Elements of Applied Psychology

Undergraduate psychology courses have been expanding rapidly since 1988 and most of the upsurge in popularity is due to tremendous growth in applied work. Psychology students are starting to see that what they learn at university can be translated into practice when they get out into the real world. At the same time the number of professional groups (such as nurses, physiotherapists, personnel officers and the police) who have an element of applied psychology in their work is growing all the time. This book gives an insight into the many areas of applied psychology which have developed in recent years. It examines the pressures which led to the applied work and the reasons for the direction applied psychology has taken. More importantly, it gives insight into the role of the psychologist working in each of these applied areas, along the lines of "A Day in the Life of an Occupational Psychologist". The aim is to give undergraduates a feel for the kinds of work which will be on offer to them when they leave and a taste of the role they will be expected to play. This in turn may help them to decide which third year options to take, or perhaps which special project to choose for their MSc.