A specialist who studies the mind and behavior, and often helps people with emotional, learning, or mental health problems using tests and talking therapies, but usually does not prescribe medication.
From psychology plus the suffix *-ist*, meaning 'a person who practices or is skilled in'. Psychology itself comes from Greek *psyche* ('mind') and *-logia* ('study of').
A psychologist is like a scientist of thoughts and feelings: they measure, test, and observe how minds work. The big difference from a psychiatrist is that most psychologists are not medical doctors and focus more on testing and talk‑based help.
The profession of psychology was historically male-dominated in leadership and theory-building, even as women carried out much of the research and teaching. Some psychological theories reinforced traditional gender roles and pathologized women’s behavior.
Refer to psychologists without assuming gender, and avoid stereotypes that women are naturally suited only for certain subfields (like child or clinical psychology). Use neutral professional titles and correct pronouns.
Women psychologists have been pivotal in developing cognitive, developmental, and social psychology, and in critiquing sexist and racist assumptions in the field.
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