In the brain, our emotions, actions, thoughts, and behaviors are held within a three pound blob. Without this blob, there wouldn’t be much bodily function or sense of human life. The brain within itself is a mystery; rumor has it you only truly have access to 10% of it (which isn’t true). Despite the qualities unknown about the brain, there are individuals who dedicate their lives to discovering the secrets of the organ that’s in our very heads.
Psychologists, more specifically Neuropsychologists, are people who study the cognitive, emotional, and social responses of humans based on their environments and brain chemistry. To put it simply, they study why people are the way they are. I’ve wanted to be a Neuropsychologists for quite some time because I’m a people person. I want to know why people think, act, and live the way they do and why their actions are the way they are based on that mysterious blob in their heads. In order to be any sort of a psychologist, you have to be a people person. Neuropsychologists want to understand people; their feelings, their beliefs, and their way of life based on their brain chemistry.
Collegiate legend has it that psychology degrees are the easiest to get, but hardest to apply because there’s no demand for the job. Yet contrary to popular belief, people do actually want to see more psychologists in the world. The job demand for this occupation is 19% growth—that’s higher than most. And a psychology degree isn’t just a messily title, it actually goes a long way. Most professional psychologists require a doctorate or masters for sufficient pay and credibility in their field. Most people pursuing these careers do a pre-med program, obtain a bachelor’s in psych or neuroscience, and then pursue a master’s and eventually doctorate within that field.
Having such degrees allows for not only more credibility, but more income as well. Psychologists have a median pay of $75,230 a year, making money differently depending on if they partner with other facilities or run their own research. That happens to be one of the benefits of pursing a branch of psychology, as a psychologist can take their career any direction. This includes the possibility of working with children, conducting individual research or working with other facilities, such as criminal psychologists who work to understand the brains of criminals.
If your curiosity in life starts with understanding people and the way their mind works, psychology or a branch of psychology may be the right career for you!
