What is Psychology ?

" What course are you studying?"

" Psychology"

"Walao eh..then you can read my mind la?"

"Huh..not actually.."

A misconception about psychology occurs in the societal context. I has been given the same answer repeatedly whenever I was asked what is psychology about. I am honored of human's curiosity and admiration toward psychology. However, I also realized people are unaware of what is psychology about and have a myth toward psychology.

I don't know why I have a sudden urge to share this information right now. Perhaps, I was expected by people to know PEOPLE better. I found it a bit disturbed or I could say emotional. I am willing to help, but I am not expected to help.

First and foremost, what is psychology?

According to American Psychological Association (APA), psychology is a scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.

The British Psychological Society defines psychology is the scientific study of people, mind and behavior

In short, psychology is dealing with human's mind and behavior.

As a psychology student, I has learned to describe, predict, understand, and influence. We have learned theoretical concepts in class. We try to apply what we have learned in our daily life. It is true that we are trained to be more understanding, accepting, and analyzing in people. For instance, we are motivated to work harder by praise, high pay salary, numerous benefits. This is what we called as positive reinforcement.

"Then what you can do in future?"

Psychology is applicable to different settings. In fact, all the sectors need psychology.

Psychology is divided into academic psychology, professional psychology, and popular psychology.

Academic psychology is compulsory subjects in psychology course such as social psychology,cognitive psychology, abnormal psychology and etc

Professional psychology has distinct career path which requires specific training. Normally, we are required to further studies in postgraduate or graduate degree. For example, counseling psychology, clinical psychology, educational psychology and etc.

Popular psychology uses psychology as the subject taught, however it might not listed in academic psychology or professional psychology such as psychology of music, paranormal psychology, positive psychology and etc.

We can work in educational, industrial, military, political lines and many more. It depends on the area that we are chosen.

" Psychologists are psychiatrists lo ?"

It is the biggest misconception that people hold. Psychologist is not psychiatrist. Psychiatrists require medical degree, which fundamentally dealing with mental disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, depression and etc. They are qualified to give medication.

As for psychologists, we obtain psychology degree. We can't give medication. Psychology is dealing with broader context, not specifically in mental illness. In fact, only clinical psychologists are more similar to psychiatrists.

I attached with a short video clip about "what is psychology?"