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Social-personality psychology observes individual quirks and personality traits while studying how people interact with others on a social level. Social psychology examines how human beings react to and are affected by social conditions, while personality psychology studies how people differ from each other. By combining these two fields of study, social-personality psychologists work to understand human nature and how people interact with, relate to and influence each other. Social-personality psychologists often overlap with the work of sociologists, although their respective approaches, methods, terminology and goals are independent from one another. Social-personality psychologists perform the following duties: - Teach at colleges and universities
- Conduct research in the field, in clinics or through historical archives
- Work as political strategists and union organizers
- Design and evaluate educational programs
- Teach individuals and crowds about nonviolent conflict resolution
- Apply personality tests to individuals and groups of people
- Mediate group discussions
- Educate the population on discrimination, prejudice, intergroup relations, and cultural and human diversity
 Social Personality Psychology Work Environment Social-personality psychologists are employed in a wide variety of work settings, from university classrooms and labs to clinics, corporations and nonprofits. Some spend their days combing historical archives for clues about the social and individual makeup of past societies, while others concentrate their efforts on current social issues such as organizing peacefully for the group rights of migrant workers, gay and lesbian families, and other minority groups who are socially marginalized. Other social-personality psychologists dedicate their time to perfecting and administering personality tests. Social Personality Psychology Training and Education Many aspiring social-personality psychologists start with a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology or anthropology. Interning with a professor who is researching human behavior and personality provides additional exposure to the field. While most social-personality psychologists complete a doctorate program in this field, it is possible to find work with only a two-year Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA) degree. In general, a doctoral degree is preferred by employers and allows candidates more employment opportunities and a higher salary range. Doctorate programs in social and personality psychology usually involve four to five years of training and study to complete. The goal of most programs is to produce highly capable and independent professional researchers. Programs diverge based on what areas of research they choose to focus on and whether their intent is to prepare students for academic or professional careers in the field. Learn More About Psychology Careers in this Side-by-Side Comparison Chart  |
 
Did You Know?- There are two main types of personality tests that personality psychologists have developed. The first, projective tests, are geared toward the workings of the unconscious mind, such as how an individual interprets a Rorschach inkblot test.
- The second, objective tests, presuppose that personality is consciously accessible and can be assessed by questionnaires such as the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator test. Research has generally concluded that objective tests are more reliable, and thus more valid, than projective tests.
Salary Data Because of the wide array of career opportunities available to social-personality psychologists, it is hard to accurately estimate the median income for these professionals. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), social psychologists and other applied psychologists (such as clinical psychologists) at the doctoral level earned a median income of $92,500. However, social psychologists made up only six percent of respondents to this study. As with most professions, individuals who have earned their doctoral degree command a higher salary than their counterparts with a master's degree. Social-personality psychologists have a freedom to move between professions that many other psychologists do not experience. In addition, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment for those working in the field of psychology is expected to grow faster than average (18 to 26 percent) for all occupations through 2014. |
