What Is the Difference Between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?

What Is Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour. Psychologists observe and record how people and other animals relate to one another and to the environment. They look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behaviour, and they use scientific methods to test their ideas. Through such studies, psychologists have learned much that can help people fulfill their potential as human beings and increase understanding between individuals, groups, nations, and cultures.

Psychology is a broad field that explores a variety of questions about thoughts, feelings, and actions. Psychologists ask such questions as: "How do we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel? What enables us to learn, think, and remember, and why do we forget? What activities distinguish human beings from other animals? What abilities are we born with, and which must we learn? How much does the mind affect the body, and how does the body affect the mind? For example, can we change our heart rate or temperature just by thinking about doing so? What can our dreams tell us about our needs, wishes, and desires? Why do we like the people we like? What is mental illness?"

The research findings of psychologists have greatly increased our understanding of why people behave as they do. For example, psychologists have discovered much about how personality develops and how to promote healthy development. They have some knowledge of how to help people change bad habits and how to help students learn. They understand some of the conditions that can make workers more productive. A great deal remains to be discovered. Nevertheless, insights provided by psychology can help people function better as individuals, friends, family members, and workers.

4. Ответьте на вопросы, основываясь на содержании прочитанного текста.

• What is psychology?

• What do psychologists do?

• What does psychology explore?

• What kind of questions do psychologists ask?

• Why do we need psychological research?

• How can psychology help us?

5. Ответьте на вопросы по теме урока, выразив собственное мнение.

• Why do you want to become a professional psychologist?

• What is your favorite topic in psychology?

• When do you think a person should consult a psychologist?

Main fields of Psychology

The word psychology comes from two Greek words: "Psyche" meaning "mind" or "soul" and "Logos" meaning "study of. Therefore, psychology means "study of the mind". There are many modern definitions of the term. One of them belongs to Atkinson, who defined psychology as "the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes". However, psychologists always disagreed not only about the definition of psychology, but also about what they should study and how they should do it.

The year 1879 is considered to be the start of psychology as a separate discipline. It was the date when Wilhelm Wundt created the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. Americans disagree and think that William James was the "founding father of psychology" because in 1875 he started teaching a course on the relationship between physiology and psychology at Harvard University. In 1890 he wrote a book "Principles of psychology" which was a very important step in the history of psychology.

Structuralism was the first approach in psychology. It was described by Wundt who thought that the object of psychological investigation should be the conscious mind. According to Wundt, the mind should be studied by introspection (looking at one's own mental experience) in order to break down into its components such as images, sensations and feelings.

Functionalism was developed by William James who thought that the workings of the mind are functional. The mind works to survive and adapt. So we should investigate what behaviour and thoughts are for.

At the turn of the 19th century two powerful approaches appeared. One of them is psychoanalysis developed by Sigmund Freud in Austria. Freud wrote that the proper object of psychological investigation should be the unconscious mind and that our behaviour is determined by processes that we are not aware of.

Behaviourism, introduced by John Watson, was the most important of all approaches that investigated "minds" and proposed that psychology should investigate only observable behaviour if it wanted to be an objective science. This approach dominated experimental psychology until 1950's when a strong interest in the 'mind' developed in the form of the cognitive and humanistic approaches. Representatives of these approaches argued that behaviourism ignored all the most important and interesting things that go on in our heads.

Cognitive psychology investigates the mind by using computer information processing ideas to arrive at models of how our brain works and then apply scientific methods to confirm these models. The cognitive approach was successful and is a very dominant one in psychology today.

The Humanistic approach has had less of an impact on psychology because it adapted less scientific view of the human mind. Humanistic psychologists argued that psychology should focus on each individual's conscious experience and aims in life.

The biological approach has advanced evolutionary, physiological and genetic explanation for human behaviour throughout the history of psychology.

1. Where does the word psychology come from?

2. How did Atkinson define psychology?

3. What year is considered to be the start of psychology?

4. Who created the first psychology laboratory?

5. Who is considered to be the "founding father" of psychology in the USA?

6. What was the first approach in psychology?

7. What is the object of investigation from the structuralist point of view?

8. Who developed the functional approach in psychology?

9. What are the functions of brain from the functional point of view?

10. What approaches appeared at the turn of the 19th century?

11. What is the proper object of investigation in psychoanalysis?

What Is the Difference Between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?

