I want to study psychology am I making a mistake?

[Seteleechete]

Hello, I am soon going to choose what I am going to study for and my main interest is psychology. In Sweden it is seen as one of the more respected lines to study and finding work shouldn't be too hard, if I choose this.(though this has little impact on my decision). I also have the opportunity to choose computer science and economics though those areas interest me less. I am fairly certain I would be happy picking either of those as well though.
So I am asking; do you think it would be a mistake for me to go into psychology?

 

[Brontosaurie]

i doubt it gets you a job very easy

if you're motivated to do the active networking and identity building then sure why not

otherwise study psychology in private and get more realistic career goals

hope that helps a little i studied psychology in sweden myself for a year before gradually slipping out for various reasons. now i have a better plan. but that's me.

 

[Black Rose]

if you can do a phd you can be a psychoanalyst otherwise the lower jobs you can get are therapist or social worker.

 

[Seteleechete]

I very much see those things as a part of the job, a psychologist needs to look the part. My biggest doubts actually lay in how capable I am in areas like networking, identity building and communicating with people. Those are things I will have to (and want to) learn(for example I plan on going to as many social gatherings as possible).

 

[Ex-User (9086)]

Psychology is obsoleting...just sayin'.
Look at the emerging scientific fields, ones that have a future ahead of them and ones that you are likely to enjoy = do well in.

 

[TheManBeyond]

Bro, do what you consider the best for you, check for your capacities and weakness. In my view phsycology is really interesting. I think that if you are going for a job that lets you live your life as a rich person then you are selecting a bad path but it depends how high are your expectations (Te), try to avoid bouncing, that was my biggest error.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I don't know you. I can't really give you decent advice.

 

[Seteleechete]

Ah, you can pretty much get to know most of me by my posts since I joined. Though feel free to ask questions if you need more info.

 

[Yellow]

I got my most recent degree in psychology, and it was okay, I guess. I was hoping to learn how to understand people because I'm socially inept. I learned people in theory, but now, the best job I can get is as a counselor. Counseling is draining. To clarify, the actual therapy portion of the job is no big deal. The peripheral politics and paperwork are Lernaean Hydras made of SJs and ulcers.

 

[Seteleechete]

Counseling is draining. To clarify, the actual therapy portion of the job is no big deal. The peripheral politics and paperwork are Lernaean Hydras made of SJs and ulcers.

scary, though I have a feeling most jobs are that way.

 

[Puffy]

Psychology is obsoleting...just sayin'.
Look at the emerging scientific fields, ones that have a future ahead of them and ones that you are likely to enjoy = do well in.

If you're passionate about psychology and you see it as the best means into what you really want to do, then do it I guess. But I agree with Blarraun that I think it's becoming increasingly irrelevant as a field (a lot from psychology are moving into neuroscience, for example.)

I don't know what area of psychology you're interested in, but if you're interested in psychoanalysis (Freud, Jung, etc) or humanities-philosophy orientated topics, I'd bear in mind that it's a very minor part of psychology as it's taught today; most psychology academics think qualitative methods are bullshit and use quantitative, statistical methods of research these days. I'd research into the curriculum of wherever you're applying to beforehand to make sure they teach what you want to study.

Personally, I'm not convinced psychology is any better for getting jobs than a lot of other degrees, unless you want to go into something quite specific like counselling/ therapy/ social work/ teaching psychology, etc.
If you have an idea of a specific field you want to go into, then pick the degree that's the best route into that. Otherwise, if you enjoy the prospect of studying it, I'd pick something like computer science where you're very likely to learn useful skills that can be applied to a broad range of fields.

 

[Analyzer]

I don't know what area of psychology you're interested in, but if you're interested in psychoanalysis (Freud, Jung, etc) or humanities-philosophy orientated topics, I'd bear in mind that it's a very minor part of psychology as it's taught today; most psychology academics think qualitative methods are bullshit and use quantitative, statistical methods of research these days.

Yeah that's interesting and not just in psychology but in all of social sciences/humanities, the focus on a solely quantitative method has been gaining traction for a while now. Is this approach Te taking over?

I think some quantitative and statistical research can be important even if it's abused but it takes for granted it's ontological system, which is essentially based on "qualitative" information.

Psychology can also be useful in marketing/PR/advertising related work.

 

[Seteleechete]

Well I admitt I want to learn psychology mainly because it will help me in my writing, while having a counseling type job, which I can see myself enjoying. Bassicly I see psychology and counseling as something that matches my hobbies and interest. I will want to study psychology whether I pick it as a career or not. Nothing really interests me as much as the human mind. Also I will be honest, I think it will be significantly easier than other career paths. I already feel I could pass the final exams with a days study(to learn the Swedish termiology). I am a frugal person and would happily settle for a lower wage.

Dealing with unique problems relating to the human mind and behavior sounds like a dream job for me. On the other hand I will actually need to learn to be social and political which sounds less fun. I am less interested in researching aspects of psychology and have chosen an university known for thier problem solving based education(every program here works on a problem solving educational basis).

 

[Cherry Cola]

where in sweden you gon study?

 

[Seteleechete]

linköpings universitet

 

[Seteleechete]

You know, in the end my intuition tells me to go for psychology over the other programs and even though my intuition has consistently been proven wrong whenever it comes to major decisions, I will still follow it. I kinda knew what I would pick from the moment I seriously considered psychology and this is just me trying to rationalize my decision.

