Is a Psychology Degree for Me?

Summary

Psychology is a diverse scientific discipline exploring the mind and behavior, encompassing areas like mental health, child development, and social interactions. It's not just about psychoanalysis or mind-reading; it's a field with various career paths, including clinical, forensic, and occupational psychology. Cardiff University's accredited program emphasizes practical learning, research, and a wide range of modules, preparing students for careers in psychology and beyond.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Psychology is a broad scientific discipline studying the mind and behavior, encompassing areas like mental health, child development, and social interactions.
• 🧬 It's a misconception that psychologists can read minds; they study the mind's workings without being mind readers.
• 🤔 Psychology and psychotherapy are distinct fields; while some psychologists become therapists, many pursue other professional paths.
• 🎓 A degree in psychology from an accredited institution like the British Psychological Society (BPS) opens doors to various psychology-specific professions.
• 👨‍🔬 Graduates can work in diverse sectors such as marketing, law enforcement, and healthcare due to the wide range of skills acquired in psychology.
• 🏫 Cardiff University emphasizes practical learning, requiring students to conduct, analyze, and write up their own research.
• 📈 Statistics is a crucial component of psychology, which is why Cardiff University sets a minimum grade requirement for maths.
• 🔍 The curriculum at Cardiff University covers core areas of psychology with a focus on research design, cognition, and social psychology.
• 🌍 Professional placement opportunities are available for students, with over 150 organizations offering placements in the UK and abroad.
• 📚 In the final year, students can choose modules based on their interests and conduct a final year research project.

Q & A

What is psychology and how does it differ from psychoanalysis?

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, encompassing a broad range of topics from mental health to user interface design. Psychoanalysis, associated with Freud, is a small part of one aspect of psychology and is not representative of the entire field.

Do psychologists have the ability to read minds?

Psychologists do not have the ability to read minds. Their aim is to understand how the mind works through scientific study and research.

What is the difference between psychology and psychotherapy?

While some psychologists may become therapists or counselors, psychology and psychotherapy are not the same. Psychology is a broader scientific discipline, whereas psychotherapy is a specific treatment method within mental health.

What career paths can one pursue with a degree in psychology?

With a degree in psychology, one can pursue various careers such as clinical psychologist, forensic psychologist, health psychologist, occupational psychologist, sports psychologist, neuropsychologist, educational psychologist, counselor, researcher, or academic.

Why is it important to have a degree accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)?

A BPS-accredited degree is important as it enables graduates to pursue professional routes in psychology, ensuring they meet the standards required for various psychology-specific professions.

What skills does a psychology degree typically equip students with?

A psychology degree equips students with a broad range of skills, including essay writing, critical evaluation, experimental design, and statistical analysis.

How does Cardiff University emphasize practical learning in its psychology program?

Cardiff University emphasizes practical learning by having students conduct, analyze, and write up their own research throughout the course, with a heavy focus on research design and statistics.

What is the significance of the professional placement year in Cardiff University's psychology program?

The professional placement year in Cardiff University's psychology program allows students to gain real-world experience in their third year, working with over 150 organizations in various areas of psychology, both in the UK and abroad.

What are some of the final year modules offered at Cardiff University for psychology students?

Final year modules at Cardiff University for psychology students cover a range of topics, including cognition, perception, animal behavior, development, neuroscience, social psychology, and abnormal psychology.

Is prior study in psychology necessary for applying to Cardiff University's psychology program?

Prior study in psychology, such as at A-level, is not a requirement for applying to Cardiff University's psychology program, and applicants without such background will not be at a disadvantage.

What are the key components of psychology that Cardiff University's entry requirements reflect?

Cardiff University's psychology program, taught as a science, reflects the key components of psychology in its entry requirements, with a particular emphasis on statistics, and a minimum grade for maths.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Introduction to Psychology

Psychology is a broad scientific discipline that explores the mind and behavior. It encompasses various areas including mental health, child development, and animal learning. While psychoanalysis is a small part of psychology, it is not representative of the entire field. Psychologists are not mind readers, and psychology differs from psychotherapy. The field offers a wide range of career paths such as clinical, forensic, health, occupational, sports, neuro, educational psychology, counseling, research, and academia. An accredited degree from an institution like the British Psychological Society (BPS) is essential for professional routes. Psychology graduates can work in diverse sectors due to their broad skill set, including essay writing, critical evaluation, experimental design, and statistical analysis.

Keywords

💡Psychology

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It is a broad discipline that encompasses various aspects of human experience and animal behavior. In the video, psychology is presented as a field that investigates a wide range of topics, from mental health and child development to work stress and language development. The script emphasizes that psychology is not limited to psychoanalysis, which is a common misconception, and that it offers a variety of career paths beyond psychotherapy.

💡Biological Questions

Biological questions in psychology refer to inquiries about the physiological aspects of behavior, such as how the brain functions. The script mentions that psychology extends into biology by asking how the brain works, which is crucial for understanding cognitive processes and behaviors. This aspect of psychology is important for understanding the neural basis of mental functions.

💡Social Questions

Social questions in psychology pertain to how individuals behave within social contexts, such as group dynamics and social influences. The video script highlights that psychology also asks questions that stretch into society, like how people behave in groups, which is essential for understanding social interactions and the impact of social factors on behavior.

💡Mental Health

Mental health is a significant area within psychology that focuses on the emotional and psychological well-being of individuals. The script includes mental health as one of the many areas that psychology covers, emphasizing its importance in understanding and addressing psychological disorders and promoting well-being.

💡Child Development

Child development is the study of how children grow and change over time, both physically and psychologically. The video mentions child development as a key area within psychology, which is crucial for understanding the stages of growth and the factors that influence a child's cognitive, social, and emotional development.

