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5 reasons why Psychology is an awesome course to take

Published by Afterschool.my on Apr 18, 2017, 11:50 am

Generally, there is a wide range of career options in Psychology, especially those who have a masters or PhD can qualify to teach psychology at college. Starting psychologists in clinical work and research generally make somewhere between RM2,500 and RM3,000 in Malaysia, depending upon the employer, industry, and position. In addition to this, here are some good five reasons why you should consider a degree in psychology.

 

1. You can become a 'mind reader'

Have you ever wondered why some people can't resist the temptation of acquiring more power? Or spending excessively on shopping?  Does it boggle your mind why men generally prefer blue over pink? Do you get curious why a person will suddenly decide give in to despair? Or why some people are so happy despite being void of material wealth?

Nature VS Nurture as well as how the 'old' brain responds to pleasure are among the basic topics you'll be learning in psychology.  You'll also find out that habits and attitudes can actually be formed and developed. This will be discussed in Classical Conditioning and Gratification theory. This and more will help you understand what motivates or drives a person to think and behave in a certain why.  Such knowledge can be applied in the fields of communication, human resource management, advertising, and marketing.

2. It's an arts programme with a dash of science!

Unknown to many, psychology is an arts stream subject. But don't undermine this subject, Psychology is also a Science because it follows an Empirical Approach to learning, which is also used in the study of Physics, Chemistry and other science courses.

Psychology students will have to spend a great deal of time learning about scientific research methods and statistics. You get to work with interesting assessment tools such as this Rorschach ink blot test (see image below). You'll learn how to experiment, collect data, verify, analyse and interpret data, which is a very important skill in a wide variety of careers. Good research skills enable you to make evaluate progress, create theories, and make informed decisions.

3. It's a good foundation for postgraduate studies

An undergraduate degree in psychology can be a good starting point for further graduate study. Many students choose to earn a graduate degree in psychology, while others opt to switch to a related field such as counselling, education, or social work. With a psychology degree, there are various options in the postgraduate level depending on areas of strength and interest, as well as empirical evidence that reflect the areas you are good at and the actual demand of the market out there.

4. You can make a DIFFERENCE

A degree in psychology enables you to have a rewarding job because you get to work directly with people and their problems. Problems such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression are the usual cases clinical psychologists work in health care and academic institutions. Industrial psychologists meanwhile deal with employees and ensure that they are productive and satisfied with their jobs. Learning disabilities, identity crisis, and peer pressure are among the many issues Counselling/School psychologists deal with every day.

5. Psychology develops your critical thinking

More than just providing you a data bank of useful knowledge, psychology teaches some intellectual tools that allow you analyse information independently. Such tools include developing skepticism about explanations and conclusions, expressing ideas clearly in writing and speaking, inquiring more about causes and effects, and analysing arguments.

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