Various Duties of Psychologists
A lot of people think of psychologists as those who work in an office covered in dust to provide therapeutic services to patients. Without doubt, this is a part of psychology. Clinical psychologists do offer a wide range of therapies, from hypnotherapy to prolonged analytical treatment. In contrast with a psychiatrist, however, psychologists are not allowed to prescribe medications.
But psychologists can also formulate hypotheses or theories, which help explain the things they observe. Often they focus on individual behavior; in particular, on the feelings and beliefs that lead to a person's behavior.
Research techniques vary depending on what topics are being studied, but in general the main methods used are observation, assessment, and experimentation. There are various ways by which psychologists gather information and assess behavior and these include controlled laboratory experiments, biofeedback, hypnosis, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, or by administering various tests on personality, aptitude, performance, or intelligence. Other means consist of questionnaires, interviews, surveys, clinical studies, and observation—seeking for cause-and-effect patterns among events and for general patterns of human behavior.
Research findings in psychology help explain emotion, feelings, thought, or behavior. These have significantly broadened our knowledge on why animals and people behave the way they do. For instance, psychologists have taught us the process by which our personality develops and how to stimulate healthy development. They have also provided us with information on how to diagnose and treat substance abuse and alcoholism and, how to help students study or how people can change their bad habits and conduct. The insights of psychologists have greatly helped many people become better individuals, workers friends, and family members.
Psychologists may also carry out numerous duties in various industries. For instance, those employed in the field of health service may provide psychological healthcare in clinics, hospitals, schools, or private settings. Those working in applied settings, such as industry, government, business, or non-profit organizations may design organizational systems, conduct research or training and act as advocates for psychology.