Question: hello jack,what is the difference between a conversation anasyst and a syciatrist

Jack Joyce answered on 11 Nov 2019: last edited 11 Nov 2019 4:55 pm

Like a biologist is a type of scientist, a Conversation Analyst is also a type of scientist. A Conversation Analyst studies social interaction. The ‘science’ is in finding out new things about how people use language.

A psychiatrist is someone who studies, diagnoses and treats mental disorders — usually a medical doctor. They’re a type of scientist, but one who specialises to help people with those mental disorders. A Conversation Analyst on the other hand specialises in language. There is some research that looks at how Psychiatrists interact with their patients!