Future Jobs and Opportunities in Psychology

Cognitive Psychology

According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology is the branch of psychology that investigates how perception, attention, thought, language, and memory work, primarily by drawing conclusions from behavior. Researchers can better understand how the human brain functions by knowing how people think and absorb information. It also enables psychologists to generate new methods for assisting persons with psychological issues.

For instance, psychologists are able to come up with methods that make it simpler for persons with attentional challenges to increase their focus and concentration by realizing that attention is both a selective and finite resource. A typical research method in cognitive psychology is to infer unobserved mental processes from observable phenomena.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the study of the biology behind thoughts, perceptions, emotions, motivations, decisions, and actions. It studies the nervous system and how it controls human emotions and behaviors. Courses related to neuroscience include biology, chemistry, calculus, statistics, cognitive psychology, behavioral psychology, etc.

Most of the careers that are associated with neuroscience require doctorate-level education or a medical degree, such as neuropsychologist, neurological surgeon, and neurologist.

Child Psychology

Child psychology studies children's development. As children grow up, they will go through many stages, from birth to adulthood, that could affect their mental, physical, cognitive, and emotional health development. Child psychologists can help parents better connect with their children, and help their children progress into each new developmental stage.

They also help to identify and prevent behavioral issues at an early stage such as hyperactivity, learning issues, and mental health conditions such as autism. Majoring in child psychology can prepare one for career opportunities in psychology, education, and mental health. A licensed child psychologist will need to pursue a doctorate in child psychology.

Forensic Psychology

In the field of professional psychology, it is a subspecialty that focuses on activities that are primarily designed to offer expert psychological advice to the legal and judicial systems. Its advanced knowledge and skills, which reflect the interaction of legal theory, procedures, and law with psychological issues, practice, and ethics, are what make forensic psychology unique.

Forensic psychology also encompasses a wide range of activities, including investigations, research endeavors, evaluations, consultations, the development and implementation of treatment regimens, and providing expert witness testimony in courtrooms.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a popular major nowadays, and many have a misconception that AI is the same thing as machine learning. Guess what? They are quite different.

According to Investopedia and Columbia Engineering, AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their behaviors, while machine learning refers to the technologies that enable computer systems to improve themselves through data.

Psychology is a fantastic starting point for students who want to pursue Artificial Intelligence as their career paths, because AI is where human psychology puts into use with the implementation of technologies.

Clinical Psychology (Counseling or Therapy)

Clinical Psychology is one branch of psychology that provides mental health care for individuals. In general, clinical psychologists assess and diagnose mental disorders or emotional disturbances of their clients through interviews, observation, and professional tests. Then, they will conduct psychotherapies, including counseling sessions and behavioral modifications, in order to help the patients to achieve personal growth.

Based on CareerOneStop, a doctoral degree or a master’s degree is a typical education level for someone to be a clinical psychologist. Meanwhile, its new job opportunities are very likely in the future.

Marriage Therapists, Substance Abuse Counselors, and Psychotherapists are all common clinical psychology job paths.

Psychology is a field that constantly evolves and expands. You can find different branches within the field of psychology, and it’s important to know that no single branch is more important than another. The above stated aspects are various popular and interesting areas contributing to our understanding of us and how we think.

If you are interested in any branch of psychology, we encourage you to do some research and hopefully confirm your passions.

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