Why Study Psychology?

There are many good reasons to study Psychology. It is a very popular field due to the current demand for mental health experts. It is a well-established choice for Bachelor studies because of the excellent career prospects offered to psychology graduates, due to their wide range of transferrable skills of problem solving, critical thinking, interpersonal skills and research skills. Studying psychology leads to an evidence-based understanding of yourself, other individuals and group behaviour.

In the latest BPS Research Digest (March 2026) it was highlighted that new students have many misconceptions about Psychology however. Some common false beliefs among new psychology students – and the general public too in fact – are that children learn best when they are taught using their own preferred learning style, that hypnosis usually helps to retrieve memories of events we have forgotten, and that it is necessary to explore the childhood issues that underlie current mental health issues in order for therapy to be effective. If you are intrigued as to why these things are misconceptions, and want to know more, then you should consider studying Psychology.

Psychology is a fascinating area of study. It will help you understand human behaviour and to better understand how we think, act and feel. Through a degree in Psychology you will be able to answer questions such as these: Why do people act the way they do? How can teams work together more efficiently? What shapes our personality? How do we learn and change throughout our life? What influences our perception, motivation and our attitudes? What are the internal and external processes that affect our mental health and wellbeing? How is Artificial Intelligence shaping the field of Psychology today? How can positive psychology help individuals and groups to be resilient and to flourish?

As indicated by the above questions, the field of psychology is vast and can lead to many different career options for degree holders after graduation. Psychological professions are one of the fastest growing staff groups within the National Health Service of the U.K. and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected “strong growth” of the profession to continue through until 2032. It appears that the Coronavirus Pandemic, amongst other factors, has accelerated the already rapid growth in demand for mental health professionals all around the world. A psychology degree is very attractive to a wide range of employers, who value the analytical and reasoning skills it gives you. Psychology graduates are excellent communicators and have strong research skills. They possess a good deal of knowledge about people’s motivations and behaviour, how relationships are formed and enabled to flourish, and about group performance. This kind of knowledge is central to almost all jobs these days. There are many options for those who wish to enter the job market with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, such as going into project management, administration, sales, marketing and human resources. If your aim is to practice as a Psychologist and have a thriving career as a mental health practitioner then a Master’s degree is recommended in order to specialize and establish yourself as an expert in a field such as Positive Psychology or Counselling.

In short, the study of Psychology fosters a deep understanding of the mind and of human behaviour. This enables individuals, institutions, families and communities to thrive and to cultivate the best within themselves, thus improving their experiences of work, leisure time and personal relationships.

If this sounds exciting, then Psychology may be the field of study for you!

Find out more about the Department of Psychology at New York College at https://www.nyc.gr/en/majors-nyc/psychology-studies