With a very high interest-to-acceptance ratio, psychology has become one of the most popular majors in recent times. In the social cluster, psychology is consistently among the top 5 majors with the most fans in the world.
Reportedly, the competition to get into psychology majors is getting tougher year after year. However, many criticize psychology courses both in terms of science and in terms of job prospects. They really state that the knowledge in psychology majors is useless and that the salary at work tends to be low. Of course, that’s a very outdated understanding, since it is the opposite of the current reality.
Thus, there are so many positive reasons why you should choose a psychology major regardless of the job prospects. So, let’s find out the reasons you should major in psychology in our post below!
Understand the Basic Principles of Scientific Psychology
It is known that psychology is a social science that relies on the scientific method. Even though most psychology graduates do not really like the emphasis on science based on research methods and statistics, many psychologists reveal that their skills and knowledge of research and interpretation of statistical results are the biggest contributors to their career success regardless of how many pursue careers outside the realm of psychology.
Critical Thinking
In fact, many psychology courses, as well as the methods taught and used by psychologists, emphasize critical thinking. Of course, if you want to be an educated person, critical thinking is very important for you. Many courses in psychology can develop critical thinking skills, so these can later be used in business, law and many other professions.
Workplace Training Skills
Industrial and Organizational Psychology (I-O Psychology) focuses on the scientific study of human behavior in the workplace and also in organizations. This specialty focusing on how the human mind works is one of the charms of a psychology major that can help you find a great job. Further, basic knowledge of psychology can also help you become a good boss.
A Better Understanding of Intrapersonal Relationships and Mental Health
Even though studying psychology does not make you mentally healthier, as if studying medical science will make you physically fitter, psychology graduates are better informed and understand that social relationships require more effort and attention. Well, the psychology graduates understand if they need counseling or psychotherapy.
Great Career Opportunities
Where there are humans, there will be psychology. Basically, all fields of business actually require knowledge possessed by psychology graduates. Psychologists can work as HR staff or as public relations consultants. Of course, a wide range of career opportunities is rarely found in other majors. When choosing a psychology major, you will spend four years studying at university and exploring a variety of fields to discover your interests. Afterwards, you can choose which career to pursue.
The key is that you must be a smart person to sell your psychological background to recruiters or your future bosses. There are some who think that psychology is an empty science whose skills are useless.
However, a smart boss or manager will really understand that the understanding of human behaviour in the workplace is very important, leading the business to achieve success. If you are competent and master the science of psychology, it would be easier for you to find a job in the psychology field, ranging from consultants, trainers, lecturers, or teachers.
Basically, the attraction of psychology is that it is indeed a science that is considered to be able to’read minds’ or understand human behaviour. The basic nature of psychology is the nature of helping others, but helping others here does not have to be a clinical psychologist; instead it can be in various career options. So, the career option is not just being a clinical psychologist.
Capable of combining with other information
It’s not wrong if you want to take a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in another major or vice versa, since psychology is very flexible and can be combined with other majors such as management, marketing, nursing, law, and many more.
In this case, psychology could be a basic science that can form a mindset focusing on human behaviour as a framework for understanding in other fields. Even in the field of technology, psychology is widely used in UI/UX design, product design, and marketing.
So far, the combination of majors is rarely possessed by others, so you will have a unique competitive advantage. You can really claim that you have a broader perspective and have knowledge that supports each other so that you can provide more things for your company.
How about you? Are you interested in taking a psychology major?
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
