1st Edition
On Becoming a Psychologist Emerging identity in education
On Becoming a Psychologist explores the professional identity construction of psychology students, examining their entry into the psychology profession from a socio-cultural perspective.
The book brings together socio-cultural approaches and Dialogical Self Theory to gain comprehensive insight into the developmental processes behind the formation of professional identity. It conceptualises the process of becoming a psychologist as an intrapersonally and interpersonally unique semiotic process of self-regulation that unfolds through dialogical relations with the individual’s socio-cultural surroundings. Building on empirical research, the book outlines the results of a longitudinal study of a cohort of psychology students throughout their studies and following their graduation. The study sheds light on how professional role expectations are negotiated between the different aspects of the self, with a particular focus on how the self is positioned throughout the course of professional education.
Offering a unique perspective on the socio-cultural construction of professional identity, this book will be of great interest to scholars, researchers and graduate students in the fields of cultural psychology, applied psychology and social psychology.
Acknowledgements
Series Editor Preface
Part 1: Persons into professions—A unique path into a professional role
Chapter 1. Introduction: Becoming a psychologist—What does that mean?
Chapter 2. Theoretical framework: A socio-cultural approach to professional identity construction
Chapter 3. Introduction to the methodology of the study: Grasping the multilinear and unique developmental process over time
Conclusion to Part 1
Part 2: A psychologist as a sign
Chapter 4. Psychologists emerge everywhere: the academic and non-academic voices in the focus
Chapter 5. A sign of a psychologist as an organizer
Conclusion to Part 2
Part 3: Becoming a psychologist: the multiple life trajectories
Chapter 6. Thirteen pathways to entering the professional role
Introduction
Self-professionalizing cases
Respondent 6a - Vik
Respondent 6b - Snap
Respondent 6c - Uur
Respondent 6d - Mes
Respondent 6e – Hei
Respondent 6f- Ris
Respondent 6g– Aet
Self-personalizing cases
Respondent 6h – Gar
Respondent 6i - Par
Self-maintaining cases
Respondent 6j - Ele
Respondent 6k– Pai
Respondent 6l- Ain
Respondent 6m - Eri
Summary of the general findings
Conclusion
Conclusion to Part 3
Part 4: General Implications: Basic principles of the socio-cultural construction of professional identity
Chapter 7. The construction of professional identity through the lens of cultural psychology
Concluding thoughts: The future in construction
Appendix
Biography
Katrin Kullasepp is Associate Professor of General Psychology at Tallinn University, Estonia.
