $110,000 a year!

Uses of Technology There are many forms of technology used in psychology, from using computers to analyze/record data, to computational modeling and simulation. The use of neuroimaging technology is another use of technology used to measure an aspect of brain function, often with a view to understanding the relationship between activity in certain brain areas and specific mental functions. They are beneficial because they help show the behavioral patterns found in healthy individuals. The technology replaces the average observational methods of regular therapy.

Summary I still find this career appealing. I think that I in every way, shape, and form know that I would like to become a psychologist. I always feel good when I help another individual with a problem, and always have. This job fits with my Rational personality, for example… But the reason is that they have a strong natural urge to give structure and direction wherever they are - to harness people in the field and to direct them to achieve distant goals. When in charge of an organization, whether in the military, business, education, or government, Fieldmarshals more than any other type desire (and generally have the ability) to visualize where the organization is going, and they seem able to communicate that vision to others. Their organizational and coordinating skills tends to be highly developed, which means that they are likely to be good at systematizing, ordering priorities, generalizing, summarizing, marshaling evidence, and at demonstrating their ideas

Citations