Despite these advancements, many psychologists remain deeply interested in the foundational principles of behaviorism and continue to explore the study of behavior and the application of behavioral psychology. What does a behavioral psychologist do? Keep reading to learn more about what this career looks like and how you can become a behavioral psychologist!

What Does a Behavioral Psychologist Do?What Is Behaviorism?Job RequirementsSalarySchools for Behavioral Psychology DegreesCompanies That Hire Behavioral PsychologistsInterviews with a Behavioral PsychologistFamous Behavioral PsychologistsBehavioral Psychology ExamplesLongitudinal Methods: Tracing Behavioral Changes Over Time

What Does a Behavioral Psychologist Do?

What Is Behaviorism?

Job Requirements

Salary

Schools for Behavioral Psychology Degrees

Companies That Hire Behavioral Psychologists

Interviews with a Behavioral Psychologist

Famous Behavioral Psychologists

Behavioral Psychology Examples

Longitudinal Methods: Tracing Behavioral Changes Over Time

Behavioral psychologist study, observes, and applies their knowledge of behaviorism to change behavior and offer support for this field of psychology. Behavioral psychologists focus on how people interact with their environment and how those interactions shape a person’s behavior.

Although behavioral psychologists may gather or share that information with students, they may also apply their knowledge to help correct or influence behavior. Some correctional facilities or health care providers may prefer a behavioral approach over other approaches in clinical psychology. This is the true beauty of psychology - there is always another way to approach a problem.

Over the years, psychology has evolved, and different schools of thought have taken center stage. This doesn’t mean that the “old school” way of thinking is erased forever - it may just take on different names, become a subset of a larger psychology degree, or might be harder to find in traditional healthcare facilities or universities. This is where behavioral psychology and psychologists stand right now.

A behavioral psychologist may take a strictly behavioral approach or study cognitive-behavioral psychology. This combination is more popular, and organizations are more likely to hire someone who understands CBT.

To get a job as a psychologist, regardless of your specialty, you must get a college degree. You might need quite a few. Most psychology positions require a Ph.D. or PsyD in Clinical Psychology.

Once you graduate, you are expected to take on an internship to receive your board certification and license to practice. Licensure looks different in every state but generally requires your doctorate and an exam’s completion.

Other job requirements will vary depending on the team and clients that you work with. Leadership skills, knowledge of working with people of different age groups, and familiarity with different assessment tools may be part of the requirements for your desired position.

Behavioral Psychologist Reported SalaryLowAverageHighGlassdoor$35,000$72,950$150,000U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics​$72,220​ZipRecuirter​$79,028​

Behavioral Psychologist Reported Salary

Low

Average

High

Glassdoor

$35,000

$72,950

$150,000

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

​

$72,220

ZipRecuirter

$79,028

These programs can usually be found under the “Behavioral Science.” Behavioral science is an umbrella term for the study of behavior - psychology is a subdiscipline within the larger study of behavioral science. The degree may also be labeled “Behavioral Neuroscience.) As you search for colleges, meet directly with professors and advisors to discuss the courses involved in each degree program.

Some of the best behavioral science and psychology programs can be found at:

Where can a behavioral psychologist work? Many different places! There is a job for you out there! The following companies and organizations may be looking for behavioral psychologists:

Jobs with similar responsibilities may appear under similar names, such as “Clinical Psychologist,” “Behavioral Health Assistant,” or “Mental Health Clinician.” Reach out to employers before you apply for jobs in behavioral psychology.

A behavioral psychologist may also start their practice specializing in behaviorism.

Thisinterview with a neuroscientistgives you a look at what a day in postdoc life looks like!

Once you’ve received your degree, you can also start making videos like this! The Behavioral Science Guys also have some advice for you - they use their expertise to educate others on how to know if you’re being manipulated!

These behavioral psychologists shaped the study of Behaviorism, which once was the leading approach to psychology. Although psychologists have moved “beyond” looking strictly through the lens of behaviorism, the work of these psychologists made an enormous impact on psychology:

A behavioral psychologist may hold different job responsibilities depending on the day and their job position:

In psychology, researchers and behaviorists often grapple with understanding how behavior evolves. Whether observing the long-term effects of an intervention or charting the natural progression of a particular behavior, one of the most robust research methods employed is thelongitudinal method.

What is the Longitudinal Method?

A longitudinal study, in essence, involves repeated observations or measurements of the same individuals over extended periods — often years or even decades. Unlike cross-sectional studies, which simultaneously take a ‘snapshot’ of participants, longitudinal studies ‘track’ participants, offering a ‘movie’ of their lives.

Why Do Behaviorists Use Longitudinal Methods?

Challenges of Longitudinal Studies:

While powerful, longitudinal studies aren’t without their challenges:

Applications in Behavioral Psychology:

Many landmark studies in behavioral psychology use longitudinal methods. For example:

In conclusion, longitudinal methods are indispensable for behaviorists who are keen on understanding the intricate dance of time, environment, and behavior. They provide a dynamic, in-depth view of behavioral evolution, offering insights that might remain hidden in more fleeting, snapshot-style approaches.

Related posts:19+ Experimental Design Examples (Methods + Types)The Psychology of Long Distance RelationshipsOperant Conditioning (Examples + Research)Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI Test)Variable Interval Reinforcement Schedule (Examples)

Reference this article:Practical Psychology. (2021, June).Behavioral Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews).Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/behavioral-psychologist/.Practical Psychology. (2021, June). Behavioral Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews). Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/behavioral-psychologist/.Copy

Reference this article:

Practical Psychology. (2021, June).Behavioral Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews).Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/behavioral-psychologist/.Practical Psychology. (2021, June). Behavioral Psychologist Career (Salary + Duties + Interviews). Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/behavioral-psychologist/.Copy

Copy