Psychology is one of the fastest-growing university subjects, and is quickly becoming more available in schools and colleges at GCSE and A-Level. Psychology is the study of people: how they think, react and interact. It is concerned with all aspects of behaviour and the thoughts, feelings and motivation underlying such human aspects as behaviour. Media interest in the subject is mushrooming, and it regularly finds its way into prime time radio and television.
The study of people has a long history, with early observers basting their analysis of human nature on everyday experience. In contrast, modern psychology is the science of human behaviour and experience, and to study psychology you have to learn scientific methods involving observation, measurement, hypothesis testing, experimentation, logical inference, and use of statistics to test the significance of research findings.
But psychologists do not simply explain people's behaviour; they use their understanding to help people with difficulties and bring about changes for the better. For example, psychologists are concerned with practical problems such as:
- What effect does their parents' divorce have on children?
- How do you best train a blind person and a guide dog to work together?
- How do you learn to cope with stress, or with particular fears or phobias?
- What are the best shifts for air traffic controllers to work to minimize the risk of air accidents?
- How should parents deal with a child's tantrums?
- What kinds of people are most attractive to the opposite sex?
Psychologists have a valuable contribution to make to all areas of life today, whether it be with individuals or society as a whole. The subject also has much to offer to its practitioners.
Careers in Psychology
Psychologists are probably best know for their work in the health and education services, but psychology graduates can be found in almost any area of life. Career fall into three broad bands: those for which a psychology degree is essential; those for which it is directly useful, bit for which other graduates can apply; and careers which are open to any discipline.
A: Careers for which a psychology degree is essential
Clinical Psychologists work in various hospital and community settings with people with health problems or severe learning difficulties. They are very active in the mental health field, practising a wide variety of techniques.
For example, they train people in self-relaxation, so that they can cope with their anxieties, and help children with learning difficulties to care for themselves. They also work with people who have eating disorders, sexual problems, phobias, head injuries, strokes, HIV/AIDS and problems associated with age.
Counselling Psychologists aim to help people improve their sense of well being, alleviate their distress, resolve their crises, and increase their ability to solve problems and make decisions for themselves. They do this through the application of psychological theories, research and techniques to help individuals and groups deal with some of the inevitable difficulties of normal life.
Educational Psychologists tackle the problems encountered by young people in education, which may involve learning difficulties and social or emotional problems. They work closely with other professionals, particularly teachers and social workers.
Forensic Psychologists are concerned with the application of psychology to the Criminal and Civil Justice systems. Forensic psychologists may be found in the Prison Service, NHS, Social Services and Voluntary Services.
Health Psychologists work in a relatively new field of applied psychology. They are represented in a number of settings, such as hospital, academic health research units, health authorities and university departments, Psychological principals are used to promote changes in people's attitudes, behaviour and thinking about health.
Occupational Psychologists is concerned with the world of work and training and consequently has many guises. It may be labelled 'organisational psychology', 'ergonomics' (human factors, engineering applications of psychology), 'applied psychology', 'industrial psychology', personnel management', 'time management' of 'management consultancy'.
Occupational psychologists are involved with issues such as the selection and training of staff, psychometric tests, communication, the working environment and effective management.
Psychotherapy covers the psychological treatment of a wide range of mental and physical ills by a number of different methods, each developed in terms of its own theoretical framework. Methods vary from a long series of discussions, to only one or two intense interviews.
Research Psychologists work in universities, government agencies or private companies.
Teachers of Psychology normally work in schools, colleges or universities, where they teach at a number of levels.
B: Careers for which psychology provides a useful training
There are good employment prospects for psychology graduates in other fields, for which their training will provide them with relative experience. Market research, social work, nursing, advertising, sales, personnel management and career guidance are all areas for which a psychology degree will provide a good basis.
Psychology graduates will have knowledge of the assessment of personality, intelligence and attitudes, interviewing techniques, questionnaire design and analysis, child development, and the methods of teaching and learning.
C: Career open to graduates of any discipline
The majority of graduate jobs are open to graduates of any discipline. These include careers in the Armed Forces, the police, management training and accountancy. However, employers are usually looking for good 'transferable' skills, and a psychology degree provides an arguably unique combination of these.
