Psychology as a Major: What to Expect and How to Succeed

In this research paper, I will discuss the major that I intend to study. Various issues pertaining the major will be described using articles and research done by other scholars in the field. Aspects such as the reasons for considering the subject, the skills that accrue from this major, possible career choice, among others will be highlighted and analyzed in detail. For a better insight of the major, an interview of an expert in the field was carried out. Besides, two emerging issues in the field of psychology are discussed. 

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines psychology as a science that is concerned with both human and non-human behavior. APA further posits that psychology is a vast discipline that comprises of aspects of biology and sociology (Woods & Wilkinson, 1997). Psychologists according to APA study the intersection of two vital relationships that include the link between brain function and behavior as well as the relationship between an individual’s surroundings and routine. 

The California State University department of psychology highlights some of the pros of taking psychology as a major. One of the advantages is that an individual has the benefit of attending a broad array of specific classes learning about people’s behavior and thinking (Halpern, 2008)). The knowledge about people’s thinking and behavior avails an individual with a comprehension of the reason why human beings behave the way they do and assists in predicting and motivating people’s future behavior. The other advantage is that a learner will develop various skills that are valuable to the employers. Such skills comprise of written and oral communication, the ability to work in teams, interpersonal skills, analytical thinking, as well as the ability to use technology, such as computers. 

The American Psychological Association, on the other hand, provides a list of various skills that students who major in psychology can get while in college. They are the ability to read critically and analyze information from multiple sources; the ability to collect data and to put together oral and written reports; learning of people, incorporating their limitations and skills; the capacity to define problems and plan projects so as to attempt to solve them; and the capacity to make inferences from data (Sternberg, 1997). 

Psychology is a vast field that comprises several areas. It encompasses both types of research, in which individuals get the knowledge of essential things concerning human behavior as well as nonhuman animal behavior and practice, through which the acquired knowledge is put into use to solve problems (Woods & Wilkinson, 1997). In every subfield, some psychologists work as researchers, some as practitioners and numerous who do both and are known as scientist-practitioners. Some of the prominent fields of psychology include clinical psychology, social psychology, school psychology, community psychology, among others. 

Clinical psychologists assess and treat emotional, behavioral, and mental disorders. The disorders may range from short-term crises to more severe conditions. Some clinical psychologists may decide to focus on particular groups of people in the society such as the youths, families or couples, older people, among others (Sternberg, 1997). Social psychologists investigate the manner in which an individual’s mental well-being and behavior are affected by interactions with other people. Social psychologists are found in an array of areas. They may be found in learning institutions where they mainly teach and conduct research, in agencies that do advertising, where they investigate consumer attitudes and preferences, among others. School psychologists provide psychological services to children, those in the adolescent stage, and families in the school environment as well as other related settings. They examine, and counsel students took to parents and school staff, and institute behavioral interventions when necessary. Majority of school districts in the US recruit psychologists on a full-time basis. 

Career outlook 

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of psychologists will grow at a rate of 14 percent from 2016 (last year) to 2026 (Statistics, 2015). This growth surpasses the average growth of all occupations. The Bureau of Labor statistics further reveals that job prospects ought to be best for the individuals that hold a doctoral degree in an applied specialty. 

Psychologists work in many fields and with many other professions. For instance, Prof. Jessica Whitney who was interviewed for this project majored in Psychology and currently works at UNCW as a lecturer (Whitney, Personal interview, October 18, 2017). Graduates that possess a bachelor’s degree in Psychology can get work in companies, social services as well as in agencies that revere the skills that are taught in psychology classes. Additionally, psychology can be an interim degree that prepares individuals for graduate school in medicine, law, social work, counseling, and psychology. 

Developments in work psychology: emerging issues and future trends 

Currently, many people are trying to come up with ways of promoting the well-being of those employed at various workplaces. Because of this concern, a discipline known as work psychology has emerged (Patterson, 2001). The expertise of the work psychologists has had an impact on the manner in which several organizations carry out their operations comprising of multinational commercial agencies, companies that are public-owned as well as the voluntary sector. The emergence of this discipline is evidence of the realization by many organizations of the importance of psychologists. Shortly, firms may hire psychologists to try to solve issues that are unique to them. Because many challenges arise during operations in numerous companies, several top managers would want to hire psychologists to assist them in the problem-solving process. Analytical and critical skills are vital for any business, especially those that deal with many people. 

The future of forensic psychology 

Forensic psychology involves studying human behavior in connection with investigations during crimes. These types of psychologists operate within the context of the law (Bartol & Bartol, 2011). Clinical forensic psychologists, for instance, are concerned with issues that deal with mental health in the legal framework. A clinical forensic psychologist may be asked to assess an offender to establish whether there is a possibility of the offender committing an offense when released. Clinical forensic psychologists also take part in tasks such determining the insanity and fitness of an individual to stand trial, carrying out incident stress debriefings with police officers, giving testimonies in courts on matters that are psychological, among others. The US media presently airs so many crime-related reality TV shows. The Hollywood also on the hand is beginning to shoot movies that depict investigations of crime incidents. These films, as well as the TV shows, are favorite among US citizens. There are many prospects for psychologists in the legal industry as well as the entertainment industry. There are possibilities that crime investigation agencies will hire psychologists to help in understanding the behavior of law offenders. On the other hand, the entertainment industry will need to recruit psychologists to feature in their investigation episodes. 

To conclude, studying Psychology offers many benefits to students. The subject improves the understanding of human behavior. There are many areas where graduates can work. It only depends on an individual’s aim. Students can also pursue other majors after graduating such as law, medicine, among others where their knowledge of psychology will be of benefit to them. The emergence of disciplines such as work psychology and forensic psychology offers better prospects in the future. The employment of psychologists is also estimated to grow in future, which is a definite indication of employment opportunities for psychologists. 

References  

Halpern, D. F. (2008). Nurturing careers in psychology: Combining work and family.  Educational Psychology Review ,  20 (1), 57-64. 

Statistics, U. B. O. L. (2015). Employment and earnings.  Washington, DC: US Department of La-bor, Bureau of Statistics, January1997 . 

Woods, P. J., & Wilkinson, C. S. (1997). Is psychology the major for you? Planning for your undergraduate years. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (Library catalog number BF76.I8 1987) 

Sternberg, R. J. (1997). Career paths in psychology: Where your degree can take you. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (Library catalog number BF76.c38 1997) 

Patterson, F. (2001). Developments in work psychology: Emerging issues and future trends.  Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology ,  74 (4), 381-390. 

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2011).  Introduction to forensic psychology: Research and application . Sage. 

Whitney J. (2017, October 18). Personal interview