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Posted May 15, 2023

Why Study Psychology? The Benefits Explained

Why study psychology?Psychology can be described as the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. A person who studies psychology is referred to as a psychologist, someone who studies mental processes with the aim of getting a clear understanding of what’s happening in the human mind.

Learning psychology will enables you to get an understanding of why humans do the things they do, but it is more than just understanding the brain's working process. Like many of the social science subjects, this discipline offers students an excellent selection of skills that can be used in many different professions and academic settings.

Let’s take a look at what’s involved in studying psychology and what skills and future careers it can help you to advance in.

Explore many career possibilities

Individuals holding a psychology degree can explore many available careers in science and arts. During undergraduate psychology studies, students acquire skills like expressing empathy and compassion, assessing clients’ needs and keeping organised and accurate records.

These gained skills are important and can be used in several fields, including:

• Psychiatry
• Counselling
• Mental rehabilitation
• Teaching
• Vocational consultancy
• Social work
• Advertising
• Market research
• Journalism

Psychology students can also decide to go on to study a postgraduate course in psychology, and this can open up a fascinating range of careers in related fields including psychotherapist, educational psychologist and counsellor.

The skills learnt on a masters in psychology, such as critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, communication skills and research skills, will also help you advance with a range of unrelated careers including human resources, public relations, law, banking and finance.

Choose from a variety of course options

Typical study modules on a psychology degree are likely to include cognitive behaviour, clinical psychology, brain and mind, social psychology, developmental psychology and neuroscience.

At undergraduate level, you don’t necessarily have to study straight psychology and could choose to take a dual honours degree and combine psychology with other disciplines of interest, such as linguistics, computer science, criminology, history, modern languages, film studies, economics and education.

If you go on to study a masters in psychology, you can opt to specialise in a specific area of psychology such as clinical psychology, child psychology, education psychology or criminal psychology.

Gain transferable skills

The skills learned on a psychology degree can be transferred into an abundance of different situations, and many academics taking the highest level courses have studied a masters in psychology which will help them move into their preferred field.

For example, once you have completed the course you could choose to apply your knowledge to your favourite subject, for instance, if you have a masters degree in psychology and your passion in life is sport, why not pursue a career in sports psychology?

Even if you choose to enter a career that is not directly related to psychology, many employers look for individuals with a degree and that have gained transferable skills – and a psychology degree is a great way to do this. Some skills that you will gain include:

• Teamwork
• Critical thinking
• Project management and research
• Time management
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Self-awareness

All of these skills will prove very useful when it comes to choosing a job, whatever career you want to go into.

Explore fascinating topics

If you are interested in human behaviour and the workings of the human mind, then you should find the topics of study fascinating.

Psychology students will study the inner workings of the brain and carry out research into this field. Exploring human emotions will also be part of your studies on this course, as will cognitive behaviour and neuroscience. Other areas of study could include the nature of consciousness, the psychology of addiction, and the impact of culture on behaviour.

Understand yourself

Studying psychology will make you learn more about yourself and your life and to be a good psychologist it is important to understand more about yourself, and then you will be able to apply this knowledge to others.

While on your psychology course it is important to listen to your teachers and colleagues, and then express your ideas to help build your knowledge.

Psychology can help students gain a better understanding of their own and others’ behaviour, personality and mental health.

You will be challenged to use what you learn on your course throughout your life, especially if you go on to work as a psychologist.

Understand others

Even if you are not planning to go into a career that is directly in psychology, those aspiring to work in people management and human resources will need skills learnt on this degree, such as conflict management, collaboration and leadership.

These skills are important for employers, managers and workers who can effectively handle a group of individuals in enhancing good workplace relationships.

The understanding and empathy attained during a psychology degree will enable you to excel in many careers.

Make a difference in society

With the help of scientific research, psychologists have excellent knowledge regarding how people learn, interpret things and carry out their decision-making. They can use their knowledge and learned techniques to help individuals make the right choices daily.

Psychologists understand how various factors – like biology, social relationships and mental processes – can impact lifestyles, and they can help individuals overcome challenges that potentially prevent them from making better decisions.

Working to improve mental health for individuals as well as undertaking research into human behaviour, psychologists can really make a difference in society as well as to individuals.

Growing need for mental health professionals

The world needs more psychologists, as experts with a good understanding of the human mind are scarce. We live in a digital world where people increasingly fail to set aside time for themselves and their mental wellbeing. This means that people are experiencing more stress, sleep loss, anxiety, irritability and the feeling of being overwhelmed on a regular basis – to overcome these obstacles, individuals are increasingly seeking professional assistance.

The need for mental health professionals currently far outweighs the supply for experts in this field. By studying psychology, you will be in high demand and able to work in a fulfilling and rewarding career if you wish to remain in this field once you have finished your studies.

Study psychology anywhere in the world

Psychology is a universal field of study and can be pursued in different countries and cultures around the world.

There are no physical limitations when it comes to studying this subject – with many online psychology options meaning you can learn it from anywhere.

Plus, many universities offer students on site English-taught psychology degree studies, both undergraduate and postgraduate, including prestigious institutions in the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and France.

Further study opportunities

Obtaining a bachelors degree in psychology can be a stepping-stone to the beginning of a successful career. There are many ways that you can advance your studies in psychology, among them is choosing to study a masters degree in psychology.

Those who complete a masters degree in psychology tend to pursue careers more directly linked with the subject or can go onto research or teaching this topic at universities and colleges. Some therapist and psychologist roles require a masters degree – so check if this is necessary for your career aspirations.

It is also possible to go on to study a PhD or doctoral degree in psychology, which can take an additional three to six years to complete. Individuals with a doctorate in psychology will have an area of specialisation like health, educational or social psychology.

Develop research and analysis skills

The capacity to conduct research is critical to managers and employees, and when studying a psychology degree or masters, you will develop your research skills, honing your abilities to locate sources, assess their value and concisely explain your results through various projects and assignments.

Once you have completed your studies, you can use the skills gained to analyse tenders, look into possible projects and present data, regardless of the position or field you decide to venture into.

Conclusion

There are many reasons to study psychology, from career prospects to personal fulfilment. It is a fascinating field of study and one in which you will learn about mental processes and human behaviour.

Following your studies, you can choose to go into a career that is directly related to the topic and could really help people and bring great change to society. It can also lead to a selection of other fulfilling careers, as you will gain a unique skill-set that will make you invaluable to a whole host of future employers.

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Discover postgraduate psychology degrees across a wide range of universities. Refine your search using filters that suit your needs and requirements, helping you find the perfect course for your postgraduate journey. Search today.

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2 comments

Samuel Cobbina Okaah Jan. 21, 2024, 9:55 a.m.

I would love to know more about writing excellent thesis

Charlotte King Feb. 1, 2024, 11:20 a.m.

There is some good advice about writing a thesis or dissertation in this article >

https://www.postgrad.com/advice/exams/dissertations_and_theses/top_tips_writing_postgraduate_thesis/

Good luck!

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