Annotated Bibliography: Childhood Psychology

Educational psychologists work with children who have a range of difficulties. Their roles consist of them;-

A three year-old girl is crying in an office because her father molested her. Her little round face is red and swollen while her mother rocks her back and forth in her lap. The mother asks, “What can you do doctor?” The psychologist’s heart is breaking with every tear shed from the young child’s big eyes. It takes a lot of strength to witness pain such as this. A child psychologist has to go through extensive schooling, mental and emotional preparation, and must have personal dedication.

There are many professional pathways within psychology that an individual may apply themselves to for their career. These include: clinical, forensic, health, and educational psychology. The professional career pathway within applied psychology which will be discussed in this essay is the field of clinical psychology. Clinical psychology aims to reduce the amount of psychological distress an individual experiences and enhance the promotion of psychological well-being. Clinical psychologists attend to both mental and physical health problems including addiction, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties and relationship issues in order to help individuals resolve their problems. Clinical psychologists predominantly work within hospitals, mental health groups and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Clinical | Careers, 2016).

The purpose of this assignment is to closely observe the development of a child through an interview and apply the theories and concept of child development in his particular cultural and educational context. I selected the child who lives in my neighborhood for the interview and began with seeking the permission from his parents. The child’s name is ‘Abdullah’ and he is seven years old. He lives with his family in Terre Haute and his family consists of parents and two sisters. Abdullah goes to Sugar Grove Elementary School in the Terre Haute city along with his two sisters and he is in grade 2. The interview was conducted at his home and I ensured his convenience. He was cooperative and provided insightful responses to the questions and he provided significant detail in the interview. I was able to track his development stages and connect it to different theories of Developmental Psychology including psychoanalytical perspectives and Piaget’s stages of development. In the following paragraphs, I will explain my observations about Abdullah’s development in the light of developmental theories with special focus on cognitive, social, linguistic, and emotional development followed by making connections between his socioeconomic and cultural background and development. Lastly, I will conclude paper by highlighting that the observations during the interview can facilitate my future practice as a teacher.

Clinical psychology is just one of the many subfields that psychology has to offer. Those who choose to enter clinical psychology aim to help people with addiction, emotional stress, mental illness, or any other type of mental problems. Knowing what a clinical psychologist does in their practice is important in understanding their profession. A clinical psychologist's education is the most prominent part of their career; without it, they cannot be considered a psychologist. The process and requirements of employment for psychologists are scattered, varying from state to state, as well as their salary and where they may be employed. The future and growth of clinical psychology can only be

“It takes a village to raise a child.” I never quite understood that saying when I was growing up, but my experiences teaching and working in school settings have showed me how true it really is. Obtaining a degree in school psychology will allow me to give the support that students, families and educators need to ensure that every student will thrive.

found previously. Being a psychology major who wants to be a children's counselor, this topic

School Psychology is a general practice and health service provider specialty of professional psychology that is deals with the practice of psychology with children, youth, families; learners of all ages; and the schooling process. The basic education and training of school psychologists prepares them to provide a large range of diagnosis, assessment, intervention, prevention, health promotion, and program development and evaluation services with a special focus on the developmental processes of children and youth within the context of schools, families, and other systems (Ehly, 1986).

According to the American Psychological Association (APA) website “Psychologists who provide clinical or counseling services assess and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. They integrate the science of psychology and the treatment of complex human problems with the intention of promoting change.” ("Pursuing A Career In Clinical Or Counseling Psychology", 2014).) In the simplest terms, “the study of individuals, by observation or experimentation, with the intention of promoting change.” (Compas, Bruce, & Gotlib, 2002) Clinical psychologist careers vary in industries such as research, integrated health care, teaching, public policy and professional practice. Some clinical psychologists work exclusively on specific mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. Relationship conflict and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction are a few examples of areas of specialization for a clinical psychologist. According to the APA website (2014), in order to become a clinical psychologist the journey begins with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Next the student must obtain a graduate degree. Each graduate program determines its own entrance requirements. Some doctoral programs require their applicants to have a master’s degree in psychology. Other people enter doctoral programs with only a bachelor’s degree. Most doctoral degrees take five to seven years to complete. You must also

These children have been in an unstable environment, which can affect their ability to fully participate in society. Research shows that children have a high rate of physical development and mental health problems. They often have many mental and medical heath problems that are not helped. Pediatricians can serve to help make sure each child’s conditions and needs are

I am interested in being a school psychologist for a variety of reasons. First, I believe that my background in working with children and families, and my B.A. in psychology are essential combinations that will be helpful in my pursuit of the degree. Second, I would like to work with children in a variety of educational situations, such as those in need of special education classes and those in talented and gifted programs. Third, I believe it is essential to work directly with the entire family system, not just the child. The child's progress depends on the home environment and the academic environment equally. This academic environment includes all professions (i.e., teachers,

One of my goals for this interview was to learn how Dr. D’Costa became the child psychologist she is today. To learn more about this, I asked her what she majored in, what classes she took, where she went to graduate school, and why she chose to specifically become a child psychologist in India. Firstly, I learned that Dr. D’Costa originally planned to major in biology to become a family doctor. However, after taking a psychology class in her sophomore year of college, she decided to change her major to psychology because she decided she was more interested in helping people with their mental health rather than their physical health. Throughout her time in undergraduate studies, Dr. D’Costa took a variety of classes in all different areas of psychology. However, by the time she reached her senior year, she decided to apply for counseling psychology graduate programs. Although she spent her time in undergraduate school in the United States, Dr. D’Costa decided to attend Martin Luther Christian University in Shillong, India to complete her graduate degree. Dr. D’Costa

My subject of attention is school psychology and career choice is school psychology. I have researched this topic and found lots of valuable information to discuss. I will cover all aspects of this career including a definition of what it involves on a day to day basis, why I have chosen this career as my subject of interest, common personality characteristics and values that go along well with this job. I will also talk about the minimum requirements and educational path that must be followed for this career choice along with advancement opportunities. Lastly, I will discuss the leading companies in this area, local perspectives, and present outlooks and salaries that can be expected

This article contributes to my paper as it takes the negative connotations from the idea that because a student does not behave or communicate in a way to meet “traditional standards”, or because a student is economically disadvantaged – he/she should not be perceived as intellectually deficient. Additionally, such ideologies may prove detrimental to the overall academic success of the student, particularly the African American male and prevent the progress to college. The credibility of this source is reliable in that Dr. Beljan’s academic credentials, and research in the field of pediatric psychology as a practitioner, instructor, lecturer and expert witness further exemplifies the importance of his research. As an academic, his supposition

Psychologists are very important people; they help millions of people with their everyday struggles and problems that they have to deal with. Not only do psychologists help people with problems that they cannot handle on their own, they also are scientists who study human minds and behaviors.