The impact of specialist training on professional identity, organisational membership, organisational commitment, and stress in correctional psychologists

Abstract

PurposeRecent years have seen some significant changes to the psychology profession in Australia that have prompted debate about the role of specialist areas of practice. This study aims to investigate those attitudes and values that might be associated with one particular specialism, that of forensic psychology.Design/methodology/approachThe influence of specialist forensic training on the professional identity of 30 correctional psychologists was examined in relation to their self‐reported level of stress, organisational membership, and organisational commitment.FindingsThe results suggest that exposure to specialist training in forensic psychology may not be directly associated with organisational commitment, membership or stress, although some differences between forensic psychologists and those who held other professional practice qualifications were observed.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations of the study include the small sample size and the use of a scale that has not been well‐validated. Replication and extension of the study is required.Practical implicationsThe study has implications for the recruitment and retention of psychologists in correctional settings and for the development of professional identity in post‐graduate training programmes.Originality/valueThis study is the first to explore the differences in professional identity, organisational commitment, organisational membership and stress in a sample of psychologists who practice in the correctional setting.