Alte FriedmanEven those with the strongest passion for a subject may have some reservations about studying it. After all, it’s committing many years to one discipline, and can have a large influence over career prospects too.
Still, fewer doubts can be felt with psychology. Everyone benefits from its place in academia, and course content at many institutions can enrich lives for the better. Even if you don’t plan to go into a field that’s directly related to psychology, learning more about the subject can still be worthwhile.
Of course, you may have many conflicting thoughts when a decision on what to study needs to be made. So, why might studying psychology be the right move for you? Keep reading to find out more.
Enjoy Diverse Studies
Accredited psychology courses provide an enormous scale of value at certain institutions. The prospectus can be delightfully unexpected.
For example, a range of psychology subjects are explored in both the undergraduate and postgraduate psychology degrees at the University of Stirling. Under their guidance, you can learn more about human and animal behaviour, congition, and developmental, clinical, and health psychology. Refine analytical and research skills, and enjoy the practical elements found in many of the courses.
Under these measures, a psychology degree can keep you on your toes and challenge you in different ways everyday. Many people can eventually become bored with their studies. However, there’s plenty of intellectual stimulation here to keep you engaged throughout the entire course duration.
There are many areas that value psychology skills. In the end, you can be confident that the skills you learn here have real value in society.
Learn More About You
In its simplest definition, psychology is the study of human behaviour. You’re human, so to some extent, you can apply what you’ve studied to your own thought processes and patterns.
It’s not uncommon to feel like you don’t know yourself or feel lost attempting to find yourself. Questions of identity loom large in contemporary society. Things like job losses and relationship breakdowns can cause people to reflect on where they’ve been and are going. Any degree of struggle can test your character and resolve in some capacity.
Studying psychology may not yield the answers to these complex questions right away. That said, you may be given a figurative toolbox that enables you to become more conscious of your thoughts. Instead of succumbing to midlife crises, you may be able to manage these situations better and remain calm. Personal triggers may also be easily identified and managed.
Not everybody can say that their studies can impact their personal life in as profound a way. Because psychology can inform your decision-making and character, it can change your relationship with your studies. You may feel a greater value in what you’re doing, alongside a stronger feeling of personal enrichment. Many people study subjects for a nice job, but your experience with psychology can be more multifaceted than employment prospects alone.
Connect with Others
Of course, not everything is about you. That sense of perspective can be another perk of studying psychology. Your learning isn’t insular and self-serving but an instrument through which you could help others either professionally or personally.
Unfortunately, much of the latest data on mental illness highlights growing numbers in the UK. If you’re studying psychology, you can better understand this epidemic and perhaps even take steps to support others. Remember, even if you’re not fully trained in psychology, that doesn’t mean you’re in no position to offer empathy and understanding to those closest to you.
Once you understand other people’s mental well-being problems a little better, you may feel as if you’re in greater harmony with the world. You might be able to read subtle signs that somebody isn’t doing too well. Instead of feeling helpless, it’s possible you’ll be able to say the right thing or know when to give someone space.
Mental well-being concerns are a hot topic today. Being more tuned into these problems may help you foster more meaningful connections with others. Many people hope to make a difference in other people’s lives, and both during and after studying psychology, you’ll be able to do so.
Psychology is Endlessly Fun
People are fascinating. Psychology isn’t always about the darker things going on in the mind, and can take on a larger view of how people think and behave.
How does being hypmotised work? What sparks high degrees of loyalty in people? How do people and animals problem solve? What are some of the explanations behind optical illusions? Depending on the course you enrol, you may be able to start answering some of these questions.
Try to remember that there is a more lighthearted side to psychology. It can often be mischaracterised as something that’s exclusively bleak, and while it can help people with serious challenges, psychology can also be fun. Embrace that side of things as you study and you’ll get more out of the subject.
