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Studies & Degrees in Applied Psychology

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Applied Psychology is primarily defined as the application and utilization of principles and theories to approach problems and difficulties in various areas of health, work, or study. It is a very broad area encompassing almost all other fields that it caters to from laboratory experiments to direct counseling services. Applied Psychology has many specialized areas like clinical psychology, aviation psychology, environmental psychology, sports psychology, legal factors psychology and education psychology to name a few.

Applied psychology is most needed in every field where there is manpower, because it handles the behavior of people who work and what is best suited for them to perform better. Most of the common places where applied psychology is needed are in schools, hospitals, companies and large corporations. Emphasis was placed early on applied psychology thorough teaching methods, vocational testing, performance of various attitude tests, personality evaluations, stress performance levels and rehabilitation. Educational psychologists began their focus on the early discovery of talented persons which eventually led to the discovery of various ways to practice counseling. This in turn paved the way to reach out to those who need assistance in attaining their personal goals, vocations and deciding on their education.

Applied psychology is concerned in the optimization of the contribution of human resources in the different fields and their development. Their study aims to improve the psycho-social basis of work and all the difficulties involved that persons may encounter. Through research and experimentation, Applied Psychologists are able to trace patterns of personality problems and the definitive treatment for each to avoid mental incapacities. Their work is aimed in response to the society’s growing concern for the treatment of mentally ill and improvement of current trends in the preventive measures against mental sickness.

Psychologists have now contributed largely to human resources planning and the industrialization of today’s modern society. They have developed way and means to select appropriate persons for the jobs and as such the trend today for most companies is hiring people who are suited for the job and not fitting the job to the person hired. Applied psychology has affected and improved most of the problems in human resources for almost all the fields and areas for work that are present. They can range from resourcing sports personalities, entertainment personalities, executives, workers in the medical and allied health professions, company employees, and staff in schools and universities.

The work environment of applied psychologists is usually in clinics, where they have their own office space, like in schools, companies and hospitals. In some cases, psychologists need to travel or relocate together with their work, like on sports and environmental psychology where the practice has to transfer to different places. Compensation for Applied Psychologists is usually high, most especially in private practice or for large corporations and the job outlook is very high, as industrialization is fast spreading throughout the globe.

Job positions for Applied Psychology:

School Psychologist

Many of those who have obtained a degree in Applied Psychology work as School Psychologists. This career involves working with the teachers and other educators to develop strategies and better approaches for teaching according to what would best work for the children. The child psychologists work to give personality tests to determine the learning style and level of the students. They suggest improvements of classroom management and help parents with their parenting techniques. They also evaluate students with disabilities and those gifted with special talents to help create the best approach for their learning.

School psychologists are mostly concerned about students behaviors, most of them work as Guidance Counselors that help the school authorities when children are unruly or act indifferently to their peers. They help discover the nature of the problem causing the students to behave in such a manner, like family problems, peer pressure and low self- esteem. School Psychologists also help plan school activities that would best suit the learning and interest of the pupils. They help determine the social activities of the school, suggesting those that would encourage students to have confidence and character while still young. Part of their job is also to evaluate the effectiveness of the schools programs like academic programs, behavior management programs and other programs also related to the student’s environment.

School Psychologists are very well- trained in psychology and education. They are required to complete a graduate Specialist-level degree that is comprised of an internship program focused on evidence and data-based decision making, consultation, effective programs and instructions, child development, school management, behavioral study and observation, effective planning and collaboration, intervention, research, discovery of different learning styles and evaluation of pupils and educators as well. Generally, school psychologists must be licensed in the state or area where they work, or depending on the rules and regulations of the country they are working in. Experience is also a factor to obtain a license, as some areas and countries would like those with a background on the work of a School Psychologist.

School Psychologists should be well coordinated with parents and teachers most especially in handling cases of students who are evidently disturbed and different from the others. Some students have inner problems which would result in drug addiction, violence, psychological problems and other disturbing conditions that are devastating is left unattended. Several issues in school are handled by the School Psychologist, which is why there is a need for them to be able to work under pressure. They review cases concerning different individuals with personalities and they should be able to determine different behavioral patterns. After an assessment, they should also be able to generate an effective approach or treatment to the student. School Psychologists are usually well compensated, most especially in private elementary and secondary schools.