Page 618 - Understanding Psychology

Figure 21.1 Areas of Expertise of Ph.D. Psychologists
In the past 20 years, the number of people receiving doctorate degrees in the field of psychology has grown by more than 180 per- cent. Which area of expertise has enjoyed the greatest growth?
1975 1985 1995
Clinical/Counseling/School 35% Experimental/Comparative/Physiological 17% Developmental/Child/Social/Personality 14% Educational 5% Industrial/Organizational 3% Other psychology subfields 26%
44% 50% 17% 16% 14% 13% 4% 3% 3% 3% 18% 15%
Source: NSF/SRS Surveys of Doctorate Recipients. Compiled by APA Research Office, May 1999.
Reading Check
How is psychology both a science and a profession?
crisis intervention program: short-term psycho- logical first aid that helps indi- viduals and families deal with emergencies or highly stressful situations
a career. I was leaning toward business administra- tion, but my sister just grad- uated with an M.B.A. I don’t want to be just like her. I’ve got more choices than I can handle.”
This conversation is imaginary but typical for juniors and seniors in high school. You do have many options. Because you have spent a period of time study- ing psychology, it may be beneficial to respond to ques- tions about psychology: What will I do with what I
have learned? Was it worth it if this is the only psychology course I ever take? What careers in psychology are open to me? To help you find answers to these questions, this section offers several descriptions of opportunities in psy- chology careers. The careers described here, though, are only a few in the vast field of psychology and related fields.
What Are Employers Looking For?
Employers are most likely to hire someone who offers special skills. In psychology, as in many other fields, job choices are limited if you have only a high school diploma. Surprisingly, when you have a Ph.D., you also have relatively few choices, but by that time you have chosen to fine-tune your education and experience for a specific kind of job; you are a specialist.
Those with a bachelor’s degree in psychology may have the most options with the widest array of possible employers. Moreover, psy- chology is a logical undergraduate major for those planning graduate work in such fields as sociology, social work, law, medicine, or education. Human behavior plays a key role in all of these areas.
Some Career Options
Psychology is both a science and a profession. As a science, psycholo- gists study how people perceive, think, feel, and act. In the professional arena, careers that are based on psychological principles seek to predict how people will act; help people modify their behavior; and help organi- zations, businesses, and communities to change.
Crisis Hot Line Adviser
Employer: a large hospital
Can you do it? A person holding this job might be a senior in high school. For crisis intervention programs, applicants must complete a com- prehensive training program. A county hospital, for instance, might offer
604 Chapter 21 / Psychology: Present and Future