Essay on Choosing Psychology as a Career

Throughout the earlier years, psychology was known as, “the science of mental life” Initially, psychology began on a December day in 1879, at a local German university, by Professor Wilhelm Wundt. The experiment, was to determine the time in which it took an individual, whom initially heard a bell, to press a telegraph’s key in response to the sound omitted. Wundt’s attempt was aimed at measuring the “atoms of the mind”. A fast and simple approach towards the mental process of an individual’s reaction. Thus, solidify Wilhelm, within the birth of psychology, as

Another myth perpetuated by common portrayals of forensic psychology in the criminal drama programs on TV, which gives the impression that forensic psychologist only operate in jails or on crime scene investigations. Most forensic psychologist are not limited to working at Jails/prisons unless they are forensic psychologist with special emphasis on police and criminal psychology, but generally speaking these individuals can fit in just about any institutions that involves people. “Forensic psychologists are employed in a variety of settings including state forensic hospitals, court clinics, mental health centers, jails, prisons, and juvenile treatment centers. Forensic psychologists can also work independently in private practice, and some are employed primarily as researchers in university or mental health settings” Bottoms et al. (2004). As a result of the diverse nature and flexibility of Forensic psychology these individuals are situated in a large number of organizations and institutions. Forensic Psychologist are trained to deal with a variety of issues as it relates to civil and criminal cognitions, therefore they can be placed in institutions associated with these

What is hypnosis? Hypnosis has amazing benefits and can enhance people lives in many ways. In modern times, it is unfortunate that Hypnosis is seen as a method of entertaining people instead of it being respected for its true aspects. In reality, hypnosis bears little resemblance to these stereotyped images, as it can improve focus and general well-being mentally and physically. It is a cooperative interaction in which the participant responds to the suggestions of the hypnotist. It can also be described as a sleep like trance state or better expressed as a relaxed creative mind, focused by the individual. Despite stories about people being hypnotised out of their consent hypnosis requires voluntary participation on the part of the

The first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of hypnosis is usually a magician convincing a person to act like a chicken, however, hypnosis is actually an approach that doctors can use to treat pain, depression, anxiety, phobias, and more. Hypnosis is a state in which a person appears to be under a trance and is extremely concentrated (Brandt). It is not a new concept. In fact, hypnosis has been used by the ancient Egyptians over 2,000 years ago (healing power). In the 1770s, the Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer began to study hypnosis scientifically. More recently, it was used during World War I and World War II to treat soldiers who experienced post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental disorders (World Book).

Hypnotherapy is actually being rampantly used especially in the field of psychology. People suffering from phobia, trauma and depression can benefit from is especially on aiding thoughts that cause the feeling of being down and terror. Studies also show that it is an effective method to manage pain caused by illnesses such as cancer, arthritis as well as wounds caused by surgery. Since the method is being conducted with the aim of unleashing the mind’s power to overcome any state of thinking, many doctors have taken advantage of hypnosis to help their patient’s recovery and improve health.

Hypnosis in itself is not a therapy but furnishes the therapist with a set of techniques and approaches to form a particular course of treatment, hence this process being known as ‘Hypnotherapy’. [6]

“Hypnosis is an induced state of awareness, usually characterized by heightened suggestibility, deep relaxation, and highly focused attention” (Zimbardo, 2010, p. 179). Hypnosis is related to one’s state of consciousness, which may alter their feelings and actions, as we had learned in class. Researcher, Ernest Hilgard, in his theory, Dissociation Theory of Hypnosis, interprets hypnosis as a “dissociated state” in which there is a split consciousness: one part of the mind is subject to hypnotic suggestion, and the other part is a hidden observer.

Forensic psychologists make use of psychology to help police officers investigate crimes. They apply psychology to questions that affect the criminal

Psychology is an applied as well as an academic field that studies both the human mind and behavior. The research in psychology attempts to explain and understand behavior, emotion and thought. The subject of psychology was created when Wilhelm Wundt opened up the very first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany. Wilhelm Wundt believed that individuals who are appropriately trained would most likely be able to recognize the mental processes that are accompanied with feelings, thoughts and sensations (Wagner , 2009).

Hypnosis (hypnotherapy) is “a form of complementary therapy that the old power of positive suggestion to bring about sub-conscious change to our thoughts, feelings and behavior. The process itself aims to alter our state of consciousness in a way that relaxes the conscious part of the mind while simultaneously stimulating and focusing the subconscious part. This heightened state of awareness to reached using skilled relaxation techniques and allows the therapist to then make appropriate suggestions” (Smith,2011, p.11).

The question of how hypnosis plays a role in helping in the different aspects of life is a question that is often wondered. Hypnosis can be used in a number of ways in medicine including rehabilitation, psychotherapy, pain relief, etc.. Certain hypnotists have believed that hypnosis is connected to religion. Hypnosis can even play a large role when it comes to surgery and anesthesiology and the patient's reaction to the procedure. Cognitive behavioural therapy is connected to hypnosis in more ways than one. The study of hypnotic relaxation therapy has just become popular in the past few years and is playing a role in clinical studies more often today. Many people misperceive the idea of hypnotists due to the roles they play in popular movies

Moreover, hypnosis itself signifies to a broader aspect of integration and utilization of the relationship between the clinician and the client. Hypnosis is thus a subjectively experienced and practiced element. According to the American Psychological Association's Division of Psychological Hypnosis, "Hypnosis is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or subject experience variations in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior". The APA's Division of Psychological Hypnosis pointed out that hypnosis, like psychoanalysis itself is not a therapy. Rather it is a process that can be applied to assist the therapy. (Yapko, 2001)

Hypnosis explained by the psychology community as an altered state of consciousness that leaves people in a more subjective state, or more likely to listen to verbal suggestions. The term of hypnosis came from the Greek root word for sleep. There have been records of Hypnosis going back 2,500 years in ancient China and Egypt, (Gurgevich, 2011-2015, para.1). Hypnosis or also known as hypnotherapy is said to be used to help you gain control over undesired behaviors or to help you cope better with anxiety or pain, (“Test and Procedures Hypnosis,”2015, Para. 2). An example of how a hypnotherapy session might go like this; a therapist comes in while a patient was in an relaxed state and proceeds to tell the patient that they will be cured from their illness when they came out of the relaxed state and then the patient may or may not be cured.

Hypnosis therapy involves giving powerful suggestions to a person when he or she is in a trance like state. Any person in a hypnotized state is relaxed with the mind being extremely attentive. This kind of mental situation is something similar to the one that is induced by various

A Forensic Psychologist focuses on “why people do bad things, why they commit crimes, lie to police officers, and treat their children abusively” (AllPsychologyCareers). There is this fascination with criminals and the psychopathy behind their actions and thoughts. According to All Psychology Careers, this field of study focuses on all types of research in psychology including clinical, developmental, social, clinical, behavioral and neuropsychological to blend together ideas and studies to apply to criminal action. The major focus of forensic psychologist is criminology and law because there needs to be a broad understanding of how the judicial system works and what statutes apply in what states. This type of work can be applied in many different settings such as prisons, correctional facilities, court systems, government agencies, parole boards and research.