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What is Psychology?
For those who have an interest in crime and its causes, forensic psychology is one path that psychology professionals pursue. A Connecticut forensic psychologist might work with attorneys and parole boards throughout the state or even the region, depending on licensure requirements. They can help determine whether people are competent to stand trial or whether they are ready for parole. Some forensic psychologists even help investigators profile potential suspects in unsolved cases.
A psychology professional is a person who works to understand human thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and feelings. They use the tools of social science to assess patients in clinical settings and to conduct their own, original research. While most of us may first think of a psychology professional as one who works one-on-one with patients in a psychotherapeutic environment, the field is far broader than just that one option.
Research psychologists, for instance, can work in large universities and use grant money to conduct experiments that they hope will unlock the secrets behind human behavior. They might also work on the level of pure cognition and seek to understand how the mind or nervous system is impacted by traumatic events or even regular life, or how other events or treatments can impact the human experience.
Psychology professionals may also specialize in psychological testing (psychometrics). These professionals administer intelligence and other tests, score them, and aggregate the data for later analysis. They seek to verify the veracity of the tests while also using the data to study how various groups respond to the exams.