Trends in Psychology
One trend in psychology is that of educational psychology which focses on the study of learning outcomes and instructional and learning processes. Educational psychologists are brought into to help gather information for parents and teachers when students begin to display or diplay academic and or behavioral problems. Usually, they evaluate the students thinking capabilities and discover their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Once this assessment is done, the psychologist will then formulate plans to help the students learn better. Most often educational psychologists work in elementary and secondary schools but they are not limited to this. They work in other settings such as colleges, consulting organizations, even the FBI and military.
Another aspect of educational psychology involves careers where one could be employed as the school psychologist or a school counselor. School counselors help people to accommodate to change or to make changes in their lifestyle. Counselors use interviewing techniques and testing procedures to advise students on how to deal with the common problems we experience in everyday life.
One of the most interesting fields of psychology in my opinion is that of forensic psychology. Forensic psychology involves criminal investigation and the law. Currently, it is has rapidly become one of the hottest career trends sparked in part by its growing exposure on television wih the tv show Criminal Minds (my personal favorite tv show ever) and Bones to name a few. This field, although in the media, its portrayed in a much more glamours light, but in actuality, its a bit more dark but nonetheless an exicting career.Forensic psychologists also worth with experts when it comes to child custody cases and insurance cases. They also evaluate and investigate criminal cases as well.
For the most part, behavior anaylsis is something I find very interesting. Profiling, understanding how and why some people are the way they are is something of great interest to me. Currently, if I wanted to pursue this line of work, I would first need to finish my degree, get my Master's Degree, then pursue a spot with the FBI. Right now, the job market is very competitive and employers aren't just taking anyone. They want people who they know can and will make a difference. The same goes for the field within Educational Psychology. It may be even more difficult because when it comes to the welfare of our youth, educational institutues aren't letting anything slide or get by them and they really shouldn't. If one wants a certain job, do what you need to get it and show the employers that you should be considered. As for changes within myself, well thats evident. I remember being in high school and I wanted to be an actor and a screenwriter. I was in the drama club, I wrote screenplays constantly and then, by the time I was twenty one years old, I had lost complete interest in both of those. I no longer write nor want to act and I think its all about personal and emotional growth as well as maturity. When I first started college at nineteen, I chose psychology but then changed to pre med, then to architecture, then, to African American studies, then to English. It wasn't until a few years ago that I realized what I wanted to do and what I wanted to focus on. Psychology. When you are young, life is all about experimentation. You are allowed to be indecisive. Although, in this day and age, we are forever changing careers left and right, the key is, once you know what you want to do and you are adamant about it, go for it.
