Potential Career/Occupation Information

Biopsychologists are distinguished from other psychologists because they study the entire range of psychological phenomena but always from a biological perspective. The field is an interdisciplinary field which emphasizes the analysis of behavior from psychological, pharmochological, neurophysiological, endocrinological, immunological, developmental and ecological perspectives.

Biopsychologists are trained to conduct basic laboratory and field research and teach in the fields of animal and human behavior as well as in the application of biobehavioral knowledge to a variety of problems in industrial, business, institutional, health and environmental settings.

Within the field of biopsychology are specific areas of interest such as neuropsychopharmochology that involves the study of the effects of drugs on the mind, brain and behavior with application to mental illness, and drug and alcohol abuse. Psychophysiology examines how mental characteristics affect the body, how people experience information from their bodies, what changes happen when people experience emotions such as stress and utilize biofeedback as one method of self-regulation of stress-related health problems.

Evolutionary psychology is the study of how evolution shapes the psychological processes; comparative psychology studies animal behavior by comparing findings among different species.

• Weighing out the options in a situation or a problem and logically choosing the best course of action.
• Analyzing requirements for a new product or service and creating a design to satisfy those needs.
• Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Paying attention to what other people are saying, and taking time to understand the points being made.
• Using mathematics and/or statistics to solve problems.
• The ability to understand complex written paragraphs, instructions, or reports.
• Using logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Using scientific methods to investigate and conduct experiments.
• Being aware of the reactions of others, and understanding why they react the way they do.
• Teaching others how to do something.
• Composing and communicating your ideas in written form.

• Being able to decide on how to get something done without significant direction from someone else.
• Doing something to contribute to the betterment of the world. Doing something for the greater good.
• Create new ideas, programs, things, or anything else not previously developed by another person.
• Having a level of income that will afford you with luxuries, and which will allow you to become financially independent.
• Gaining the respect of others by the nature and/or level of responsibility of your work.