Psychology Discussion Assignment | Homework Help Websites

For this Forum, in your Initial Post you will share with your classmates your observations from your research on Developmental and Personality Psychology as subspecialties and career options.  post a 300 word minimum length “Initial Post” in response to the topic requirements 

Please be sure to address BOTH subspecialties in your response to each question.  Points will be deducted if both subspecialties are not clearly and separately addressed for each question.

 1) After researching these areas, do you find them to be career possibilities you are interested in or careers that don’t capture your interest?  Why or why not?

 2) What is at least one interesting thing you learned about each of the two subspecialties that you did not previously know? 

 3) Describe a “real-world” application for each of the two subspecialties.  How could knowledge gained through the pursuit of each subspecialty help us to understand everyday problems, dilemmas, or situations?  Note:  your answer does not have to be specific to psychology as a field.  Think broadly; psychological principles can apply to many different fields.

READING

• WEEK 2
  Lesson
• 

Welcome to week two of Professional Careers and Education in Psychology.  This week we will be considering 3 fields that look deeply into the concept of “nature versus nurture”. Breakthroughs in technology have increased scientific knowledge in the biological sciences, such as in DNA research, cloning, and stem cell research, help psychological clinicians diagnose and treat patients/clients. Our discussions this week will focus on Biopsychology, Cognitive Neuropsychology, and Clinical Neuropsychology.

Biopsychology is also referred to as physiological psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and psychobiology. Biopsychology combines different areas of neuroscience with psychology to explain the bases of behavior. Some of the areas of neuroscience integrated with psychology is neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and neuropharmacology. A biopsychologist focused on neuropharmacology would be interested in how drugs impact neural activities.

Another area of interest to biopsychologists is what behaviors result from genetics and social influences. They may also research the influence of hormones and other chemicals impact on behavior. The majority of biopsychologists are researchers and educators, employed by universities, the government, research institutes, and pharmaceutical companies.

Review the YouTube video, “What is Biopsychology with Dr. Laurence Nolan?” www.bing.com/video/search?q=Youtube%2c+whatis+biopsychology&adlt=st

Cognitive neuropsychology is a branch of cognitive psychology. The objective is to understand cognition, from the perspective of the brain. Cognitive neuropsychologists study the brain to understand the neural functions responsible for thinking, memory, attention, and language. Technology has enabled Cognitive Neuropsychologists to observe what occurs in the brain with different functions, such as when someone works a math problem or what areas of the brain are responsible for language, short-term memory, or making decisions. Cognitive Neuropsychology is predominantly research oriented and the clinicians are found in mostly research or educational settings.

Clinical Neuropsychology is the application of biopsychology, within clinical and counseling contexts. Assessments and interventions based on the study of human behavior in relationship to the central nervous system is an integral aspect of Clinical Neuropsychology. Their assessments assist doctors to understand how and why the brain malfunctions, along with identifying the associated behaviors. The more doctors understand about neurological malfunctions, they are more equipped to treat and prevent the malfunctions.

An especially significant task of Clinical Neuropsychologists is developing interventions and treatment strategies to assist clients/patients to make adaptations/changes to regain functioning capabilities for independent living and the optimal quality of life. Employment setting opportunities are similar to other psychologists, in that Clinical Neuropsychologists work in medical facilities, clinics, private practice, education, and the government.

A study completed by the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, in 2011, stated the median salary of neuropsychologists was $94,100, in the United States (http://www.theaacn.org/). The range for starting salaries was $77,500 to $80,700. The more experienced clinicians had much higher salaries. Clinical Neuropsychologists with 11 or more years had a median salary of $130,000; whereas those with 25 years or more had a median salary of $185,000.

Although the majority of lucrative career opportunities in biopsychology and neuropsychology require graduate degrees, there are jobs, which only require a bachelor’s degree. We will discuss several of the jobs available to students with only an undergraduate degree. A few of the career options are science technician, psychiatric technician, and clinical laboratory technician.  Students are afforded the opportunity to integrate their knowledge of psychology, with their knowledge and interest in biopsychology. More importantly, many entry-level positions provide “realistic” insight into clinical careers. As a result, an individual can decide if they want to pursue more education, by obtaining a graduate degree.