What actually is psychology?

I often get asked this question. Many people I’ve come across believe it’s the same as sociology, some think it just involves having someone sit on a couch and talk about their problems. But in fact Psychology is a LOT more complex than that!

Psychology is defined as: the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behaviour in a given context.

Even after finishing my degree, when people ask what I have studied and I reply with “psychology”, I often get met with the classic responses of:

“you study psychology, are you analysing me?”

“Tell me what am I thinking!”

“is that the fake science you do on a couch?”

Throughout my degree and previous time studying psychology and experience in the field, I have learnt about many branches of psychology including health and well-being, mental health, relationships, development and children, cognitive, biological, paranormal, social, sport, criminal and forensic, gardening and nature, educational support needs, near death experiences, cyber, security, philosophy, addictions…and the list goes on. There are many branches of psychology even I haven’t discovered yet myself.

Psychology is now most commonly accepted as a science, although some still think of it as a “soft” science or not science at all. However the strong biological and cognitive links help to get psychology recognised as a science. As I’ve reached the end of my degree I am searching now to further my career through employment and there is just so much out there that lends itself to psychology or has aspects of psychology involved in the sector. Anything from gambling to retail and security to the more classic side of health and well-being. Psychology is everywhere and even though it is one of the “newer” sciences, the majority of people have some idea of what it involves. So if anyone ever asks you what psychology involves, you can tell them…it’s pretty much everywhere!

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