Criminal Psychology Career Research Paper
Picking a career that is “right for you” is nerve-racking; there are so many options and so much to think about. Of course we all had our fantasies about being superman, or in my case wonder woman, but as we grow older we realize its time to get serious. I personally wanted to be a lawyer, an interior decorator, a dancer, a teacher; the list goes on and on. Shockingly enough after 18 years of life I finally think I know what it is I want to do. I want to be a criminal psychologist, just like Reed on criminal minds! He’s my favorite! But the job is not all fun and games of course Hollywood can’t show reality, now that would just be boring. A criminal psychologist isn’t exactly the most common profession so I will inform you exactly what they
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However, they may also be asked to assess criminals in order to evaluate the risk of recidivism or make educated guesses about the actions that a criminal may have taken after committing a crime. In addition to helping law enforcement solve crimes or analyze the behavior of criminal offenders, criminal psychologists are also often asked to provide expert testimony in court. Perhaps one of the best known duties of a criminal psychologist is known as offender profiling, or criminal profiling. The practice started during the 1940s during World War II. Today, organizations such as the FBI utilize offender profiling to help apprehend violent criminals. The goal of criminal profiling is to provide law enforcement with a psychological assessment of the suspect and to provide strategies and suggestions that can be used in the interviewing process. While the job may not be exactly like you see it on television, the job is far from boring. Dr. Keith Durkin, chair of the department of psychology and sociology at Ohio Northern University explains, "Careers in criminal psychology are never boring, and if you have an education in that field, it's great training for a huge range of jobs. You can do something different every day. You could work in counseling people who have committed crimes and need psychological assessment. Many psychologists are exploring computer-related fields, like studying Internet …show more content…
After completing an undergraduate degree, some students opt to then enter a master's in psychology program. While there are some jobs in criminal and forensic psychology at the master's level, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that opportunities are limited and competition for these positions is often very fierce. Entering a doctorate program after earning your bachelor's is another option. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, job openings in this specialty area are more plentiful for those with a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree in psychology. In order to become a criminal psychologist, you should seriously consider earning a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree in clinical or counseling psychology. In some cases, students opt to focus on a particular specialty area such as forensic or criminal psychology. No matter what type of degree you choose to earn, it will likely take about five years to complete and will include classroom work, practical training, research and a dissertation. In order to become a licensed psychologist, you will also need to complete an internship and pass state
However, they may also be asked to assess criminals in order to evaluate the risk of recidivism or make educated guesses about the actions that a criminal may have taken after committing a crime. In addition to helping law enforcement solve crimes or analyze the behavior of criminal offenders, criminal psychologists are also often asked to provide expert testimony in court. Perhaps one of the best known duties of a criminal psychologist is known as offender profiling, or criminal profiling. The practice started during the 1940s during World War II. Today, organizations such as the FBI utilize offender profiling to help apprehend violent criminals. The goal of criminal profiling is to provide law enforcement with a psychological assessment of the suspect and to provide strategies and suggestions that can be used in the interviewing process. While the job may not be exactly like you see it on television, the job is far from boring. Dr. Keith Durkin, chair of the department of psychology and sociology at Ohio Northern University explains, "Careers in criminal psychology are never boring, and if you have an education in that field, it's great training for a huge range of jobs. You can do something different every day. You could work in counseling people who have committed crimes and need psychological assessment. Many psychologists are exploring computer-related fields, like studying Internet …show more content…
After completing an undergraduate degree, some students opt to then enter a master's in psychology program. While there are some jobs in criminal and forensic psychology at the master's level, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that opportunities are limited and competition for these positions is often very fierce. Entering a doctorate program after earning your bachelor's is another option. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, job openings in this specialty area are more plentiful for those with a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree in psychology. In order to become a criminal psychologist, you should seriously consider earning a Ph.D. or Psy.D. degree in clinical or counseling psychology. In some cases, students opt to focus on a particular specialty area such as forensic or criminal psychology. No matter what type of degree you choose to earn, it will likely take about five years to complete and will include classroom work, practical training, research and a dissertation. In order to become a licensed psychologist, you will also need to complete an internship and pass state