Career In Psychology
People
Acolyte
I was visiting a college today and there was this list of majors they have. Quite a few. My eyes landed on psychology and I had a moment of curiosity. I was planning on a physics degree, but psychology interested me a lot all of a sudden.
I'm reading that it is definitely one of the more diverse fields, branching off into basically every aspect of human life. I wouldn't want to go into clinical field or school field just because those seem boring.
What appeals to me would be an existential study of how people develop their personalities. Is personality developed by itself in the mind of the person or is it a grouping of different traits from every relationship and experience a person has had? That interests me tons because I often ponder it, but developing a career on it? I'm not too sure.
Also, it would be very interesting to study the brain as well as the mind, if you know what I mean. To see the connections of thoughts and brain functions, so I would need some biology, chemistry, and even medical training for that, right?
Overall, it seems like a very interesting career path to take now that I'm thinking about what I'm going to do with my life. Any branches I'm missing that would be interesting? And if I did pursue the existential path, could I make a living at all?
I'm reading that it is definitely one of the more diverse fields, branching off into basically every aspect of human life. I wouldn't want to go into clinical field or school field just because those seem boring.
What appeals to me would be an existential study of how people develop their personalities. Is personality developed by itself in the mind of the person or is it a grouping of different traits from every relationship and experience a person has had? That interests me tons because I often ponder it, but developing a career on it? I'm not too sure.
Also, it would be very interesting to study the brain as well as the mind, if you know what I mean. To see the connections of thoughts and brain functions, so I would need some biology, chemistry, and even medical training for that, right?
Overall, it seems like a very interesting career path to take now that I'm thinking about what I'm going to do with my life. Any branches I'm missing that would be interesting? And if I did pursue the existential path, could I make a living at all?
Comments
Of course, I wouldn't need to determine a major until the end of sophomore year. I could always study a class or two of it to satisfy what I think of it.
Neuroscience might be a good fit for you since it is the midpoint between biology and psychology. There are positions in research in all the different fields of psychology, but you will typically need to get a graduate degree. If you decide on neuroscience then you might have to take some biology prerequisite classes, but I've never heard of a psych major having to take any complex biology courses (besides neuroscience) or any chemistry at all.
Get a masters or PhD, or better yet. Psychiatry MD.
That being said, your bachelor's degree doesn't mean shit these days anyway, so why not study what you want and then go to grad school for the "real" degree.
It's really up to how far you're willing to go. Almost all of the psych teachers and profs I've had have a deep love of psychology, especially with the more exotic research they do, so it seems like it can be quite fulfilling if you make the most of it.
But the brain and personality of people really interest me
Psychiatrists can prescribe drugs. :thumbsup:
To obtain a decent job with a psychology degree, you need to reach at least masters...even then, jobs will be hard to come by and the pay for the amount of college you need is not a fair trade off.
That being said, if you love-love psychology, then go for it! To me, being happy in a job is more important that the pay....to an extent. :P