Studying Psychology
Psychology can be studied at school of college as a GCSE, an A/S-level or A-level subject, or as SCOTVEC modules leading to GNVQ's. University courses, whether single, joint or combined honours degrees tend to be general in content, and cover all the main areas of psychological knowledge necessary to go into further training.
Even if initially you have no plans to practise psychology or become a Chartered Psychologist, you are strongly advised to keep your options open by talking a degree accredited by The British Psychological Society (BPS). This is the first step to becoming a Chartered Psychologist. At present, it is not necessary to register to work as a psychologist, but many practitioners find registration an asset. Employers prefer to appoint a Chartered Psychologist, because the title is the public's guarantee that the person is properly trained and qualified, and is answerable to an independent professional body.
Careers in Psychology
Psychologists are probably best know for their work in the health and education services, but psychology graduates can be found in almost any area of life. Career fall into three broad bands: those for which a psychology degree is essential; those for which it is directly useful, bit for which other graduates can apply; and careers which are open to any discipline.
A: Careers for which a psychology degree is essential
Clinical Psychologists work in various hospital and community settings with people with health problems or severe learning difficulties. They are very active in the mental health field, practising a wide variety of techniques.
For example, they train people in self-relaxation, so that they can cope with their anxieties, and help children with learning difficulties to care for themselves. They also work with people who have eating disorders, sexual problems, phobias, head injuries, strokes, HIV/AIDS and problems associated with age.
Counselling Psychologists aim to help people improve their sense of well being, alleviate their distress, resolve their crises, and increase their ability to solve problems and make decisions for themselves. They do this through the application of psychological theories, research and techniques to help individuals and groups deal with some of the inevitable difficulties of normal life.
Educational Psychologists tackle the problems encountered by young people in education, which may involve learning difficulties and social or emotional problems. They work closely with other professionals, particularly teachers and social workers.
Forensic Psychologists are concerned with the application of psychology to the Criminal and Civil Justice systems. Forensic psychologists may be found in the Prison Service, NHS, Social Services and Voluntary Services.
Health Psychologists work in a relatively new field of applied psychology. They are represented in a number of settings, such as hospital, academic health research units, health authorities and university departments, Psychological principals are used to promote changes in people's attitudes, behaviour and thinking about health.
Occupational Psychologists is concerned with the world of work and training and consequently has many guises. It may be labelled 'organisational psychology', 'ergonomics' (human factors, engineering applications of psychology), 'applied psychology', 'industrial psychology', personnel management', 'time management' of 'management consultancy'.
Occupational psychologists are involved with issues such as the selection and training of staff, psychometric tests, communication, the working environment and effective management.
Psychotherapy covers the psychological treatment of a wide range of mental and physical ills by a number of different methods, each developed in terms of its own theoretical framework. Methods vary from a long series of discussions, to only one or two intense interviews.
Research Psychologists work in universities, government agencies or private companies.
Teachers of Psychology normally work in schools, colleges or universities, where they teach at a number of levels.
B: Careers for which psychology provides a useful training
There are good employment prospects for psychology graduates in other fields, for which their training will provide them with relative experience. Market research, social work, nursing, advertising, sales, personnel management and career guidance are all areas for which a psychology degree will provide a good basis.
Psychology graduates will have knowledge of the assessment of personality, intelligence and attitudes, interviewing techniques, questionnaire design and analysis, child development, and the methods of teaching and learning.
C: Career open to graduates of any discipline
The majority of graduate jobs are open to graduates of any discipline. These include careers in the Armed Forces, the police, management training and accountancy. However, employers are usually looking for good 'transferable' skills, and a psychology degree provides an arguably unique combination of these.
Studying Psychology
Psychology can be studied at school of college as a GCSE, an A/S-level or A-level subject, or as SCOTVEC modules leading to GNVQ's. University courses, whether single, joint or combined honours degrees tend to be general in content, and cover all the main areas of psychological knowledge necessary to go into further training.
Even if initially you have no plans to practise psychology or become a Chartered Psychologist, you are strongly advised to keep your options open by talking a degree accredited by The British Psychological Society (BPS). This is the first step to becoming a Chartered Psychologist. At present, it is not necessary to register to work as a psychologist, but many practitioners find registration an asset. Employers prefer to appoint a Chartered Psychologist, because the title is the public's guarantee that the person is properly trained and qualified, and is answerable to an independent professional body.
