So...this is my psych paper

Application Paper

“Psychologies role in Radiology”

By

{Me}

{Psych 235}
{Human Growth and Development}

07/18/2013

As a radiology technician, I will use the information learned within human growth and development in many different ways. In this essay I will illustrate how I will use Trust vs. Mistrust, Identity vs. Role Confusion, Intimacy vs. Isolation, and Integrity vs. Despair. I will also discuss how Erik Erikson’s 8 stages of human development will be vastly important within my chosen career.

Trust Versus Mistrust, within the radiology profession I will be seeing people on their absolute worst days. They will need to be able to trust that I am capable of performing my job with the upmost professionalism. I will have to, in the 5-10 minutes they are with me be able to give them the safest feeling environment possible. Since, often what I will be working with is people that are injured, that sometimes their lives have fallen apart due to injury, or suspected serious body damage I will have to understand how to understand their body language as well as communicate with my own that I am going to make sure they are taken care of in the absolute best possible way. If they mistrust me in any way shape or form it will mean that their already stressful situation has just jumped to a much higher level, therefore leaving them feeling unsafe.

Identity vs. Role Confusion, Erikson theorized that people made identity changes, and crisis in several different parts of their lives. These transitions I will have to knowhow to speak to that when they see me. People who are going through a midlife crisis, or just having their first baby, all of these are experiencing a psychological change, or shift within their lives will obviously be coming in and needing x-rays, and CT scans. When this happens, I will have to be able to empathize and understand where they are coming from and not make fun of them because they just crashed their motorcycle that they purchased due to realizing they are 44 and will never be a classically trained opera singer.

Intimacy vs. Isolation, one of the strongest reasons people come to work is to have a social outlet. Within the radiology department I will be able to get past my general love of isolation and turn that into having the participation and enjoyment allotted to me within my working environment. Being part of a large organization is a bit frightening for me as I am just plain not a “group” type person. I will have to overcome this by forcing myself to become an integral part of that team. Intimacy is something I myself struggle with, so bringing it into my career seems like such an off thing and out of character for myself that it will be a challenge.

Integrity vs. Despair, as I grow older, and as colleagues grow older we will be faced with the fact that our younger colleagues will have ‘newer’ training than we do. We will have to face that our knowledge, because what we learned during our two year degree’s might be taught in their first years where as we had to go back for additional training as technology advances. As we reach retirement age, we may have people thinking we are obsolete. Whereas our years of experience mean that we know just by looking what someone’s brain looks like and if they might possibly be having cognitive issues and functioning, theirs may not tell them this. It will be a balance between knowing our own intelligence and worth vs. thinking we are old and out dated. I see this being something I will have to face a lot throughout my career.

Erikson’s stages of development will be prevalent in all that I do as a radiology technician. I will have to be aware of trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame and doubt, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generatively vs. stagnation, and integrity vs. despair. All of his stages of life will be used within my career, therefore making what I learned in this class useful throughout my career. Obviously, I will use this in my home life as well, making sure that my daughter grows up to be a healthy woman, and my mother ends her life feeling useful and productive. Further this will influence my relationships as I work, and socially. Any future spouse, be that male or female will have the joy of me knowing how to speak to them and for lack of a better term manipulate them. Knowing how the power of suggestion with men will mean the plants get potted correctly will make them want to do more around the house, or with girlfriends being able to talk to them about future plans without making them feel threatened or not loved on the same level. All of this will be used. My daughter will benefit from me knowing how to teach her and explain to her at her own psychological developmental stage.

In conclusion, this class has been a great benefit for me, academically, socially, career wise, and in my home life.  Through the application of the principles learned in this class it will enable me to get out of my own shell, perhaps calm down a little bit when erroneous statements are made around me and help to be able to clearly and succinctly make those around me more comfortable.