4 answers
Kayla
Student
Savannah, Tennessee
1
Question
Asked
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What in your opinion, is a typical reason for wanting to study psychology?
Like what do you think is the most common reason psychologists and psychology students have for getting into that field? I have been wondering this for a while and I have my own opinions but I’m only a high schooler and was wondering what the professionals thought.
4 answers
Kim Igleheart
Career Counselor | Police Officer
1665
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Unfortunately, some people take Psychology because they believe they need a college degree to have a successful career, and they have heard that Liberal Arts degrees are the easiest.
I don't know about how things are now, but, I majored in Sociology, and, given the number of papers I had to write, I'm not so sure it's easy!
I found that I had a lot in common with my classmates, and those majoring in Political Science. When I took other classes, like Environmental Science, Colonial American History, etc., I did not find a common connection with my classmates. What attributes did we share? Youthful idealism, a belief we could change the world, a lust for knowledge, political involvement, etc.
Psychology is a degree that is useful for people wanting to go into the criminal justice system, general social services (child protective services, welfare office work, etc), as well as those who design screening tools to use in testing (job applicant screening tools, etc).
I don't know about how things are now, but, I majored in Sociology, and, given the number of papers I had to write, I'm not so sure it's easy!
I found that I had a lot in common with my classmates, and those majoring in Political Science. When I took other classes, like Environmental Science, Colonial American History, etc., I did not find a common connection with my classmates. What attributes did we share? Youthful idealism, a belief we could change the world, a lust for knowledge, political involvement, etc.
Psychology is a degree that is useful for people wanting to go into the criminal justice system, general social services (child protective services, welfare office work, etc), as well as those who design screening tools to use in testing (job applicant screening tools, etc).
+1 on the fact that social sciences/liberal arts degrees are NOT easy. As a psychology major, I wrote more papers than I can count and took more statistics classes than I would care to remember, but I loved every second of it! I think that a psych degree teaches you lots of transferable skills that can be applied to the careers mentioned above but also so many others!
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Thanks Gurpreet, glad to hear there is still lots of writing! My research skills have served me well in the 40 yrs since college! I just wish I had the foresight to write all my papers on a different aspect of the same subject - then I'd have a book!
Kim Igleheart
Bobbi Stevens
3
Answers
Updated
Bobbi’s Answer
Many individuals who embark on a journey in Psychology or initiate their college life with this subject do so out of a deep desire to assist others. They usually have a passion for hearing people's stories and a strong drive to offer help. Occasionally, these individuals discover new interests while exploring their Psychology studies. They might find themselves drawn towards related fields like Sociology, which could spark their curiosity even more.
Samantha Sharazi
Operations Associate
6
Answers
Bonaire, Georgia
Updated
Samantha’s Answer
Hello! There are numerous reasons why someone might opt for psychology, such as a desire to help others, an interest in understanding the brain's functions, and a concern for mental health. I personally chose social work, although psychology was briefly on my radar. My goal in selecting my degree was to help others and gain insight into their lives and narratives. I discovered that social work offers a variety of career paths, enabling you to assist others in more ways than just case management or counseling, such as advocacy, policy-making, or administration. Hence, I decided to stick with social work.
A close friend of mine, however, chose to study psychology for similar reasons - she wanted to help others and believed that becoming a psychologist was the right path for her. She was also attracted to the opportunities for research and the mental health field in general. She spent over a decade working in a research facility that focused on pain management. Now, she's contemplating advancing her education and becoming a therapist, and I believe that her background in psychology provides a solid foundation for this career path.
A close friend of mine, however, chose to study psychology for similar reasons - she wanted to help others and believed that becoming a psychologist was the right path for her. She was also attracted to the opportunities for research and the mental health field in general. She spent over a decade working in a research facility that focused on pain management. Now, she's contemplating advancing her education and becoming a therapist, and I believe that her background in psychology provides a solid foundation for this career path.
Shivangi Sharma
Writer
1
Answer
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Updated
Shivangi’s Answer
There are many good reasons to pursue a psychology degree. Here are a few typical drivers:
Psychology offers insights into the causes of why people think, feel, and behave in the ways that they do. People who study psychology are better able to comprehend human behaviour and the variables that affect it. The desire to understand human behaviour and the complexity of the mind are two common motivations for studying psychology.
Helping others: A lot of people are drawn to psychology because they genuinely want to assist others in enhancing their mental health and well-being. Studying psychology equips students with knowledge and abilities that they can use in a variety of professional contexts, including social work, counselling, and therapy. It presents a chance to influence people, families, and communities for the better.
Personal development and self-awareness: Psychology can be used as a tool for development and self-discovery. People who study psychology can develop greater self-awareness and personal growth by learning about their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Individuals who have this knowledge may be better able to manage their own lives and form healthier relationships.
Opportunities for employment: There are numerous career paths available in psychology. Graduates can find employment in a variety of psychology-related fields, including clinical psychology, counselling, research, organisational psychology, educational psychology, and more. A strong foundation for pursuing these career opportunities and access to a range of professional settings is provided by studying psychology.
Interest in human behaviour and the mind: The complexity of the human mind can be incredibly fascinating. Questions about perception, memory, learning, motivation, personality, and social interactions fascinate a lot of people. People can delve into these subjects and discover the fascinating facets of the human mind by studying psychology.
These factors can differ from person to person, and different people may have different drives to study psychology.
Psychology offers insights into the causes of why people think, feel, and behave in the ways that they do. People who study psychology are better able to comprehend human behaviour and the variables that affect it. The desire to understand human behaviour and the complexity of the mind are two common motivations for studying psychology.
Helping others: A lot of people are drawn to psychology because they genuinely want to assist others in enhancing their mental health and well-being. Studying psychology equips students with knowledge and abilities that they can use in a variety of professional contexts, including social work, counselling, and therapy. It presents a chance to influence people, families, and communities for the better.
Personal development and self-awareness: Psychology can be used as a tool for development and self-discovery. People who study psychology can develop greater self-awareness and personal growth by learning about their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Individuals who have this knowledge may be better able to manage their own lives and form healthier relationships.
Opportunities for employment: There are numerous career paths available in psychology. Graduates can find employment in a variety of psychology-related fields, including clinical psychology, counselling, research, organisational psychology, educational psychology, and more. A strong foundation for pursuing these career opportunities and access to a range of professional settings is provided by studying psychology.
Interest in human behaviour and the mind: The complexity of the human mind can be incredibly fascinating. Questions about perception, memory, learning, motivation, personality, and social interactions fascinate a lot of people. People can delve into these subjects and discover the fascinating facets of the human mind by studying psychology.
These factors can differ from person to person, and different people may have different drives to study psychology.
This was super helpful, thank you!
Kayla
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