Becoming a Consumer Psychologist

Summary

Written by two scholars at the forefront of conducting research on the psychology of consumers and mentoring those new to the field, Becoming a Consumer Psychologist provides a guide to what it takes to become a consumer psychologist, and achieve success in this area.

Monga and Bagchi lay out the varied experiences that lead one to be a consumer psychologist in academia, marketing, or public policy. The book discusses the academic route in detail, guiding you on how to apply to schools, including for a Ph.D., what courses to take, and what to expect during your educational experience and after. It also discusses other routes that lead to diverse non-academic career paths in which practitioners apply their knowledge about consumer psychology.　

The authors' guidance is backed by their own experiences as consumer psychology researchers, mentors, and journal Associate Editors; and the insights that the authors have gathered exclusively for this book from 23 other leading academics and practitioners. This book is essential reading for anyone looking to start their career in consumer psychology, and for mentors and advisors who are guiding students about career choices.

Table of Contents

1. Who is a consumer psychologist?

2. What to study to become a consumer psychologist?

3. What do consumer psychologists do?

4. The Journey: Life as a graduate student

5. Different Destinations

6. How can you get started on your journey?

Author(s) Bio

Ashwani Monga is Professor and Chair of Marketing at Rutgers University. He is the Education and Training Chair for the Society for Consumer Psychology (APA Division 23).

Rajesh Bagchi is Professor of Marketing and Richard E. Sorenson Junior Faculty Fellow at Virginia Tech. He received an Early Career Award from the Society for Consumer Psychology (APA Division 23) in 2016.