On Becoming a Psychologist

Abstract

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.