Should I Consider Becoming a Psychologist?

---

Where Science has not Gone Before

It seems amazing that the most intimate part of ourselves, the part that begins giving instructions to us as soon as we wake in the morning, observes, evaluates and suggests activities to us throughout the day and even sorts through complex data while we’re sleeping, is the part least understood. Our brains are both mind and matter. Separating the physical aspects of our brain’s functions from the factors of behaviors, cognitive skills, personality and emotions has been an ongoing and rapidly changing study that spans 150 years as a recognized science.

Its graduation into a science has been a difficult one. Unlike the physical sciences, psychology depends on empirical evidence. Many of the early psychologists were met with resistance by the academic society. Many early theories did not survive the tests of time well, but their thesis laid the groundwork for modern psychology.

The Broadening Field of a Career as a Psychologist

A career in psychology for some is a journey into research, possibilities and discoveries. They may choose to work for universities, laboratory facilities or pharmaceutical companies, gathering statistics, compiling documentary evidence, testing or expounding on existing theories and developing new ideas. They may assist in the design of new products meant to create visual and emotional appeal or products engineered toward good mental health.

For some, psychology is the study and treatment of behaviors and cognitive skills. They may go into law enforcement as forensic psychologists or criminal psychologists. They may choose to study child behavior and development, taking a position as a school psychologist, psychologist for abused children, or open a private practice as a child psychologist.

Those who choose a career in psychology may decide to help in the recovery of those who have suffered brain injury from stroke or traumatic blow. They may design special treatments for increasing the cognitive skills of those suffering disabilities, such as autism, ADHD or dyslexia. They may focus on addictions or therapy for victims of violence.

In the clinical field, psychologists have the opportunity explore both the biological elements of brain functions and the empirical data of mind and reason. They may specialize in the neuro-sciences and neuropsychology. Their work may be in reconstructive therapy for Alzheimer’s patients, victims of multiple sclerosis or Huntington’s disease. They may dedicate their careers to health psychology, teaching the prevention or control of diseases that can be psychologically triggered, such as asthma, heart disease or obesity.

The Good Psychologist

A career as a psychologist can benefit anyone, regardless of the profession of choice. Graduate students in law, business or the medical field often hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology. The studies may be applied to client or employee relations, used to help understand the demographics of a new location or measure its receptiveness or as a means of persuading the public. Psychology is our most effective tool in communications.

What it takes to be a good psychologist is a deep understanding of people. A psychologist not only learns approaches that will help patients constructively build their lives, they are careful listeners. They create environments that encourage their patients to relax and speak freely. They show strong interest in how their patients feel, allowing them to express their anger, pain, hopes, fears and grief. They strive to help patients see when their patterns of reasoning results in destructive behavior.

As the importance of psychology as a study expands, so does the entire field of psychology. A career in psychology today could mean a career as a psychologist (media) or an environmental psychologist, studying the impact of environment in people’s interactions, the way it stimulates or decreases productivity, how it affects creativity and other factors. Another growing field is community psychology, which analyzes and seeks to understand the relationships of people within their immediate and broader community. A career in psychology demands dedication to the mental well-being of both the individual and the community. It takes an inquiring mind and a broad perspective of social and cultural norms. It takes a great deal of creativity because foremost, it’s a journey into the mind.