Psychology

 

So, we're going to start today off with a personal story--

When I was in my undergrad program, I often met people from time to time that would ask me about my major. This is usually how the conversation went:

Person: "So what's your major?/What are you majoring in?"

Me: "Psychology."

Person: "Hmm, so are you going to analyze everything I say? Are you reading my mind?"

Me: "...no."

It's quite the misconception that all psychology majors will analyze, pull apart, or judge everything that  someone may say. However, analytical ability is a gained skill through this major, along with other skills. Psychology is the study of the mind and human behavior--"why do we do the things we do?" It also studies the relationship between the brain and behavior, as well as behavior and the environment. Psychology is a multifaceted discipline.  So, yes psychology does analyze and observe behavior whether natural or experimental, but usually within the confinements of an office, laboratory, or planned natural location.Community, Clinical, Social, Cognitive and Perceptual, Counseling, Developmental, Educational, Engineering, Environmental, Experimental, Forensic, are just a few of the various areas that one could study. Please check out this link to learn more about the specifics of each of these areas.

 

 Sometimes students interested in psychology will go on to fulfill a completely different field of work. Because the major has so many transferable skills it makes for a great foundation for all types of areas such as business, human resources, sociology, social work, education, and other human service areas. 

Here are some skills that you should gain from a psychology major:

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
• Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Below are links for more information about possible career choices for psychology majors. Thanks for reading!

what can i do with a major in psychology? 

American Psychological Association