In the United States, the big issue concerns the distinction to be drawn between those with a Ph.D. and those with a Psy.D. degree. For many years, all psychologists obtained a Ph.D. and prepared primarily for teaching and research rather than doing psychotherapy or psychological assessment.
I personally had only one course in assessment and devoted only two weeks to use of Rorschach—yet I could have gone out as a qualified “expect” in psychological assessment after receiving the doctorate and passing the licensing exam. Then came the creation of a professional-focused degree — the Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology). This is the degree that you were granted. This is now the primary degree granted to those in the USA who wish to do psychological assessments and/or psychotherapy.
Medical Profession in the United States
Restrictions and economics. The Flexner Report in the early 20th Century restricted use of the term “Doctor” in the field of medical education. The term could not be used by those who graduated from nontraditional medical schools (only the Allopaths could be called “Doctor”). Virtually all medical schools that served women and minorities were put out of business. These restrictions led to a major reduction in the number of doctors being educated. As a result, a major shortage of doctors soon developed. This, in turn, led to a significant increase in the price of medical care and subsequently to support for health care insurance by doctors (this not previously being the case.
Subcultures and pecking order. At the top of the pecking order are the specialists, and in particular those doing surgery. At the top of this highest order are those doing neural surgery. Then comes the other specialists, headed by the oncologists. We have those specializing in one part of the human body (Urologists, Ear/Nose/Throat, Pediatricians, Pedologists, etc.). Further down the hierarchical list are those who do not specialize. At the top are those engaged in Internal Medicine.
Below them are the family medicine doctors and those focusing on child medicine (pediatrics). At the bottom of the “Totem pole” are the psychiatrists, who dare to consider mental illness as important as physical illness. There is even a sub-hierarchy among psychiatrists. Those who treat mental and emotional issues with drugs are acting like “real doctors” and are applying “real science.” Conversely, those doing psychotherapy (“talking cure”) are not being “real” doctors and are practicing some sort of mumbo-jumbo that isn’t really “scientific.”
