Navigation trail

• Home page
• Types of jobs
• Advertising, marketing and PR
• Consumer psychologist: Job description and activities

Consumer psychologist: Job description and activities

The term consumer psychologist is not generally used to refer to a chartered psychologist, but rather to an individual with a psychology degree who is applying psychology in a consumer-related setting.

A consumer psychologist helps firms and organisations improve their marketing strategies by trying to understand the psychology behind consumer choice, e.g. how they select between alternative products, brands, services and ideas. In essence, a consumer psychologist helps marketers adapt and improve their marketing campaigns and strategies to reach the consumer more effectively.

Typical work activities could include:

• making direct contact with the public;
• conducting interviews;
• running focus groups;
• working with demographic research.

A consumer psychologist might work for a large industrial organisation that manufactures food or fast-moving consumer goods, or a marketing or market research agency or department.

Advertisements specifically for consumer psychologist positions are rare, but are sometimes available within advertising and marketing.

For more information see Clinical psychologist.

AGCAS

Written by Hannah Paterson, University of Manchester

Last updated:

September 2009

© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd | Disclaimer