Funny thing my biggest internal argument against psychology is the fact that my intuition is telling me to go for that line. My rational mind is, if slightly leaning towards computer science, since that involves less risk.

 

[OrLevitate]

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm

This site is cool because they employ time travelers and apparently there are a lot of industrial-organizational psychologists in the United State's future which is pretty cool for civilized society.

Sure you don't live in the US but if you choose the above profession then it doesn't seem like you would have to worry about 'politics' or looking the part. Lots of demand would probably open up a wider range of acceptable personas in manager's eyes and since the degree will be easy you can be the awkward guy that got really good grades so appearance doesn't really matter.

Looks like a lot of fun to get your own horde of humans to get paid to analyze and experiment on and affect the web of humanity through its most prevalent time sink.

 

[Seteleechete]

I will also try and go for the masters in cognitive psychology available at my university, we will see how the fortunes fall on that matter but I have some hopes for that. I am sure the type of job I am looking for will be much easier to get should I actually manage to nab that degree.

 

[Sockrates]

Read nothing but the title.

Get your master's, at minimum, in psychology. I have a cousin who received his bachelors in psych and 11 years later he found a starting position at a hospital ward, prior to that he was a manager at a large retail store.

Master's or better is your best chance at getting a job. PhD would be ideal.

 

[Jennywocky]

^^ yeah, pretty much a master's is required for many decent psych professions, and a doctorate is preferred. So while the field can be interesting, it seems to demand much more investment for not as much financial payoff if you are just looking at it from a time and money POV; there are quicker easier ways to get a higher-paying job (and maybe just A job in general) if you have other fields you're interested in.

 

[Seteleechete]

Actually seems I had some things wrong with my initial assumptions. It is a 5 year masters program with a lot of intermittent internship, then another year paid(less ovb) internship after that. The entire education will works by the university giving a group a hypothetical case and then the group is itself responsible for finding what information they need, solving the case in the group. The groups switch every 6 months so as to get us familiar working with different people. Then there are the final exams as well but seemingly the entire education process revolves around solving cases. Apparently the university believes in searching for your own information and working independently rather than using lectures and set book lists as a model. I strongly agree. Also, at least they say that potential employers like how graduates have a lot of practical experience from university, due to this model.

 

[Architect]

Depends on why you're going into it and what you expect from it. Assuming you want to make some good money you'll need to see patients, daily, for hours. If you're an INTP that would certainly be draining. Even as a professor, really it's a social science so you will be focused on people and individuals continuously. AJ Drenth is a INTP who got into psych, I gather he decided it was a bad move.

But if you happen to find the right niche then it could work I suppose, probably not too easy to do however. I think it's one of those "Do it only if you have to do it" kind of careers.

 

[Seteleechete]

I have strong entp qualities as well, though my intp qualities are stronger in most areas. I don't like pointless human interaction, most of what I do in psychology will have a point and then I can even enjoy it.

 

[Sockrates]

Sounds like you are in it for the right reasons. Nothing comes easy. Keep working and great things will follow - from a young professional who pisses ambition that'd make the world a beautiful place.

 

[OptiMist_Prime]

I very much see those things as a part of the job, a psychologist needs to look the part. My biggest doubts actually lay in how capable I am in areas like networking, identity building and communicating with people. Those are things I will have to (and want to) learn(for example I plan on going to as many social gatherings as possible).

But you say you are also ENTPish, so which is it? Both? That would be cool. I mean it doesn't sound like going to as many social gatherings as possible scares you or anything so, party on.

...Psychology can also be useful in marketing/PR/advertising related work.

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm

This site is cool because they employ time travelers and apparently there are a lot of industrial-organizational psychologists in the United State's future which is pretty cool for civilized society.
...

Yeah I was thinking along those lines. Marketing and Industrial psychology. However when you click on that bls link, then on the occupation link, it says the growth rate is more like 12% (which is what I had stumbled upon previously) and also mentions that PhDs would have the best job prospects. My point of view is from the U.S. though, so take that for what it's worth. In the end, I guess the only way to know for sure is to try. I mean it's not like you're say and INTP with a high “I” and “P” score wanting to join the army or something. That would probably be insane no? I don't think you're insane for wanting to follow this career path. Proceed!

 

[Seteleechete]

Hum, I actually see cognitive science as a potential contender now. Sigh, the choice is hard again, or rather it is actually hard now, whereas I was sure before. Nah, just needed some time to analyze that path, not really as good.

 

[WALKYRIA]

Go into psychiatry.... it's harder, thus better.

 

[Seteleechete]

Not the kind of harder I want to deal with >.> starting my CS program in university next week anyway ^.^

 

[WALKYRIA]

Oh sorry didnt realized last post was from march.... actually cs is good, problem is that you will be surrounded by plenty of unbalanced NTs. To be frank i also would love to study cs a bit... artifical inteligence being the end goal
Good luck with your studies though. Good choice.

 

[Seteleechete]

problem is that you will be surrounded by plenty of unbalanced NTs.

Is this supposed to somehow be a bad thing?

 

[WALKYRIA]

Is it bad to spend several years with obnoxious, asexual, immature, smelly arrogant pricks?
Only time will tell you , parole de jedi

 

[Seteleechete]

Hmm, well I am obnoxiously blunt/stubborn, practically asexual, willfully immature, sometimes smelly and somewhat arrogant. So I will fit right in, sweet