Linda wrote:
> Perhaps, you could list the number or name of the APA divisions
> for the "get rich internet scheme" division, the journals that
> focus only on this topic, the name of the graduate program at
> a major research institution focusing on this branch of
> psychology, etc. Sounds like one of the more financially
> lucrative areas of psychology.
"Get Rich Quick" schemes are marketing approaches which target
individuals interested in business investments who lack an education in
business operations. As such, they are as legitimate an area of marketing
inquiry as are retail operations, mail order sales, or product design and
promotions.
According to Kotler ("Marketing Management: Analysis, Planning,
Implementation and Control." 9th Ed. Prentice-Hall):
"A person's buying choices are influenced by four major psychological
factors--motivation, perception, learning, and beliefs and attitudes."
(pg. 181).
A great deal of business research is conducted by psychologists, both in
the areas of Industrial psychology and in the marketing and advertising
realm. All of this applies at least as directly to a "get rich quick"
scheme as genocide studies apply to the topic of East Timor.
Therefore, to answer your questions, above:
APA divisions would include: 14 (Industrial and Organizational); 18
(Public service--which includes Criminal Justice Psychology and addresses
the psychology of fraud, etc.); 23 (Consumer psychology); 25 (Behavioral);
46 (Media psychology); 52 (International psycholgy) and potentially other
divisions as well.
Journals: Those relevant to these topics as well as a very wide range of
Marketing journals, etc.
Graduate Program: MBA (Master of Business Administration) with a major in
Marketing; DBA (Doctor of Business Administration); Ph.D. Business
Administration; Ph.D. Marketing; a number of Psychology programs focusing
on the areas of concern to the APA divisions above, etc.
Major Institutions: Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Princeton, Stanford,
University of California, UCLA, University of Michigan, Duke, Purdue, etc.
It would be easier to name all the major institutions that _don't_ have
such a program.
Income: Psychologists in the areas of Marketing Analysis, Advertising,
Public Relations, etc. earn substantially more (on the average) than do
academic psychologists with the same credentials and number of years
experience in their professions. The combination of an MBA and a Ph.D. in
psychology is a fast-track ticket in the Marketing area, and requires
extensive education in both business and psychology.
Sorry, Linda, but despite the "silly sounding" concept--it IS as valid a
topic for discussion here as is East Timor.
Rick
