Standing apart from other STEM subjects, the field of psychology offers the opportunity to scientifically study human behavior. While many other STEM topics explore the world around us, psychology turns inwards and answers quasi-philosophical questions, attempting to uncover why people act, think, and feel as they do. Creating insights on the nature of humans and the mind, this field can be utilized in many practical and innovative ways. An important part of a well balanced education, not only can a deep understanding of psychology provide job opportunities, but it can benefit your day-to-day life. Below is a list of ways that psychology can help you, both in and out of the office.
- Understanding Yourself Better – Because psychology focuses on general human behavior, many of the concepts covered in these courses are relatable to students. Many individuals know how people will act in different circumstances, but they do not necessarily know the cognitive mechanisms that cause them to behave or feel one way or another. After learning the mental activities that affect our emotions, thoughts, and actions, one gains a new understanding of themselves and of why they act the way they do. A psychology student is better able to realize their own goals and flaws, and can see how their behavior is affected by events and experiences that occur throughout their lives. This understanding helps increase confidence and control over your emotions and actions.
2. Understanding Others Better – Not only does studying psychology give you a deeper connection with yourself, but it can also benefit your interpersonal interactions. When you learn what causes people to behave in certain ways, you can more easily understand the motivations and feelings of others based on their observable actions. This can make it easier to connect with other people, from strangers to well-known friends. No matter your career, it is always beneficial to be able to understand others, as this will help you collaborate with them. Knowing how people think will help in everything from participating in an interview to working in group projects and will make social interactions more seamless in both a professional and recreational setting.
3. Psychology Career Options (Mental Health and Therapy) – Another benefit to studying psychology are the many potential career paths that will become available. One option is to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist who works with patients, diagnoses mental disorders, and prescribes medication. Another possible path is to get a PhD or a master’s degree and become a clinical or counseling psychologist. This type of work involves doing therapy with individuals or in small group settings, diagnosing patients with various medical disorders, and providing them with advice and coping techniques. Another option is to pursue a social worker career which can be achieved with only a bachelor’s degree. In this type of job, one works with a variety of individuals and helps them with various mental or interpersonal problems.
4. Psychology Career Options (Other) – If medical science does not intrigue you as much, there are a number of other career opportunities provided by a degree in psychology. You could pursue a job in academia by getting a PhD and continuing on to conduct your own research, answering the questions that intrigue you the most. A psychology degree is also applicable to almost any business department, from human resources to upper level management. The people skills gained by a deep understanding of the human mind help in working with others, increasing communication efficiency and interpersonal productivity in the office. Another way to utilize a degree in psychology is in working with AI technology as scientists and engineers work to make computers increasingly human-like.
The knowledge and opportunities that become available to an individual who studies psychology will benefit them in a variety of ways. You will gain insight into yourself and others, enabling you to more easily work in group settings and collaborate with others. This can enrich your life both inside and outside of the workplace, as a deeper understanding of yourself allows you to have a more fulfilling life. A psychology degree also opens a plethora of doors to potential career opportunities and pathways. From becoming a therapist to working in a business, there are many possibilities that the education obtained in psychology courses can help provide to you.
By Matt Beetham
