Studying Psychology: 10 Good Reasons

We could give you a thousand reasons why it is worth studying psychology. But there is one that sums them all up: it’s exciting. Few disciplines go beyond mere professional performance enriching us as people, allowing us to grow and have a much broader vision of our reality. While it’s not an easy profession, it’s certainly interesting.

When you attend your first class at university and come into contact with the wide range of topics included in a psychology degree, you often question your choice. Some are at least surprised when faced with dozens of books, theories and different approaches that one must know how to understand and differentiate.

Some feel a certain sense of oppression or even annoyance in coming face to face with the always complex, but at the same time interesting, world of statistics, of experimental designs. A world in which mathematics continues to be present, unfortunately for those who do not particularly love it. However, it is with daily work and contact with each of the fields that make up this science that one finally becomes aware of its fascinating universe and begins to trace one’s path.

It must also be said, however, that the study of psychology will hardly make us rich and will not guarantee us to find a job or finish our studies. Today’s society and the conditions of the labor market are what they are, and sometimes you have to combine talent with ingenuity, motivation with opportunities, persistence with patience. However, the fields of application are many and with a good specialization you can build an enriching and exceptional professional future.

10 reasons to study psychology

If we are at a turning point in our life, in which we have to choose what to dedicate our professional future to, if we want to launch into a change and train ourselves in something different, studying psychology will always be a good choice. Undoubtedly everyone must make his own reflection and this must include two important points: what I am looking for and what I would like to offer to others.

Psychology represents an exchange in which we allow ourselves to grow as we form, in order to offer the best of ourselves for the good of others. Let’s see what are the advantages that a degree in psychology can offer us.

1. It helps us understand ourselves better

As we deepen all the psychological theories, all the different approaches to personality, human development, the effects of culture on our behavior, we will become aware of various aspects that concern us and others.

Studying psychology will almost necessarily lead us to ask ourselves many questions. Questions that do not always have an answer, this is true, but will become a source of constant research, a continuous adventure in which to get to know each other a little more every day and in which to leave behind certain patterns, attitudes and ideas that once were. important.

2. Learn to appreciate scientific methods

Psychology is not magic. We are not mentalists, nor do we have a radar in our eyes that allows us to capture the trauma that hides the person in front of us, his fears or his strengths in 5 and a half seconds. More than once it will happen that our friends, acquaintances or relatives will end up telling us the recurring and classic phrase “for sure you are already analyzing me”.

Psychology, as we know, collects countless myths that accompany us in many contexts, whether we like it or not. However, there is one aspect that must be clear from the “zero” minute: psychology is a social science that is based on the scientific method.

It is necessary to understand that in order to reach certain conclusions, some facts and results are part of a tiring, objective and patient work, always based on specific research methods; and indeed it is precisely in this that professional success consists. Then there is the “pop psychology”, generally so loved by the masses, which we see daily in magazines and social networks and which has little or nothing to do with reality.

3. Development of critical thinking

Much of the material, theories, approaches and areas that make up psychology studies help develop critical thinking. Whether we want it or not, it is an essential requirement if we want to be good professionals, if we want to be truly useful to people without losing integrity and honor. Only in this way will we differentiate the tree from the forest, clarity from deception, reality from manipulation.

4. Greater understanding of human relationships

Studying psychology will not automatically turn us into psychologically healthy, successful, or happier people (at least not to most of us). Psychologists also suffer from depression, anxiety. They too fail like anyone else in their relationships and have, why not, their little phobias and limitations.

However, having all these skills, they are much more aware of what is happening to them and what is happening around them. Having acquired all this knowledge and skills based on the behavior of human beings, they are able to understand much better the relational dynamics, they know at what point they need to ask for help or which paths it is best to take to promote well-being in themselves or in others.

5. Appreciate human development at all stages of life

Understanding how we evolve, how people change along the way gives us valid knowledge, but it usually also makes us more sensitive and open to the problems of others and to the suffering or doubts associated with them.

On the other hand, no less important, psychology reveals some peculiarities associated with certain stages of our development, such as childhood or old age. In them, perhaps we can also find our passion or a reason to dedicate ourselves to a specific area.

6. Development of a new awareness of mental illness

Studying psychology will allow you to break down many of the myths about mental illness, which were previously believed. We understand, for example, the differences between what is a syndrome, a disorder and a disease.

We realize that drugs do not cure some diseases, they simply “treat” them. You discover firsthand how complex it is to make a diagnosis, the many nuances behind a depression, an anxiety disorder or schizophrenia.

7. There is a specialty for every passion

Not all psychologists are psychoanalysts and follow Freud’s principles. Indeed, there are much more who do not follow them. Not everyone practices hypnosis, nor does their work in the clinical setting. Studying psychology later offers the opportunity to train in a wide range of specialties, so that you can choose the one you prefer. The options are numerous:

• Clinical psychology.
• Educational psychology.
• Sports Psychology.
• Forensic psychology.
• Health Psychology
• Organizational psychology.
• Child-youth psychology.
• Social or community psychology.

8. Psychology: a perfect complement to other disciplines

Few studies are complementary to other disciplines such as psychology. For example, we can have a degree in journalism, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, philology, anthropology, art or economics and decide to start a path towards a degree in psychology in order to acquire a much richer and more complete, as well as fascinating, education.

Beyond creating a much more solid curriculum, studying psychology enriches us by making us better understand human behavior, social interaction, language, communication, motivation, emotions, decision-making … essential processes for having a more complete with the other sciences.

9. Learn to communicate better

It is an aspect that is not always talked about. However, a psychology student finds in the day-to-day that with the acquisition of emotional management skills or understanding of body language and its nuances, one  also acquires greater skill in interpersonal communication.

We are not just referring to the opportunity to improve our public speaking skills. You will also get better communication with our loved ones, understand who we are in front of through their non-verbal communication, tone of voice and expressions, so that we can build a more empathic and effective dialogue.

10. Studying psychology can be the first step towards the best time of our life

We said at the beginning, we could give you 100 reasons to study psychology, but there is one that transcends all others: it is a fascinating science and can certainly open a new phase in one’s life. We will always find something that, in a given moment, will take us so much that we will say to ourselves: “this is for me”, I want to deepen this area, I want to be useful in this discipline, I want to help this specific group.

Sometimes it is neuroscience with its mysteries, in other cases it is a therapy, sometimes it is a clear desire to be useful to the childhood world or to focus on the more experimental field in which to develop certain investigations. The field of psychology is so vast that we all find our place at some point. And that’s when everything changes and everything makes sense.

If at this moment you are considering the possibility of studying psychology, we encourage you to embark on this sensational journey that “hardly” disappoints anyone …

Bibliographical references

Sheena Iyengar, (2006). The Art of Choosing. Psychology Press.

Butler-Bowdon, Tom (2004). 50 Psychology Classics: Who We Are, How We Think, What We Do: Insight and Inspiration from 50 Key Books. New York: H. Books.