In over 30 years of being a psychologist, I have never witnessed so many pressing societal issues playing out at one time—the rapid spread of misinformation, incomprehensible rates of gun violence, rising levels of mental health challenges, and ongoing systemic racism, to name only a few. In taking on these issues, it can be easy to mistake their complexity as intractability. However, my experience as a policymaker has taught me that even the greatest challenges can be solved with the right partnerships and compilation of knowledge.
Psychology—as the science of human behavior and its underlying processes—can play a prominent role in addressing these challenges. It is, in large part, our responsibility as a field to ensure that psychological knowledge meaningfully impacts the larger issues we care about and the communities we serve. Basic research on models of learning can inform the development of socially appropriate and ethical artificial intelligence. The science of social motivation and persuasion can be infused into global collective climate change solutions. The understanding of functional brain development can shape policies around issues such as school start times and use of social media among children.
There are ways we can help to ensure that psychological expertise is translated effectively to share with those who need it. For instance, you can get involved in federal, state, and local advocacy. Policymakers typically seek data and information to guide their decisions, but their limited understanding of psychology’s breadth means that our field is often overlooked in these requests and, therefore, left out of solutions. If decision-makers are aware of our research, they can use it to inform policy.
You can also enhance your ability to discuss your work with others, particularly those less comfortable with psychological or scientific vernacular. For example, science communication trainings, like those APA offers through the Alan Alda Centeropens in new window, not only help individual psychologists engage others in their work, but they also contribute to a broader culture of scientific literacy.
The world is seeking solutions. From wherever you sit within the field of psychology, you have the power to contribute.