Is a psychology degree worth it?

Translating the world of psychological terminology into useful, practical, and evergreen skills is just one of the infinite reasons to begin studying the subject at degree level.

This is exactly what senior hiring managers are doing, high-level negotiators, and almost any type of specialist in the modern world. 

This links to the topic of ‘entrepreneur education’, which is an umbrella term in psychology for one of the main aims of any subject a person can study. In the past, one would often have the option of studying entrepreneurial skills in an individual module. Now however, it’s assumed that all taught subjects are imbued with an element of these necessary skills and approaches.

If we look at entrepreneurship as a spectrum, we are all somewhere on it. Here, the key is to understand how to place yourself on the spectrum to the best of your current abilities, with the aim of creating a leverage point that allows you to progress throughout your chosen career path. Behind general terms like ambition, drive, and initiative etc., there are worlds of research that examine the key elements of successful behaviours, such as:

Self-efficacy and internal locus of control

It is less accurate to say that entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial people have different types of personalities, than it is to say that the former have higher levels of self-efficacy and internal locus of control.

Investing in a psychology degree is a great way of getting beyond such generalisations, helping you to take a step towards the practical techniques of how, when, and why we should ingrain more advanced methods and perspectives within our efforts.

Cognitive theory

From analysing the countless case studies about successful people, it has been observed that they are using a knowledge structure which is often different to those deemed less successful. A cognitive psychology expert would be able to list many of the exact elements that are in this knowledge structure.

The idea is that we should not only be thinking about a subject, career, or training choices, but also the cognitive structure within which the information we receive from these pursuits is housed. In this way we are understanding not only how to mould our own psychological development, but how to become aware of its dynamics in the first place.

Theory of planned behaviour

By being exposed to psychological theories like this – even if you decide to work in a non-psychology related area after graduating – your will be primed to understand how a person can broaden their perception of reality by using the aforementioned approaches, as well as many others.

In essence, a psychology degree can be used as a way to help us interact with many other subjects. When a world-leading intellectual like Slavoj Žižek is invited to speak about a particular topic, you will notice that he draws from multiple academic disciplines to express himself – even though, like all undergraduates, he originally focussed on only one or two as a student.

Positive interdependence

This is one of the five required elements of group work that we’re all familiar with, the others being: individual and social responsibility, social skills, interaction, and the ability to evaluate the overall process. The majority of us will know what these terms mean without any formal academic training, but the importance of studying psychology comes in when we want to understand more about the nuances involved with group behaviour.

One of the many schools of thought that a psychology degree will introduce you to is the world of evolutionary psychology. This is where you’ll be invited to learn about dynamics that are present in every interaction that you ever have, which are more specific and far-reaching than common knowledge.

A great example of this knowledge relates to tribal behaviour, where students are encouraged to understand universal patterns in global culture, such as the way that progressive thinkers are often driven to break away from tribal mentality. Of course, the additional point that many evolutionary psychologists make is that the majority of us will always return to a group of types in our professional careers. The difference for the psychology graduate being: you will know how to salient within this group, contributing specialist skills along with your self-awareness.

Interview time

A key focus in the study of psychology is how to apply theory to vocational realities. By studying the subject at undergraduate level, you will begin to arm yourself with the tools that people like Jony Ive – the chief designer at Apple – use to navigate his profession. It’s fascinating to hear what he has to say when it comes to the interview process.

When you’re being hired at this level, the people you meet no longer want you to list your skills and experience in the standard fashion. What they’re looking for is an individual that is able to express how they see the world in a unique way, in a relevant manner to the role they’re applying for. This being an approach that anyone can use, although it requires a depth of understanding that is only reachable if your creative vocabulary has been developed. 

This is where the importance of formal study comes in. Of course, you may be naturally adept at expressing yourself in this way, but a great way to progress in this direction is by learning these techniques via tuition from reliable sources.

Decisions, decisions…

A good analogy for studying your undergraduate degree in psychology is an invitation to play in a vast stadium. The sport, interest, passion, or endeavour is whatever profession you eventually specialise in, and the performance is the extent to which your abilities are honed while studying.

Of course, it all has to start somewhere, so why not take a look at the BSc (Hons) Psychology from Arden University, and then make a course enquiry today?