Psychology

Psychology is the study of human behaviour and experience. Psychologists study the human mind and human behaviour. Research psychologists investigate the physical, emotional, or social aspects of human behavior. Psychologists provide mental health care in hospitals, clinics, schools or private settings.

Psychologists formulate hypotheses and collect data to test their validity. Research methods may vary depending on the topic under study. Psychologists sometimes gather information through controlled laboratory experiments, as well as through administering personality, performance, aptitude, and intelligence tests. Other methods include observation, interviews, questionnaires, clinical studies, and surveys.

Psychologists apply their knowledge to a wide range of endeavors, including health and human services, management, education, law, and sports. In addition to a variety of work settings, psychologists generally specialise in one of the following areas:

Health psychologists promote good health through health maintenance counselling programs that are designed to help people to stop smoking or lose weight.

Neuropsychologists study the relation between the brain and behavior. They often work in stroke and head injury programs.

Geropsychologists deal with the special problems faced by the elderly.

Cognitive psychologists deal with memory, thinking, and perceptions.

Counselling psychologists use various techniques, including interviewing and testing, to advise people on how to deal with problems of everyday living.

Developmental psychologists study the physiological development that takes place throughout life. Some specialise in behaviour during infancy, childhood, and adolescence, changes that take place during maturity or old age, or developmental disabilities and their effects.

Experimental or research psychologists work in university and private research centres, and in business, non-profit, and governmental organisations.

Industrial-organisational psychologists apply psychological principles and research methods to the workplace in the interest of improving productivity and the quality of work-life. They also are involved in research into management and marketing problems.

School psychologists work in elementary and secondary schools or school district offices with students, teachers, parents, and administrators to resolve students' learning and behaviour problems.

Social psychologists examine people's interactions with others and with the social environment. They work in organisational consultation, marketing research, systems design or other applied psychology fields.

Some of the courses for studying Psychology(ist) are:

■  B.A in Psychology
■  B.Sc. in Psychology
■  M.A in Psychology
■  M.Sc. Applied Psychology
■  M.Sc. in Physiology
■  M.Sc. in Medical Physiology
■  Diploma in Psychiatric Medicine
■  Diploma in Psychological Medicine
■  M.D. Psychiatric Medicine
■  M.D Psychiatry
■  M.D Physiology

Study Route

After Class XII (any subject), graduation in psychology. Options are a BA (Hons) in Psychology/ BA with Psychology as one of the subjects.

After Class XII (with psychology,) BSc (Hons) Psychology.
Specialisations in the subject can be pursued at the post graduate level / professional courses after post graduation.
Post graduate courses in psychology are not offered to students who have not graduated with psychology.

Prospects

Career Prospects
Graduates with Psychology degrees are highly sought after by employers, not only for their specific psychological skills but also for their depth of the training in the analysis of human, organisational or community-wide problems, design of research, interpretation of research findings, and a comprehensive understanding of statistical methods.

Potential employers include the various government departments, particularly those connected with health, social and disability services, youth services, corrective services, the armed services and education.

Private industry is also a large employer of Psychologists in the area of management, personnel selection, and specialised consultancy services.

In specific areas of social work, such as in psychiatric social work, psychologists are very much an important part of the working group of experts.

The work of a professional psychologist is challenging and highly remunerative. Remunerations in the corporate sector are the highest, though salaries vary according to the level of involvement and the job profile.

Future Prospects
As complexities of the society increase, psychologists will be in great demand in social, medical, educational, vocational and industrial spheres.

Psychologists are employed by government and in private enterprises in various positions such as:

■  Personnel Welfare Officer
■  Industrial Psychologist
■  Psychiatric Social Worker
■  Industrial Relation Officer
■  Labour Officer
■  Counselor
■  Psychotherapists etc. And the future prospect is very wide.