Psychology is the study of the human mind and how it relates to the functions of the individual to the environment and people that is the behavior. The human mind is very large and studies have shown that each person has a varying manner of thinking and behaviour and no two minds think alike. Psychology embraces all the aspects of human behavior and how it functions in the brain.
In education, there are generally four main types of psychology which can later be broken down into different aspects and these four major parts include; cognitive, social, developmental, and forensic psychology. Psychology experts usually function in the career fields of a psychiatrist, counselor, and so on. Their jobs mainly focus on helping people understand their minds and how they affect their daily lives.
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Table of Contents
Branches of Psychology
Psychology is a very broad course with many sections and has many branches. Some of which are discussed in this article below:
1. Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology focuses on the intellectual, emotional, behavioral, social, and biological aspects of the human mind. This psychology field assists in promoting adaptation and the adjustment of the individual to the way things are supposed to be while generally focusing on the personal development of the individual.
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2. Cognitive psychology
This focuses on the problem-solving, memory, learning, and the language of the human mind. How to communicate, remember, and also learn is in cognitive psychology. The aspect of the mind that deals with memory is the main point of contact of cognitive psychology.
3. Developmental psychology
Just as the name suggests, developmental psychology focuses on the growth of the mental state of the individual, moral understanding, emotions, and also identity formation. This psychology doesn’t only work in infants and teenagers but also for adults and aged people as well.
4. Evolutionary psychology
In this aspect of psychology, experts believe that the human mind can evolve and adapt to the changes it may come across and this has enabled the human being to stay mentally stable and survive throughout the years of life.
5. Forensic psychology
Forensic psychology deals with criminal investigations. Police, the court, and lawyers use this type fo psychology. Its main point is to assess the psychological traits of a criminal or victim to give the required judgment.
6. Health psychology
Also known as medical psychology involves behavior and observes the influence on illness and health. In case of a disease that may be hereditary, health psychology is used to trace back and check the background of the patient to administer the right type of medication.
Requirements for Becoming a Psychologist
For undergraduate psychology courses, the individual must possess the necessary results of high school examinations while, for master’s or other postgraduate studies, the student must already have an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related course to be considered for a postgraduate degree in psychology. After studying to get a job, many countries request a license of practice before working. This is very important for any psychology graduate who wishes to work in the field.
Read: Top 5 Countries For Nigerian Students To Study Psychology In 2024
Top 5 Destinations for Nigerian Students to Study Psychology
Psychology put in clear words is the study of the human mind and behavior. Psychology is a very in-depth course of study that takes up a lot of time used in studies and research, in some universities the psychology course can take as long as 4 or 5 years of intense study and deep research. If you intend to study abroad as an international student, below are some of the top countries with strong backgrounds in psychology you can try out.
1. Austria
This country is home to the father of psychoanalysis; Sigmund Freud who is notably one of the pioneers in the history of psychology. Austria offers many psychology programs in its universities of courses varying from social psychology, counseling, and research methodologies. Vienna and Innsbruck are some of the popular locations in Austria to study psychology. The cost of living in this country is averagely affordable for international students and they are also allowed to work while studying.
2. Italy
This country is well known for offering psychology courses in universities which are located in its large cities such as; Rome and Florence. Italy is a multicultural country that accommodates foreign students from different parts of the world to study in its institutions. The famous psychologist, Roberto Assagioli is from Italy and is well known for his numerous contributions in the psychology field of humanistic and transpersonal psychology. Living in Italy as an international student can seem to be very expensive, but students are given a work permit with limited houses where they can take up part-time jobs to assist in taking care of the cost of living. Tuition fees are also affordable and there are scholarships and other financial aids to assist the students.
3. France
This country is synonymous with great psychology experts like; Theodore Simon, Alfred Binet, and many others. Just as in Italy, France offers many psychology courses in its accredited universities which are scattered all over the country. Although French is the official language in France, the courses in the universities are also taught in either English language or French. This is done so that, international students who are interested in taking up a course and are not fluent in French would study in French. For international students to be friendly with the locals, learning a little bit of French would assist in the living conditions. Student tuition is also assisted with scholarships and grants.
4. Czech Republic
One of the forefathers of psychology; Sigmund Freud was born in the modern-day Czech Republic. The popular area of psychology studies in the country is located in Prague where courses such as applied psychology and clinical psychotherapy are studied. The Czech Republic has many historical sites that students can visit when not studying and also part-time jobs to assist with some of the cost of living in the country. Living in the cities is quite more expensive when compared to students who live in rural areas.
5. Chile
Aside from studying psychology in Chile, students can also take Spanish classes to brush up their language skills which would help in communicating with the locals. The country generally has a strong background in psychology and focuses mainly on courses such as; social psychology, psychological knowledge, and psychotherapy theories. Students studying psychology have a lot of options when choosing a university to study in Chile as the country is accommodating to foreigners.
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What Roles Can I Take up With a Degree in Psychology?
There are many roles a psychology graduate can fill in, depending on the area of specialization and interest. Although, some top psychology roles need one to get a master’s degree or another type of certification, generally with a license of practice one can get any of the jobs listed below:
Read: Top 10 International Scholarships To Study Psychology
1. Social worker
A social worker is someone who works with people of different age groups through a thing or two. The role of the social worker is to assist people and safeguard them from any harm, be supportive, and also look for ways to improve the mental situations of the people. A social worker may work in hospitals, schools, and other public agencies.
2. Counselor
Counselors can work in schools, churches, hospitals, NGOs, and many other places. The main function of the counselor is to listen to clients, refer them to a medical psychologist if need be, or guide the individual on how to live a regular life. Counseling is often like a form of therapy and encompasses a wide range of topics like marriage, education, family health, and lots more.
3. Psychotherapist
This expert works closely with individuals, families, couples, and so on to overcome their emotional and psychological issues. A psychotherapist makes use of different manner of approaches in solving the problem of the client whether, cognitive, humanistic integrative therapy, drama therapy, and so on.
4. Human resources and communications
Since psychology is all about understanding the mind, a degree in psychology can earn one a good job as a human resources manager who would be in charge of recruiting employees and overseeing employees’ work development amongst other things.
5. Research analyst
A psychology graduate can function as a research analyst in any setup. A research analyst would help in sorting research results and also handling the analysis of each result since a psychologist can’ read minds’.
Conclusion
The human mind is very broad and difficult to understand except one is a professional in the psychology field. Psychology is a very sought-after occupation and its graduates are been employed in almost all sectors that deal with humans not just the medical sector. Studying abroad for Nigerians is a dream come through for many and taking up a course in psychology is termed a very good move. The jobs are well paid for and do not require so many certifications to get a good psychology job.
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