💡Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a method of psychological therapy that explores the unconscious mind to understand underlying psychological conflicts. The script clarifies that while Freud and psychoanalysis are often associated with psychology, it is only a small part of the broader field. Psychoanalysis is not representative of the entire discipline of psychology.

💡Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy refers to the treatment of mental health issues through talking therapies and other techniques. The video script distinguishes between psychology and psychotherapy, noting that while some psychologists become therapists, most do not. Psychotherapy is one of the professional paths one can take with a background in psychology.

💡Research Design

Research design in psychology involves planning and conducting studies to investigate psychological phenomena. The script mentions that at Cardiff University, students learn about research design and statistics, which are fundamental to the scientific approach of psychology. This aspect of the discipline is crucial for understanding how psychological knowledge is generated and validated.

💡Statistics

Statistics in psychology is the application of mathematical techniques to analyze data and draw conclusions from research. The video emphasizes the importance of statistics in psychology, noting that it is a key component of the field. Students are required to have a minimum grade in maths, reflecting the quantitative nature of psychological research.

💡Professional Placement

A professional placement is a period of work experience in a relevant field, which is often part of academic programs to provide practical experience. The script mentions that Cardiff University offers placements in various areas of psychology, allowing students to gain hands-on experience and apply their knowledge in real-world settings.

💡Final Year Research Project

A final year research project is a significant piece of independent work that students undertake towards the end of their degree. The video script indicates that Cardiff University students conduct their own research projects in their final year, which allows them to explore a topic of interest in-depth and demonstrate their research skills.

Highlights

Psychology is a broad discipline encompassing the scientific study of mind and behavior.

Psychology intersects with biology, society, and other fields to understand various aspects of human and animal behavior.

Mental health, child development, and language development are key areas within psychology.

Psychoanalysis is a small part of the larger field of psychology.

Psychologists are not mind readers and psychology is distinct from psychotherapy.

Psychology offers a wide range of career paths, including clinical, forensic, and occupational psychology.

A BPS-accredited degree is essential for pursuing professional routes in psychology.

Psychology graduates can find employment in diverse sectors such as marketing, law enforcement, and finance.

Psychology at Cardiff University emphasizes practical learning and research.

Students at Cardiff University conduct their own research throughout the course.

Professional placement opportunities are available for psychology students at Cardiff University.

Final year students can choose modules and conduct a research project based on their interests.

Prior study in psychology is not required for admission to Cardiff University's psychology program.

Statistics is a key component of psychology, influencing entry requirements at Cardiff University.

Cardiff University's psychology program covers core areas with a focus on research design and statistics.

Modules at Cardiff University include cognition, perception, animal behavior, and social psychology.

Transcripts

Psychology is the scientific study of

mind and behaviour and is a very broad discipline.

While we ask questions that you might associate

with biology, such as how the brain works,

we also ask questions that stretch into society

such as how people behave in groups.

Mental health, child development, visual perception,

animal learning, job recruitment, peer pressure,

work stress, language development,

and user interface design

are just some of many areas

that would fall within psychology.

it is quite common for people to think of Freud

or psychoanalysis when they hear of psychology,

however, psychoanalysis is only a very small part,

of one slice, of what makes up psychology as a whole.

People also sometimes think that psychologists

can look into your soul

and analyse your deepest secrets.

While we try to understand how the mind works,

we aren't mind readers.

It is also important to point out that

psychology and psychotherapy are not the same thing.

While some psychologists go on to become

therapists or counsellors, most won't.

if you are curious about what makes people tick,

how our senses work,

what determines whether we remember

or forget someone's name,

why some stuff is easier to learn than other stuff,

whether people are more intelligent than animals,

how and what babies learn from their caregivers,

what we can do to tackle prejudice and stereotypes.

In short, if you are curious about how the mind works,

then psychology is for you.

And psychology offers a number of psychology

specific professions to go into.

Depending on your interests you may want to

go on to become a clinical psychologist,

forensic psychologists, health psychologist,

occupational psychologist, sports, neuro

or educational psychologist,

counsellor, researcher or academic.

It's important to check that your degree

is accredited by the BPS,

the British Psychological Society,

because this will enable you to pursue

these professional routes.

But you are by no means restricted to these paths only.

The breadth of psychology as a discipline

means you will acquire an unusually

broad range of skills, from essay writing

and critical evaluation,

to experimental design and

statistical analysis.

This enables our graduates to find employment

in a diverse range of sectors with past students

going into everything from

marketing, to law enforcement,

consumer research, human resources,

social work, teaching and education,

healthcare, advertising and finance.

All BPS accredited courses will cover

the same core areas of psychology,

with different institutions having

slightly different emphases.

At Cardiff University you will spend your first two years

learning about research design and statistics,

cognition, perception, animal behaviour,

development, neuroscience, social psychology

and abnormal psychology.

We have a heavy emphasis on practical learning

so you will conduct, analyse, and write up

your own research throughout the course.

If you are on the degree with professional placement

you will go on a placement in your third year

before returning to your final year.

We offer placements covering all areas of psychology

with over 150 organisations on our books

and opportunities both in the UK and abroad.

In the final year you can choose modules

depending on your interests.

These currently include the following.

In addition to studying a selection of modules

you will also conduct your own

final year research project.

While many of our applicants

have studied psychology at school,

for example as an A-level,

this is by no means a requirement

and you'll be at no disadvantage

if you haven't studied it before.

Psychology at Cardiff University is taught as a science

which is reflected in our entry requirements.

What many people are less aware of

is that statistics forms a key component of psychology

and we therefore set a minimum grade for maths.

For more information

on our specific entry requirements,

please visit our website.