What is Behavioural Psychology?

The study of the origins and consequences of human behaviour is known as behavioural psychology. It’s an intriguing field that studies a variety of social, psychological, and emotional aspects of human behaviour. 

What does a Behavioural Psychologist do? 

Behavioural psychologists investigate human behaviour using their knowledge, skillset, and competence. They use their research and results to assist people in overcoming mental health illnesses and emotional disabilities so that they can live a healthier and happier life. Some behavioural psychologists treat a wide range of patients and problems, while others focus on a specific population, such as children, or a single disorder, such as alcoholism or depression.

Behavioural psychologists can work in a number of settings, but they all have some basic responsibilities, such as:

• Attending meetings with patients in order to provide support, advice, or counselling.
• Conducting research on human behaviour and developing learning theories to better aid patients.
• Treatment of depression, mental disease, anxiety disorders, and substance misuse using behavioural therapy approaches.
• Advise patients on effective methods for controlling impulses and resolving problems like phobias, panic attacks, and addictions.
• In-depth interviews with patients to better understand their signs and symptoms.
• Psychological treatments such as hypnosis, psychotherapy, and psychoanalysis are used to help patients modify their behaviour.

How to Become a Behavioural Psychologist? 

Several steps are required to become a behavioural psychologist:

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

• Some master’s and doctoral programmes in psychology do not require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree in the same subject.

Step 2: Look into graduate school options.

• A master’s or doctorate in psychology with a concentration or specialization in behavioural psychology is available in many programmes.

Step 3: Get a master’s degree.

• An online behavioural psychology degree is available from a number of excellent universities.
• Begin researching your state’s licensure requirements while still in graduate school.

Step 4: Complete all prerequisites for licensure.

• Work for 1-3 years under the supervision of a licensed clinical behavioural psychologist.
• Pass the Professional Practice in Psychology Examination.
• Submit an application to your state’s licensing board for licensure.
• Keep your license current by taking professional development or continuing education classes.

Step 5: Become a board-certified professional.

• Board certification is awarded to licensed behavioural psychologists who pass a difficult oral examination.
• Professional development or continuing education courses are also required to maintain board certification.
• Many firms demand that you have both a license and a certification.

Behavioural Psychology Courses

• Social psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Industrial and organizational psychology
• Community psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Personality psychology
• Positive psychology
• Applied psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Buddhism And Modern Psychology
• Introduction To Social
• Medical psychology
• Behavioural Psychology
• Human behaviour genetics
• Behavioral Investing
• Counselling: A person-centred Experiment
• Physiological psychology

Top Universities for Behavioral Psychology

• Indiana University
• Johns Hopkins University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of California
• Stanford University
• University of Michigan

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Top 10 Behavioral Psychology Jobs 

Correctional Officer

Correctional officers’ primary responsibilities include supervising inmates in prisons or correctional facilities and providing counselling or rehabilitative services as needed. Other frequent jobs include enforcing all facility laws and regulations, patrolling and inspecting inmates’ cells, assisting with or performing mental health or substance abuse counselling sessions with convicts, and writing reports on inmates’ conduct and performances.

Behaviour Therapist

A behaviour therapist works with patients one-on-one to help them build the required mental patterns and abilities to overcome any undesirable behaviours or traumatic events. Their primary responsibilities include educating patients to better understand their actions, instructing patients on how to respond appropriately in specific situations, teaching healthier coping techniques, and diagnosing mental health illnesses.

School Counselor

A school counsellor works in schools to provide advice and assistance to students who are facing academic, parental, social, or personal difficulties. Other responsibilities include assisting students with career planning, listening to and resolving students’ academic or personal issues, improving students’ relationships with other students, parents, or teachers, and using assessments to determine students’ strengths, interests, aptitudes, and weaknesses.

Market Researcher 

Market researchers are usually employed in the marketing business and are responsible for determining how potential buyers feel about a product or brand based on their actions. Examining target audience behaviours, investigating rivals’ tactics and strategies to help the organization construct their own, and gathering, evaluating, and forecasting sales and marketing trends are among their key responsibilities.

Mental Health Counsellor

Mental health counsellors are experts in using intervention and psychotherapy procedures to assist people to overcome a variety of mental diseases and issues. Conducting consultations and preliminary reviews to diagnose disorders and develop treatment plans, evaluating patients’ emotional, behavioural, and mental health, hosting individual or group therapy sessions, and developing proper recovery and intervention plans for families, couples, groups, or individuals all key responsibilities.

Social Worker

Clients with serious life issues, such as abuse, neglect, parental substance misuse, mental abuse, and domestic violence, are closely assisted by social workers. They can also assess and treat emotional, mental, and behavioural problems. Other responsibilities include educating patients and their families about how to care for and improve their mental health, introducing clients to appropriate resources and professional services, and conducting crisis interventions for couples, families, or individuals.

Family Therapist

Family therapists provide counselling services to families, couples, and other groups in order to help them better their relationships. Other roles include listening to family members’ individual and group needs and concerns, assisting clients in processing loss or traumatic events, and proposing activities for families to do together to strengthen their relationships and welfare.

Psychiatric Nurse

To improve patients’ psychiatric problems, a psychiatric nurse delivers, prepares, and assesses various therapy protocols. Patients’ prescribed treatments must be administered, patients’ current psychiatric states must be evaluated, working with other healthcare professionals to develop psychiatric intervention plans must be developed, and patients with dangerous reactions to their mental health conditions must be restrained, consoled, or medicated.

Behavioural Psychologist

A behavioural psychologist treats patients’ behaviours and mental diseases, such as substance misuse, depression, and anxiety, using research-based learning theories. Conducting psychotherapy sessions to comprehend clients’ symptoms, diagnosing behavioural problems, establishing strategies and treatment plans to improve patients’ mental health, and providing support to patients who have experienced traumatic experiences are among the other responsibilities.

Behavioural Specialist

Behavioural specialists help and treat patients who are having problems with their behaviour that are affecting their social or learning capacities. Other responsibilities include developing and implementing treatment plans to improve behavioural issues, providing emotional support throughout the treatment process, educating patients and family members about their mental condition and treatment plan, and conducting post-treatment assessments to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. 

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