Imagine that you have a cousin who is a senior in high school and who has starte
ID: 78606 • Letter: I
Question
Imagine that you have a cousin who is a senior in high school and who has started to think about possible careers. All he knows about psychologists is that they are interested in behavior. Describe for him the main theoretical perspectives within psychology (e.g., behaviorist, humanist, sociocultural, biological, ...) and then describe the opportunities for a career within the field of psychology. What are the different types of psychologists and what kinds of questions do they attempt to answer?
Explanation / Answer
Perspectives are approaches that involves certain assumption about human behavior. The major perspectives in psychology are,
Biological approach: It tries to find the interconnection between genetic makeup, nervous system and hormones with thoughts, mood and actions of the individual.
Psychodynamic approach: This perspective says that many of our impulses are driven by sex. Unconscious drives and experiences from early childhood are the causes of behaviors and conflict arises when societal restrictions are placed on these urges.
Behavioral approach: External environment influences the behavior. According to this approach, behaviors can be trained in certain ways.
Cognitive approach: Behavior is determined by expectations and emotions.
Humanistic approach: This approach works in individualistic environment. This approach believes that all humans are essentially good and motivated to realize their full potential.
Career oppurtunities for psychologists:
Types of psychologists:
Clinical psychologists: Clinical psychologists deal with problems ranging from short-term personal issues to severe, chronic conditions.
Counseling psychologists help patients deal with and understand problems, including issues at home, at the workplace, or in their community.
Forensic psychologists use psychological principles in the legal and criminal justice system to help legal specialists understand the psychological aspects of a particular case.
School psychologists apply psychological principles and techniques to education and developmental disorders. They help students in dealing learning and behavioral problems.
Social psychologists study how people’s mindsets and behavior are shaped by social interactions.