Congratulations! You have been hired to teach psychology at the university. During the first week of classes, a student stops by your office and tells you, "I'm thinking of becoming a psychology major, but I don't think I want to be a therapist. What else can I do with a psychology degree?" Briefly summarize four of the many options available.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

There are many options besides going into the clinical subfield and becoming a therapist. Those options include:Development psychologists examine the changes that occur as we age. As a developmental psychologist, you would study the entire lifespan, from infants to the elderly.Social psychologists research how people affect one another. A social psychologist may examine an advertising strategy, the development of prejudices, or the impact of peer pressure.Industrial and organizational psychologists can work as consultants, helping businesses understand the needs, motivations, and stressors affecting their employees. Productivity and worker satisfaction would be major areas of interest.Educational psychologists research effective teaching and student learning. An educational psychologist would study the impact of lectures versus discussions as well as effectiveness group activities versus individual projects.