There are many different industries that use psychology on a daily basis. Not only to treat patients, but also to educate other people. If you want to know all industries that use psychology, you should continue reading this artcle.
Since its emergence as a major in the 1950’s, psychology has grown to be one of the most popular majors in colleges across the US. Rutgers University can currently claim 3,000 students enrolled in the major with a 15 member faculty.
Cornell can attest to a 32 percent enrollment in the major (the largest enrollment at the school) with a 30 member faculty.
Finally, the Princeton Review names psychology as the second most popular major after business administration and management/commerce.
Charles Brewer, contributing writer for the International Journal of Psychology, believes the growth is due to a desire for individuals to learn about themselves and others. However, while this desire for knowledge is fed by the major, it can be eaten away by the disheartening realization that only 15-20 percent of graduating psychology majors become professional counselors.
Also, while psychology is at the top of Princeton’s top-ten most popular majors, it is on the bottom National Association of Colleges and Employers’ top-ten most profitable majors.
Industries that Use Psychology for Work
Psychology majors are in good company with most liberal arts majors when it comes to the stress of the job search. The most helpful thing any college student can do when it comes to this is seeing a career counselor and starting a resume early (some time during sophomore year). Career counselors are likely to suggest the following ideas to psychology graduates (which does not include counseling):
Clinical: Aiming to promote psychological wellbeing and deal with stress among patients, this focus is needed in hospitals, adolescent health services, hospices, social services, and mental health teams. Thats also one of the biggest industries that use psychology.
Educational: Those who can sense how students in a certain environment are learning and processing information are very sought-after by local education authorities. Their opinions are needed in public schools, private schools, colleges, and other learning or training environments.
Forensics: uses a wide range of psychological study including memory (used in assessing certain people’s testimonies), social psychology, abnormal psychology, and intelligence testing (sometimes used to test prisoners). It is a very demanding field, however, and must be approached with dedication and perseverance.
Health: A separate category from clinical, health psychologists may go into general studies that try to promote good habits, such as anti-drug propaganda, safe-sex messages, or exercise messages. They may be employed by healthcare agencies, nonprofit organizations, or rehabilitation centers.
Neuropsychology: Those who study the brain intensely can help people who have suffered damage to the brain, whether from an accident, substance abuse, or other injury. They can be employed by neurologists, rehabilitation centers, or community services. This field also requires specialization, but there is a national shortage of such experts.
Occupational: Like educational psychologists, occupational psychologists observe environments and efficiency. They can work with managers, representatives, training officers, or other specialists from the industry. The job may require research and advising, and include the study of personality, social psychology, and intelligence.
Teaching and research: The psychology staff members at colleges and universities also get to conduct research along with teaching classes. This route is a very flexible one and offers freedom and time to study for a PhD.
As the psychology major continues to grow in popularity, the options that college students have to put their study into practice also grow. They may not all go on to be counselors, but their skills are sought out in a variety of industries.
