WHAT TYPE OF PSYCHOLOGIST WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?

    Psychologists specialize in different areas within the field of psychol­ogy. Let's look at some of the options available for you.

    Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. These vary from short-term crises, divorce to chronic problems, such as schizophrenia. Some clinical psychologists treat specific problems exclusively, such as phobias or clinical depres­sions. Others focus on specific groups: youngsters, ethnic minority groups, and the elderly, for example.

  Counseling psychologists help people recognize their strengths and resources to fight with their problems. Counseling psychologists do  counseling and psychotherapy, teaching, and scientific research with individuals of all ages, families, and organizations (e.g., schools, hospitals, businesses). Counseling psychologists help people understand and take action on career and work problems. They pay attention to how prob­lems and people differ across life stages. Counseling psychologists have great respect for the influence of differences among people (such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion) on psychological well-being. They believe that behavior is affected by many things, including quali­ties of the individual (e.g., psychological, physical, or spiritual factors) and factors in the person's environment (e.g., family, society, and cul­tural groups).

    Educational psychologists concentrate on how effective teaching and learning take place. They consider a variety of factors, such as hu­man abilities, student motivation, and the effect on the classroom of the diversity of race, ethnicity, and culture.

     Industrial/organizational psychologists apply psychological princi­ples and research methods to the work place in the interest of improving productivity and the quality of work life. Many serve as human re­sources specialists, helping organizations with staffing, training, and employee development. And others work as management consultants in such areas as strategic planning and quality management.

    Rehabilitation psychologists work with stroke and accident vic­tims, people with mental retardation, and those with developmental disabilities caused by such conditions as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. They help clients adapt to their situation, frequently working with other health care professionals. They deal with issues of personal problems and interpersonal relations.

     School psychologists work directly with public and private schools. They assess and counsel students, consult with parents and school staff.

Questions to the text.

1. What do clinical psychologists do?

2. What are the specific groups of clinical psychologist's patients?

3. What do counseling psychologists do?

4. What do counseling psychologists give great respect for?

5. What do educational psychologists concentrate on?

6. What are the goals of industrial/organizational psychologists?

7. Where do many organizational psychologists work?

8. What can rehabilitation psychologist do for people with stroke?

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PSYCHOANALYSIS AS A THEORY AND A THERAPY

     Sigmund Freud was a pioneer in the study of unconscious mental activity. His theories on the inner workings of the human mind are now accepted by most schools of psychological thought. In 1896, Freud created the term ""psychoanalysis," and later he developed its main principles, objectives, techniques, and methodology of psychoanalysis.

     Psychoanalysis focuses on the unconscious aspects of personality. According to Freud the human mind is like an iceberg. He believed that the conscious level of the mind was similar to the top of the iceberg which could be seen, but the unconscious was mysterious and was hid­den.

      In An Outline of Psychoanalysis Freud explains the principles of the psychoanalytic theory. He begins with an explanation of the three parts of the psychic apparatus — the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is the unconscious part that contains the instincts. The ego has the quality of being conscious and is responsible for controlling the demands of the id. It serves as a link between the id and the external world. Finally, the superego, whose demands are managed by the id, is responsible for the limitation of satisfactions and represents the influence of others, such as parents, teachers, and role models, as well as the impact of racial, so­cietal, and cultural traditions.

     As a therapy, psychoanalysis is based on the concept that individuals are unaware of the many factors that cause their behavior and emo­tions. These unconscious factors have the potential to produce unhap-piness, which is expressed through a number of symptoms such as diffi­culty in relating to others, or problems with self-esteem. The basic ob­jective of psychoanalysis is to remove neuroses and thereby cure pa­tients by returning the damaged ego to its normal state.

    The method of psychoanalysis has several steps. First, analysts gather material from patient's free associations, dreams and slips of the tongue. Second, analysts begin to form hypotheses about what hap­pened to the patients in the past and what is happening to them in their daily life. If analysts reveal their conclusions to patients too soon, resis­tance due to repression will occur. Overcoming this resistance requires additional time and effort by both the analysts and the patients. Once patients accept the conclusions, they are cured.

     The value of psychoanalysis as a theory and as a therapy has been questioned since the early 1900s. Critics dispute the value of the data upon which Freud based his theories; and the method and effectiveness of psychoanalytic treatment. However, we should not forget the revolutionary introduction of the unconscious aspects of personality in the discipline of psychology.

Questions to the text.

1. What term did Freud create and developed in the field of psychology?"

2. What does psychoanalysis focus on?

3. How did Freud describe a human mind?

4. What are the three parts of the psychic apparatus, according to Freud?

5. Which part of the psychic apparatus has the quality of being conscious?

6. Which part of the psychic apparatus represents the influence of others?

7. Which part of the psychic apparatus contains instincts?

8. What concept is psychoanalysis based on?

9. How can unhappiness be expressed?

10. What is the basic objective of psychoanalysis according to Sigmund Freud?

11. What are the main steps of psychoanalysis?

12. Why do patients have to reach conclusions on their own?

13. When is the patient considered to be cured?

14. How did some psychologists criticize psychoanalysis?

15. What was revolutionary about the method of psychoanalysis?