Here is another blog post from our student contributor Samantha Ege. Stay tuned to the Psyowa blog for more great posts from her, our regular editor, and other guests!
There are misconceptions about pursuing a career in Psychology that many people believe.. For instance, when I talk to people about my career aspirations, very rarely do I hear encouragement; I hear more about how Psychology is a “soft science”, even though Psychologists do empirical research of their own, empirical research on phenomena that sometimes cannot be directly observed. I have heard, “Psychology is too much schooling and crippling debt for a small pay-off” in almost every situation regarding my explanation on why I want to pursue psychology. If you are pursuing a path in Psychology you will hear that Psychology students can’t land jobs after graduation, will be victim to debt, and will be surrounded by “crazy people” for the rest of their life. However, these are severe misconceptions of Psychology that are not particularly true.
Although it is true that most careers in Psychology require higher-level education, particularly graduate school, and money to pay for it, the main reason why these misconceptions are so popular are the result of ignorance about what Psychology really is. Psychology, by definition, is the study of mental processes and human behavior; this means that Psychology emphasizes how people think and behave. Furthermore, Psychology is one of those career paths that are often attributed to one specific career, usually counseling. Many people hear incorrect information about how many paths there are in Psychology and conclude that there aren’t a lot of jobs because there aren’t a variety of instances that come to mind.
In reality, there are 56 divisions of Psychology, according to the American Psychological Association, but there are only a few better-known areas that many people think of when they hear “Psychology”. For example, Counseling Psychology and Psychiatry are what most individuals think of for future careers; these fields help others cope with daily hassles and major traumatic experiences. Other more common careers paths in Psychology include Academia, or teaching Psychological theories in high school or higher-level education, and Research, which is the investigation of the world around us
through empirical analysis. Psychology also branches out into the workplace through Industrial-Organizational Psychology, in the schools through School Psychology, and the criminal justice system through Forensic Psychology.
As you can see, Psychology is much more than people make it out to be. What I have seen and experienced regarding Psychology is that it is a field of vast opportunities; there is something for everyone; no matter what your interest, Psychology can be useful. Psychology helps people relate to each other, to understand situations and how to cope with stressful situations, which every human being is vulnerable to. Psychology can help people better understand their world and help understand different opinions, beliefs, thought processes, feelings, and point of views. It helps people expand their horizons and expand their own self-image. Psychology is something that has no restrictions. Don’t let misconceptions allow you miss out on a great opportunity.
If you are someone that is considering pursuing a career in Psychology, you can visit the American Psychological Association website, specifically this link., to explore the 56 divisions of Psychology, or if you want a closer look into future careers in Psychology, you can visit http://www.apa.org/careers/resources/guides/careers.pdf. Psychology has something for everyone; it just depends on what your interests are.
In reality, there are 56 divisions of Psychology, according to the American Psychological Association, but there are only a few better-known areas that many people think of when they hear “Psychology”. For example, Counseling Psychology and Psychiatry are what most individuals think of for future careers; these fields help others cope with daily hassles and major traumatic experiences. Other more common careers paths in Psychology include Academia, or teaching Psychological theories in high school or higher-level education, and Research, which is the investigation of the world around us
through empirical analysis. Psychology also branches out into the workplace through Industrial-Organizational Psychology, in the schools through School Psychology, and the criminal justice system through Forensic Psychology.
As you can see, Psychology is much more than people make it out to be. What I have seen and experienced regarding Psychology is that it is a field of vast opportunities; there is something for everyone; no matter what your interest, Psychology can be useful. Psychology helps people relate to each other, to understand situations and how to cope with stressful situations, which every human being is vulnerable to. Psychology can help people better understand their world and help understand different opinions, beliefs, thought processes, feelings, and point of views. It helps people expand their horizons and expand their own self-image. Psychology is something that has no restrictions. Don’t let misconceptions allow you miss out on a great opportunity.
If you are someone that is considering pursuing a career in Psychology, you can visit the American Psychological Association website, specifically this link., to explore the 56 divisions of Psychology, or if you want a closer look into future careers in Psychology, you can visit http://www.apa.org/careers/resources/guides/careers.pdf. Psychology has something for everyone; it just depends on what your interests are.
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