Psychology

What Is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes–the mind.  So, it’s a field that people really enjoy studying because what’s not to like about learning about yourself?!  The field has a very broad application, even though many people think it’s mainly about helping people with their problems.  Counseling is a big part of the field, that’s true, along with therapists who tend to work with patients with more serious problems. But, counselors and therapists should not be confused with Psychiatrists who are MDs who work almost exclusively with serious psychological illness that might require medication.

Psychology is a science—a young one compared to physics and chemistry—because it uses established research methods in its quest to understand why people think and behave the way they do.  There are jobs outside of counseling and therapy that may be of interest to you, too.  Are you a good observer of people?  Do your friends come to you for help with their problems?  Do you avoid jumping to conclusions?  Are you a good listener?   Some job examples in the field are Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist, Employment Counselor, Life Coach, Employee Assistance Case Worker, Personnel Manager, Child Care Advisor, Psychology Professor, and Work Behavior Analyst.