Cognitive Psychologist

Cognitive Psychologists trade talk therapy for research, spending their time observing experiments in labs instead of counseling patients in an office. They explore the mysteries of the human mind to discover how people perceive the world around them and learn new information. They then turn this information into new counseling methods, Alzheimer treatments, or even techniques to help people learn faster.

As a Cognitive Psychologist, you reject research that is based purely on introspection or self-reflection. Instead, you focus on solid data and experiments to prove your ideas true or false.

Along with other Scientists and researchers, Cognitive Psychologists review data, reports, and ongoing research projects for clues to what makes the brain tick. What makes us remember one event but forget another?

The answers come from both basic and applied research. In basic research, you review data and formulate ideas. In applied research, you put those ideas to the test in actual studies.

On a daily basis, you spend plenty of time reading reports, reviewing data, and writing your own conclusions. Some days you spend in a lab while others in the office. You need good communication skills to interact with other Psychologists and research participants.

You typically work for a university or government organization, or as a private Consultant to different businesses. Every aspect of life revolves around learning and memory. By finding the keys to how our thoughts work, you can unlock the secrets of happier, healthier, and more productive lives.