Psychologists study the processes, motives, reactions and nature of the human mind. They apply their knowledge to a wide range of endeavors, including health and human services, management, education, law, and sports. Psychology is the systematic study of human behaviour in all its aspects and at all stages of growth and development of humans. Psychologists apply understanding of people and their behaviour to help solve human problems.
While psychiatrists are medically qualified specialists who give treatment to the mentally sick and disturbed, a psychologist is not qualified to prescribe medication. As far as psychotherapy (without drug prescription involvement) is concerned, a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist when properly trained are equally competent.
The satisfaction level for a psychologist lies in the effectiveness of the therapy or counseling offered or the research data (for use in the future). Psychology is an art in its application and a science in the physiological study of the brain processes controlling behaviour.
Nature of Work
In their sphere of activity psychologists always work with people. They observe the workings of the human mind in isolation as well as in interaction with society. The entire social system is the workplace of the psychologist. They may be in direct contact through therapy and counseling or they may be involved in research projects. In industry too we find psychologists in high demand.
Sometimes psychologists work with disturbed people, sometimes with the mentally challenged and now quite a few are working in recruitment, career planning and human resource development.
The nature of work of a psychologist is influenced most by the areas of specialization in the subject/profession.
Work Environment
Depending upon their field of specialization and career path, psychologists work in a variety of settings. Psychologists can, thus, be found working as faculty members in a college or university. They may be working in social welfare organisations, in hospitals, in administration and basic or applied research in educational/academic research centers/institutions.
In psychological counseling and vocational guidance centers or in schools/colleges, psychologists undertake psychological testing to help them in guiding students toward the right career options based on their personalities and capabilities. Rehabilitation centers and schools for special students also require psychologists.
Industry also utilizes the professional skills of psychologists so they are visible on the corporate scene too.
Specialisations
Psychology is such a vast field that no single person can become an expert in all phases of it. Psychologists, therefore, specialise in a particular area. Many of the specialities overlap in subject matter and methodology.
Clinical psychologists use their knowledge when working with people who have helath problems or severe leaning difficulties. They work with other professionals like doctors, nurses, etc., in hospitals and community health centers. They may be in schools and colleges, rehabilitation centers, in research institutions, in teaching, in consulting for mental disability diagnosis, etc.
Counseling psychologists deal with milder problems unlike clinical psychologists who deal with people with serious emotional and personal problems. Counseling is the skill of helping normal people, through discussion, to decide how best to cope in specific situations. Counseling psychologists work in educational and professional institutions. Where they can help students sort out their emotional problems, or vocational and academic problems, reduce stress and help them develop coping strategies.
School or educational Psychologists work primarily in schools and colleges with teachers, students, parents and administrators to resolve students learning and behavioural problems.
Social psychologists seek to understand the nature and causes of individual behaviour in social situations. They work with social organisations and institutions in research, counseling practice, etc.,
Developmental psychologists study changes in behaviour that take place during the course of development and with characteristics of individuals at various levels of growth. On the pure side developmental psychologists carry out research on the development of thinking in children, in applied work or they work with disturbed children. Child psychology is a major focus of developmental psychologists as behaviour and abilities change most rapidly during the early years.
Psychometric psychology is a pivotal specialty as it serves all fields of the subject – in the applied fields of clinical counseling, school, social and industrial psychology. Psychometric psychology deals with psychological measurement by developing new tests (measurements), evaluating the usefulness of existing tests and devises, statistical techniques for handling the information obtained from tests.
Industrial/organizational/occupational psychologists may work in industry, business or government. Their involvement is wide-ranging; screening people for jobs, vocational training, supervision of personnel, improvement of communications, alleviating industrial strife, counseling employees – functioning as consultants, research workers, trainers and so on.
Engineering psychology or human factors engineering, is a sub field where psychologists try to design or instruct engineers to design equipment which people can operate easily and also help to design tasks which makes people perform more easily, efficiently and accurately.
Experimental psychologists deal with fundamentals, not applications and so their work has very little immediate practical use. Over a period of time, however, the basic research done by them helps in solving problems in applied fields.
Emerging specialists are
Neuropsychologists who study the relationship between the brain and behaviour; Health psychologists who promote good health through health maintenance counseling programmes; Geropsychologists deal with special problems faced by the elderly; Cognitive psychologists who deal with memory, thinking and perceptions; some conduct research on computer programming and artificial intelligence.
