Page 631 - Understanding Psychology

Main Idea: Human behavior plays a key role in many areas of study. Studying psychology can prepare you for many career opportunities.
s A bachelor’s degree in psychology affords many options with a wide array of possible employers.
s As a profession, careers that are based on psycho- logical principles seek to predict how people will act; help people modify their behavior; and help organizations, businesses, and communities change.
Summary and Vocabulary
Psychology has made many contributions to society in the past. Its place in the future is secure because it helps people resolve issues and problems. The field of psychology is among the fastest-grow- ing in the twenty-first century.
Careers in Psychology
Chapter Vocabulary
crisis intervention program (p. 604)
ACT (p. 611)
SAT (p. 611)
forensic psychology (p. 615)
industrial/organizational psychology (p. 615)
sports psychology (p. 615) visualization (p. 615) gerontology (p. 615)
Main Idea: Psychology has made many contri- butions to society by pro- moting human welfare, clarifying assessment methods, explaining human behavior, and helping humans better understand their world.
s The most significant contribution of psychology is the development of forms of professional helping, including psychotherapy.
s Psychologists have played a leading role in devis- ing and updating educational testing programs.
s The study of psychology has implications for everyday living, especially in the areas of raising children, improving learning, and understanding the process of aging.
s The common link in careers in psychology is the desire to understand behavior.
s Psychology can be grouped into experimental fields and applied fields.
s Experimental psychologists use a variety of scientif- ic methods to study human and animal behavior.
s Applied psychologists put knowledge of psy- chology to work solving human problems.
s According to the United States Bureau of Labor, psychology is among the fastest-growing fields in the twenty-first century.
s The American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional society of psycholo- gists and educators.
s The American Psychological Society (APS) is an organization for academic and science- oriented psychologists.
s Fields of psychology that have potential for future growth include forensic psychology, industrial/ organizational psychology, and sports psychology.
s Many problems that face society today, such as violence, drugs, and AIDS, require behavioral solutions.
Psychology’s Contributions
Chapter 21 / Psychology: Present and Future 617