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John Lund / Getty ImagesThe number of studentsmajoring in psychologyhas grown tremendously. On college campuses throughout the world, psychology frequently ranks in the top five most popular majors. On many campuses, it is the top major.Why is psychology continuously chosen as a major and potentialcareer path? Here are a few reasons why we think earning a psychology degree appeals to so many students.
John Lund / Getty Images
The number of studentsmajoring in psychologyhas grown tremendously. On college campuses throughout the world, psychology frequently ranks in the top five most popular majors. On many campuses, it is the top major.
Why is psychology continuously chosen as a major and potentialcareer path? Here are a few reasons why we think earning a psychology degree appeals to so many students.
1Psychology Is InterestingIs there anything more interesting than the amazing (and sometimes bewildering)ways that people think, feel, and act? At the heart of this discipline lies the desire to better understand who we are—as individuals, as societies, and as a species.Psychology delves into the very depths of this yearning for knowledge and seeks answers to some of the major questions that we often share. Who are we? How did we get this way?Is it possible to change?Psychology can offer us insight and answers.
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Psychology Is InterestingIs there anything more interesting than the amazing (and sometimes bewildering)ways that people think, feel, and act? At the heart of this discipline lies the desire to better understand who we are—as individuals, as societies, and as a species.Psychology delves into the very depths of this yearning for knowledge and seeks answers to some of the major questions that we often share. Who are we? How did we get this way?Is it possible to change?Psychology can offer us insight and answers.
Psychology Is Interesting
Is there anything more interesting than the amazing (and sometimes bewildering)ways that people think, feel, and act? At the heart of this discipline lies the desire to better understand who we are—as individuals, as societies, and as a species.
Psychology delves into the very depths of this yearning for knowledge and seeks answers to some of the major questions that we often share. Who are we? How did we get this way?Is it possible to change?Psychology can offer us insight and answers.
2
Psychology Helps Us Better Understand Ourselves
Young adulthood is often a time in which people explore different facets of themselves and establish who they are as individuals. For this reason alone, it’s not surprising that psychology holds so much interest for college students.
College can be a time ofconsiderable transition and changeas young people leave the nest, so to speak, and make their way into the world.
With so many highs and lows going on during this busy time of a person’s life, studying the human mind and behavior can help offer personal insights and a deeper,richer understanding of one’s self. No wonder so many college students decide to major in psychology.
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Psychology Helps Us Better Understand Others
Psychology majors learn about many different aspects of the human mind and behavior. They learn about the genetic and environmentalinfluences that contribute to a person’s development, as well as the societal forces that influence individual behavior. All of this contributes to a better understanding of others.
Studying psychology can help us better predict and explain how other people will react.It can also help studentsgain greater interpersonal and communication skills.
4Psychology Offers Many Career OptionsThere is an enormous variety of career options that are available in this field.Psychology jobsrange from spending one’s day doing research to providing services as a therapist or counselor in healthcare, education, or workplace settings.Those who earn abachelor’s degree in psychologymay also use this degree as a stepping stone toward graduate study in psychology, counseling, law, business, or medicine. There are tons of career paths that psychology majors can choose from, and it is this variety that appeals to many students.
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Psychology Offers Many Career OptionsThere is an enormous variety of career options that are available in this field.Psychology jobsrange from spending one’s day doing research to providing services as a therapist or counselor in healthcare, education, or workplace settings.Those who earn abachelor’s degree in psychologymay also use this degree as a stepping stone toward graduate study in psychology, counseling, law, business, or medicine. There are tons of career paths that psychology majors can choose from, and it is this variety that appeals to many students.
Psychology Offers Many Career Options
There is an enormous variety of career options that are available in this field.Psychology jobsrange from spending one’s day doing research to providing services as a therapist or counselor in healthcare, education, or workplace settings.
Those who earn abachelor’s degree in psychologymay also use this degree as a stepping stone toward graduate study in psychology, counseling, law, business, or medicine. There are tons of career paths that psychology majors can choose from, and it is this variety that appeals to many students.
