A lot of people I know seem weary at the fact that I'm majoring in "Psychology." Unfortunately, not many actually understand the importance of psychology and what it does for the world around us. Even without the title of a psychologist, psychology is used in our everyday lives without anyone realizing it. The human mind is a crazy and complex organ, and understanding it can be difficult, and the job of a psychologist (and even a human observer, like we all are) can help examine why we do what we do in our daily lives.
1. Psychology has existed long before the term "psychology" was even thought of
People have always used their minds, and because we are humans who long for connection, we have used psychology since the beginning of time to help us understand those connections. People such as the Women Mystics, like Hildegard of Bingen or Clare of Assisi, can be pinned as the first psychologists because of their longing for aiding others. So, don't be afraid of the word, "psychology." We've been using it without even knowing.
2. Psychology is used in almost every decision we make
Have you ever wondered why your consciousness always tells you when a situation is bad or good? Psychology allows us to see just how the brain works, and because humans are thinkers, we think through every situation. And, yes--we think through most decisions psychologically. In terms of what is best for us, we determine which road we should take. That part in our brain, is what psychologists study and lean on to help people who cannot normally see the good in things. Scientifically speaking, we use psychology unconsciously and our mind is so much more capable than what we realize.
3. Psychology is good for our health
Knowing what is good for your health, both mentally and physically is something that anyone strives for. Mental health and awareness is all under the umbrella of psychology. Knowing what is best for you and your personality, how to handle situations based on how you are wired, and even making the best of relationships are all aspects that psychology teach us! Having a decent understanding of how you are wired and what makes you tick is one of the best things to have under your belt, and you can achieve all that with just a minimum knowledge of psychology.
4. Psychology helps us understand the world around us
Gender roles, social cues, the ways different people think, cultural differences... All of this falls under social psychology. Those little concepts that we study in school are studied by psychologists all of the time, and understanding why humans work the way they do can help us in daily situations in the present time. With the social and cultural norms constantly changing in the world, having a better understanding of psychology allows us to better understand the changes in the world, and that ultimately will help us adapt to more change coming in the future.
5. Psychology not only helps us, but helps us help others
Knowing how other people work, and knowing how to deal with coping mechanisms is one of the greatest things that psychology has taught me. As humans, we rely on relationships and we need beneficial relationships in order to get through life. So, why not know how to better every relationship that you have? Psychology allows for so much improvement in that area because it teaches us how to effectively communicate and deal with the mishaps of miscommunication.
So, knowing just a few of the ways that psychology benefits our everyday lives can help any of you better understand why I'm choosing psychology as a profession. Psychology is so heavily integrated in the world around us, and it's about time for us to see that. The stigma behind everything psychological and the fear of the human mind is something that needs to be shattered in order to see all of the good that psychology can teach us. It's already wired within us; now, it's time to appreciate it.