Sports psychologists are gaining in popularity.
Physical and Psychological Requirements
All psychologists should have a genuine interest in people, their behaviour and have empathy for their problems. Good communication skills, a confident manner, loads of patience, ability to work with all kinds of social/cultural and age groups are qualities that help a psychologist. Objectivity is to be maintained to be able to render the right quality of professional service. Whether pure research or application, teaching, counseling, consulting or psychotherapy, a psychologist must be very careful about interpretation and analysis keeping in mind all the variables governing human behaviour. Psychologists may need to acquire a detached interest in individuals’ and communities’ behavior rather than personal involvement. If you have an interest in Scientific method patience, education training, a warm and easy manner you will find satisfaction, fulfillment and success as a psychologist. Social and occupational psychologists should be able to get along well with people in all types of jobs, and from all strata of society; and be able to speak and write lucidly.
Child and educational psychologists should be able to interact easily with children and adolescents and handle them with patience and sympathy.
Experimental psychologists should be skilful with figures and have a facility with statistics; they should also possess scientific aptitude and ability. Clinical psychologists have to be tolerant towards, and concerned about, mentally ill or disturbed people.
Study/Training
Study of psychology as a subject can start earliest at the Plus Two/equivalent level with a combination of other social sciences and statistics. At the graduate level psychology as an honours/ major is available in almost all the recognized universities in the country. This is a three-year programme in which all aspects of psychology are studied. To establish a professional base in psychology. It is necessary to complete post graduation in the subject. Postgraduate studies are of two years’ duration and, during the course, specialization in a particular branch of psychology is usually possible. At this stage, the university you choose becomes important from the point of view of the specialization you seeking. All university Masters’ programmes in Psychology do not offer every specialsation. To get a secure base in the subject, pursuing a doctoral programme appears the best route.
Study of psychology includes a diverse range of activities such as the processes of thinking learning and perceiving, remembering, forgetting, physiology of the nervous system, development of children, social relationships and their effect on personality development, mental disorders, applications of psychology to the study of society, industry, education, etc., techniques of experimenting and testing, and statistics. There is a wide variety of topics in the professional study of psychology and some overlapping occurs between the different specialised branches.
Employment Prospects
Bachelor’s degree holders have comparatively fewer opportunities directly related to psychology. They may, at the most, find work as assistants at rehabilitation centers, in data collection, and analysis.
Psychologists are employed in research establishments, industry, personnel management, teaching at the degree or university level, employee/trainee selection boards, in management institutes, other educational and professional institutions, prisons, hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, child/youth guidance centers, advertising industry, in market research (study of consumer behaviour) and in a variety of other set-ups. In specific areas of social work,
Such as in psychiatric social work, psychologists are very much an important part of the working group of experts. The demand is growing higher in all specialised branches; to some extent there is scope for some interchange between the different specialist branches. Many psychologists write columns to help readers resolve their conflicts and confusion.
The work of a professional psychologist is challenging and remunerative too. Remunerations in the corporate sector are the highest with entry-level remuneration of Rs.15,000 per month, though salaries vary according to the level of involvement and the job profile. Monetary rewards are high in consulting and counseling practice too where an hour’s session could easily fetch Rs.500.
As complexities of society increase, psychologists will be in great demand in social, medical, educational, vocational and industrial spheres. Professional training in combination with the right personality traits is the hallmark of a successful psychologist.
Related career opportunities for psychologists are in personnel/human resources management and social work.
Around the middle of the twentieth century applied psychologists started working in prisons and similar settings and academic psychologists attempted to explain criminal behaviour in terms of psychological theories. Police officers, probation officers, lawyers, etc., who are working in the area of administration of justice are turning more and more to psychologists to solve their problems.
Career Progression
Advancement in the profession comes with experience. In the government, the advancement is time bound except at the very high levels when selectivity comes in. Here professional reputation through research/published work can be a determining factor. In industry, those with higher qualifications (doctoral degree)
Get a wider choice of employers and can opt for senior faculty and advisory positions in academia too. As complexities of life increase and the pace of work speeds up, demand for the skills of the psychologists will rise.
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