Emerging trends in the field of psychology - Essay Example

Emerging Trends in the Field of Psychology Psychology, from the moment of its inception, has been a source of fascination for one and all. It, in its most generalised form, as a layman, can be understood as study of behaviour and mental processes1. The technical concept, for getting into the current state, has progressed through various meanings like study of soul to mind to consciousness to behaviour to cognitive aspects to constructive aspects. Like its meaning and conceptualisation, trends in the field of psychology; pure and applied, too, have been continuously changing and developing to meet the needs of the society.

Apart from the professional trends like vocation, school, genetics counselling, forensic, engineering, and clinical, sports, industrial and special education2, some of the emerging trends in the field of psychology may be seen as environmental psychology3 (consciousness trend), positive psychology4 (attitudinal trend), cyber therapy5 (technological trend), etc. Let us discuss two prominent emerging trends positive psychology and cyber-therapy. Positive psychology has the originating belief that psychology is meant for people to thrive6.

It is not merely for examining, suspense-creating or burdening, but, for making people feel happy, succeeding, achieving and enjoying everything. It is the attitude towards living beings and the life, which has played a significant role in popularising this trend in the field of psychology. This psychology talks of how to achieve, progress and enjoying the life. Though not concentrating upon the failures or grieves, somewhere, at its basis, this psychology, indirectly, directs practitioner to think over these issues, too.

As, without knowing to remove failures and grieves, it is not possible to feel people thriving. Some of the psychologists criticise this psychology by emphasizing upon the fact that this deals, in a biased manner, to the concept of psychology and does not solve, in real sense, the vast overall purpose of psychology. But, the unquestioned fact of the nature, “Everyone wants to be happy or feel happy”, is surely going to help this concept to excel in the coming time. Cyber-therapy, also termed as e-therapy, can be viewed as one of the most recent trends in the field of psychology.

This is nothing, but use of cyber-technology (ICT in a broader perspective) for purposes of therapy and giving a technological touch to the practice of applied psychology7. Therapist and the client are connected with cyber-technology or computer technology and therapist provides mental health services to the client. The biggest advantage of this therapy is its spatial-free nature i.e. free from necessity of common place and temporal-free nature i.e. free from formal time constraints. Some people criticise it not to be therapy, but merely a form of counselling8.

Anyways, though this technique is in its infant stage, but, due to its advantages over several constraints and its implications at a broad perspective, this trend of the psychology is going to be boomed up. I will surely opt for a career in positive psychology or cyber-therapy. As I perceive, these trends not only develop one’s personal behaviour, but social behaviour, too. These not only help the one to grow academically, but professionally, too. These open up a new window, for equipping the professional, with technological skills as well as a novel attitude towards problem-solving.

I feel this will prepare me to be a real help to the society and mankind, in an effective and efficient manner, by adding to my personality. On the basis of all above discussion, it can be inferred that trends do impact career choice. For me, technological advancement and attitude towards life are significant factors affecting these trends, and in turn, affecting the career choice in the field of psychology. Works cited 1 Rathus, S.A. (2007). Psychology concepts & connections: Media & research update (9th edn.). New York: Cengage Learning, pp 4-5.

2 Cherry, K. “Psychology career trends”. http://psychology.about.com/od/careersinpsychology/tp/psychology-career-trends.htm (last browsed in May, 2011) 3 Hallett, A & Hallett, R. (2008). Environmental psychology. Delhi: Global Vision Publishing House. 4 Carr, A. (2004). Positive psychology: The science of happiness and human strengths. New York: Psychology Press. 5 Ciccarelli, S.K. & Meyer, G.E. (2008). Psychology (South Asia edn). New Delhi: Pearson Education India, p. 631. 6 Garbarino , J. (2011). The Positive psychology of personal transformation: Leveraging resilience for life change.

Chicago:Springer. 7 Fink, J. (1999). How to use computers and cyberspace in the clinical practice of psychotherapy. Northvale, NJ: Aronson. 8 Holmes, L. “Cyber therapy- Is it really therapy?” http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/weekly/aa042197.htm (last browsed in May, 2011)