Chicago Psychologist Addresses Technology Related Behavior Issues
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Industrial and Organizational Psychology positions are expected to increase 26 percent from 2008 to 2018 – which means that career opportunities in the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology should continue to increase."
While employment opportunities are projected to increase, there are a number of factors that change the way psychology is viewed in terms of understanding human behavior. Dr. Suzana E. Flores is a licensed clinical psychologist and author of "Facehooked: How Facebook Affects our Emotions, Relationships and Lives," due out October 1, 2014 through Reputation Books. Addressing some of the behavior issues faced in society today, Flores offers some advice for others who are looking to pursue a career in psychology.
What inspired you to enter this field?
"Growing up, I witnessed people around me struggling on various levels, whether it was medically, financially or emotionally. Despite this, somehow they found ways to keep going. I became curious about how adversity affects each of us, and what we can do to overcome it. Therefore, psychology as a career became a natural choice for me."
How does your educational background relate to your current role?
"I have a doctorate in clinical psychology, and a master's in counseling psychology. My family worked hard and made sacrifices so that I could receive the educational opportunities I have been given. This is especially why I am proud to have been given a chance to advance professionally through my education. My goal now is to help as many people as I can, as a way to pay it forward. This is also the main motivation behind my book. Unlike other books written by psychologists about social-media, 'Facehooked' is intended not just for professionals and academics, but anyone who might be struggling with social media related anxiety."
What advice can you offer others who are pursuing psychology as a career?
"My advice is to talk to various psychology professionals about working in different settings. Graduate school courses cover theory and application, but they don't tend to address the business aspect of psychology that you will face once you're out in the field."
Sara Lugardo is a professional writer out of Chicago, Illinois. She has a bachelor's in communication and is currently working on her master's. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