5Psychology Enables Us to Help OthersBlend Images - Dave and Les Jacobs / Getty ImagesStudying psychology can also be a direct path toward making a difference in other people’s lives. In this case, majoring in psychology can lead to a career in a helping profession.For example, one might use their psychology degree to become a counselor and work with kids who need academic, social, and emotional assistance. Or they might become asocial workerand help people who are facing a variety of psychological difficulties.The opportunities for helping others while working in the psychology field are seemingly endless.
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Psychology Enables Us to Help OthersBlend Images - Dave and Les Jacobs / Getty ImagesStudying psychology can also be a direct path toward making a difference in other people’s lives. In this case, majoring in psychology can lead to a career in a helping profession.For example, one might use their psychology degree to become a counselor and work with kids who need academic, social, and emotional assistance. Or they might become asocial workerand help people who are facing a variety of psychological difficulties.The opportunities for helping others while working in the psychology field are seemingly endless.
Psychology Enables Us to Help Others
Blend Images - Dave and Les Jacobs / Getty Images
Studying psychology can also be a direct path toward making a difference in other people’s lives. In this case, majoring in psychology can lead to a career in a helping profession.
For example, one might use their psychology degree to become a counselor and work with kids who need academic, social, and emotional assistance. Or they might become asocial workerand help people who are facing a variety of psychological difficulties.
The opportunities for helping others while working in the psychology field are seemingly endless.
Final ThoughtsThere are plenty of great reasons to study psychology. Is majoring in psychology the right choice for you? Our list of10 great reasons to earn a psychology degreeand5 reasons why you might not be cut out to be a psychology majorcan help you decide.Good Minors for Psychology Majors
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of great reasons to study psychology. Is majoring in psychology the right choice for you? Our list of10 great reasons to earn a psychology degreeand5 reasons why you might not be cut out to be a psychology majorcan help you decide.
Good Minors for Psychology Majors
3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Clay RA.Trends report: Psychology is more popular than ever.Monitor on Psychol. 2017;48(10):44.Hatano K, Luyckx K, Hihara S, Sugimara K, Becht AI.Daily identity processes and emotions in young adulthood: a five-day daily-diary method.J Youth Adolesc. 2022;51:1815-1828. doi:10.1007/s10964-022-01629-xJenkins AC, Karashchuk P, Zhu L, Hsu M.Predicting human behavior toward members of different social groups.PNAS. 2018;115(39):9696-9701. doi:10.1073/pnas.1719452115
3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Clay RA.Trends report: Psychology is more popular than ever.Monitor on Psychol. 2017;48(10):44.Hatano K, Luyckx K, Hihara S, Sugimara K, Becht AI.Daily identity processes and emotions in young adulthood: a five-day daily-diary method.J Youth Adolesc. 2022;51:1815-1828. doi:10.1007/s10964-022-01629-xJenkins AC, Karashchuk P, Zhu L, Hsu M.Predicting human behavior toward members of different social groups.PNAS. 2018;115(39):9696-9701. doi:10.1073/pnas.1719452115
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Clay RA.Trends report: Psychology is more popular than ever.Monitor on Psychol. 2017;48(10):44.Hatano K, Luyckx K, Hihara S, Sugimara K, Becht AI.Daily identity processes and emotions in young adulthood: a five-day daily-diary method.J Youth Adolesc. 2022;51:1815-1828. doi:10.1007/s10964-022-01629-xJenkins AC, Karashchuk P, Zhu L, Hsu M.Predicting human behavior toward members of different social groups.PNAS. 2018;115(39):9696-9701. doi:10.1073/pnas.1719452115
Clay RA.Trends report: Psychology is more popular than ever.Monitor on Psychol. 2017;48(10):44.
Hatano K, Luyckx K, Hihara S, Sugimara K, Becht AI.Daily identity processes and emotions in young adulthood: a five-day daily-diary method.J Youth Adolesc. 2022;51:1815-1828. doi:10.1007/s10964-022-01629-x
Jenkins AC, Karashchuk P, Zhu L, Hsu M.Predicting human behavior toward members of different social groups.PNAS. 2018;115(39):9696-9701. doi:10.1073/pnas.1719452115
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