7 benefits of studying psychology

Understanding human beings starts with understanding the mind. Psychology is the study of how we think and behave, and studying this fascinating topic enables students to understand people at a whole new level.

Studying psychology through a psychology course enables students to understand human emotions, behaviours and processes. However, a wealth of additional knowledge and important work and life skills can be gained through studying psychology. But what are the benefits of studying psychology for you and your career?

What are the benefits of studying psychology?

Psychology helps one understand people on both a personal and a societal level. This fundamental understanding helps psychology students gain new perspectives and communication skills that they wouldn’t learn in other disciplines. For this reason, psychology enables students to do the following:

1. Develop communication competencies

One critical life skill that’s essential for building healthy connections and positive self-esteem is communication. Effective communication depends on the ability to use the right words, be a good listener and pay attention to body language. The words we use are important, and being positive and respectful in our language can leave a lasting impression on our brains.

Studying psychology also helps people understand that communication is more than just the words we use. Research shows that when nonverbal cues, such as body language and eye contact, match spoken words, it increases the listener’s level of trust. An education in psychology can help develop and furnish both nonverbal and verbal communication, and teach students how to understand communication cues.

2. Gain other applicable skills

While communication is one of the most important soft skills in psychology, students can gain other applicable soft skills, as well. These include initiative, judgement, analysis and critical thinking. All of these skills can help professionals gain trust and build relationships, as well as exercise effective problem-solving. These skills are widely applicable and can benefit professionals in many different career paths and interpersonal situations.

A well-rounded psychology education can help students hone these soft skills and apply them in both professional and personal settings for success.

3. Deepen your understanding of data

We live in the age of information. Of this information, data is becoming critical, especially given the fact that a lot of human activity is now monitored, analysed and assessed. Data is used to sell products to us, shape our political opinions and better our lives – from improving public health to national security.

As in many fields, the use of data in psychology is increasing, and understanding how to interpret, use, manage and draw conclusions from data is an increasingly important skill in psychology.

Within the psychology field, data and data analysis are used to identify patterns of human behaviour and put certain hypotheses to the test. Conclusions can then be drawn on important questions such as whether certain psychological problems are more common in certain populations and why, and how to best treat common issues.

JCU Online’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging) offers students the opportunity to gain valuable research and analytical skills to conduct data analysis. This means you’ll be able to change the way that we reason, experiment and form opinions.

4. Enhance your understanding of human behaviour

Neuroscientists agree that the brain is very difficult to understand. Despite centuries of research, human behaviour, as well as mental health challenges, remains something of a mystery. However, progress has been made: Psychology has come a long way in explaining why we do the things we do. Psychologists have helped us understand people’s personalities and drivers, and also how certain environments and situations might provoke certain reactions and behaviours.

One of the benefits of studying psychology is gaining insight into people’s behaviour. You’ll learn to read the invisible signs that people often display through their appearance, posture, movement, tone of voice and facial expressions. This means you’ll be able to understand the intentions of others and what motivates them. You can use these skills across various industries – you may unlock the secrets of why certain products sell, help design education solutions or establish human resources processes to manage employee emotions.

5. Increase your cultural awareness

In the last century, the world has become increasingly globalised, and people are now exposed to a world of culture and opportunity. This has meant that perspectives in psychology and contemporary psychology practices now encompass intercultural themes and recognise diversity in human behaviour. In recent years, the terms “international” and “global psychology” have emerged to focus specifically on cross-cultural comparison. These comparisons can include differences in gender roles, national developments and threats and why these behaviours might differ across nations – but also, importantly, what we can all learn from each other.

By studying psychology, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural factors that influence how people think, feel and behave.

6. Understand environmental psychology

Environmental psychology can help us understand how context and environment influence human behaviour, attitudes, emotions and motivations. Communities all over the world are now faced with numerous multifaceted challenges that require complex solutions. According to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, poverty, inequality, climate threat and lack of quality education are just some of the issues that make gaining an understanding of environmental psychology crucial.

Psychology courses, such as JCU Online’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging), can help students understand the role of environment psychology in promoting sustainable futures.

7. Increase your career prospects

Studying psychology can benefit you by not only boosting your credibility with your current employer but also opening doors to a world of other opportunities. As a psychologist, you can work in numerous settings, including private practice hospitals, mental health facilities and the justice system. However, your ability to understand human behaviour will also prove important in many different fields, including advertising, HR, education, business, marketing and politics.

Evidence also exists of a strong, continuing demand for psychologists in many different fields, with the Australian Psychological Association (APS) predicting that positions in the profession will grow by 6 per cent between 2025 and 2030.

Psychology: A career for the future

A career in psychology can be engaging and rewarding, especially as we’re yet to fully understand exactly how the mind and human behaviour work. Beyond this, studying psychology can bring a range of benefits, including helping you develop soft skills, grow a global perspective and increase your career prospects.

If you’re interested in becoming a registered psychologist, the good news is that there is significant employment growth projected in Australia. The employment outlook for psychologists is expected to grow by 13.3 per cent in the next five years. Or, if you’re interested in a career outside of being a psychologist, a psychology education can provide you with many applicable soft skills that transfer easily into other careers.

Learn more about JCU Online’s Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging). Get in touch with our Enrolment team on 1300 535 919.