The work of psychologists and psychiatrists has much in common. Both psychologists and psychiatrists can provide psychotherapy and counseling services. Both psychologists and psychiatrists are trained to diagnose neuropsychological disorders and dysfunctions plus psychotic, neurotic and personality disorders and dysfunctions. Both professionals are granted the right to make such diagnoses by law while other doctors cannot. Both psychologists and psychiatrists help people maintain and enhance their physical, intellectual, emotional, social and interpersonal functioning.

However, there are some important differences in training and special skills. Psychiatrists, as medical doctors, can prescribe medications for psychological distress. Psychologists do not prescribe medications, instead focusing their treatment on psychotherapy. In addition, psychologists are the only mental health professionals who are fully trained and qualified to use psychological tests.

The education of psychologists provides knowledge of psychological and emotional problems, personality, and human development, integrated with specialized training in how to apply this knowledge to helping people with emotional distress and other problems in living. The psychologist's training in research allows them to evaluate the best ways to help people and to make decisions on what helps and what doesn't help different people with various situations.

Psychologists also specialize in psychological testing. Psychological tests are used in situations where there are questions about what a person's particular problem is. For example, a psychologist may use psychological tests to determine whether a child has a learning disorder. Psychologists also use psychological tests in legal cases or any time there is uncertainty about what is troubling an individual Psychological tests can include assessments of personality styles, tests of emotional well-being, intellectual (or "IQ") tests, tests of academic achievement and tests for possible brain damage. The use of psychological tests requires years of training that involves not only learning how to give the tests, but also how to integrate all the information from a variety of tests, background information, interviews, and knowledge of theories, research, psychological problems, personalities, and human development. Psychologists are the only mental health professionals who are fully trained and qualified to use psychological tests.

It is important to be aware that there can be broad differences in training and philosophy among psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other therapists which can often lead to widely differing treatment approaches and understandings of psychological and emotional problems.

3. Ответьте на вопросы, основываясь на содержании прочитанного текста.

• What services can psychologists and psychiatrists provide to people?

• What professionals are granted the right to diagnose neuropsychological disorders and dysfunctions?

• What professionals are granted the right to prescribe medications?

• What do psychologists focus their treatment on?

• What does the education of psychologists include?

• What does psychologist's training allows them to do?

• What professionals specialize in psychological training?

• When do psychologists use psychological tests?

• What do psychological tests assess?

Careers in Psychology

There are many careers in psychology. Psychology includes both research, through which we learn fundamental things about human and animal behaviour, and practice, through which that knowledge is applied in helping people to solve problems. Psychology is an extremely varied field. Psychologists conduct research, serve as consultants, diagnose and treat people, and teach future psychologists and other types of students. They test intelligence and personality.

As scientists, psychologists use scientific methods of observation, experimentation and analysis. But psychologists also need to be creative in the way they apply scientific findings.

Psychologists are frequently innovators, inventing new approaches to people and societies. They develop theories and test them in their research. As they collect new information, these findings can be used by practitioners in their work with clients and patients.

As practitioners psychologists work in laboratories, hospitals, courtrooms, schools and universities, prisons and corporate offices. They work with business executives, performers, and athletes to reduce stress and improve performance. They advise lawyers on jury selection and cooperate with educators on school reform. Immediately following a disaster, such as a plane crush or bombing, psychologists help victims and bystanders recover from the shock of the event.

Involved in all aspects of our world, psychologists must keep up with what is happening around us. When you are a psychologist, your education never ends. Most psychologists say they love their work. They say that they have a variety of daily tasks and the flexibility of their schedules.

The study of psychology is a good preparation for many other professions. Many employers are interested in the skills of collecting, analyzing and interpreting data, and their experience with statistics and experimental design.

Psychology is a very diverse field with hundreds of career paths. We all know about caring for people with mental and emotional disorders. Some other jobs like helping with the design of computer systems are less well-known. What all psychologists have in common is an interest in the minds of both humans and animals.

3. Ответьте на вопросы, основываясь на содержании прочитанного текста.

• What does the field of psychology include?

• What innovations do psychologists make?

• Where do psychologists work?

• Who do psychologists work with?

• Do most psychologists like their work?

• What skills are many employers interested in?

• What do all psychologists have in common?

4. Ответьте на вопрос по теме урока, выразив собственное мнение (не менее 10 предложений).

• What sort of career in psychology would you prefer? Why?