Overview of Psychology for Beginners

Studying Psychology

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Individuals who are new to the study of psychology can have quite a few questions. Among these:

Let's tackle some of these all-important questions in this quick introduction to the subject. This overview of psychology for beginners provides a brief look at this topic, also potentially providing areas to look into more for individuals interested in studying this fascinating subject.

What Is Psychology?

Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior. While explorations of these two subjects date back thousands of years, the formal science of psychology is actually quite young.

During the late 1800s, Wilhelm Wundt formed the first experimental laboratory devoted to the study of psychology, officially marking its beginning as a discipline separate from philosophy and physiology.

Although we often refer to psychology as one broad field, there are many subtypes or branches of psychology a person can study. Some of the main branches include:

Why Study Psychology?

There are lots of great reasons to study psychology! For many people, their first real experience learning about psychology happens when they take an introductory class in college to fulfill a general education requirement.

Some young students are also fortunate to have the opportunity to take AP Psychology classes in high school, which can be a great way to become more familiar with the subject. They might then choose to study psychology in much greater depth and opt to either major or minor in the subject in college.

What about people who don't plan on entering some sort of social science field after they graduate? Even if an individual has no intention of becoming a psychology major, they can still benefit a great deal from learning more about this topic.

Great reasons to study psychology include:

  • Psychology is rich and fascinating and touches on every single aspect of who we are. By studying psychology, we can learn more about who we are as individuals, including our own development, personality, thoughts, and behaviors.
  • Psychology can also provide a basis for a better understanding of other people. By knowing what makes people tick and what motivates them, we are able to gain greater insight into what makes people do the things they do.
  • Psychology can make a person a better communicator, a better leader, and even a better friend. What people do with their knowledge of psychology is really up to them!

Even for individuals who don't plan on becoming a psychology major, learning about topics such as personality, social behavior, love, and development can help them better understand themselves and others in their lives.

What Topics Are Studied by Psychologists?

Psychology delves into virtually every aspect of how people think and behave. Have you ever wondered why some people are outspoken while others are quiet, or why people seem to behave differently in large groups than when they are alone? These are just a few of the questions that psychologists explore.

It might also be surprising for psychology beginners to learn that there are many, many different types of psychologists. That said, most can be categorized into three main types:

  • Applied psychologists, who work on applying psychological knowledge to solving real-life problems
  • Mental health psychologists, who utilize their knowledge to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental illnesses and psychological distress
  • Research psychologists, who perform experiments to learn more about the mind and behavior

Each individual branch of psychology is also devoted to the study of a specific topic. Developmental psychology, for example, centers on the study of how people develop throughout the lifespan. This enables psychologists the ability to study the topic that interests them most.

Other areas of study within this field include social psychology, cognitive psychology, personality psychology, health psychology, and forensic psychology.

What Can a Person Do With a Psychology Degree?

Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology is a popular option, ranking third on the list of most popular college majors. For those interested in working in this field, there are a number of different entry-level careers they might want to consider.

For example, those with an undergraduate degree can hold positions as caseworkers or psychiatric technicians. Others might choose to use their knowledge of the mind and behavior in other fields, such as sales, marketing, or human resources.

Key Facts About Psychology Degrees

  • An undergraduate degree is required to become a licensed psychologist.
  • The term psychologist is a protected term, meaning that someone cannot legally call themselves a psychologist unless they meet specific educational and training requirements.
  • Earning a master’s or doctorate degree opens up a wide range of career options and can pave the way to a higher salary.

What Do Psychologists Do?

We can't delve into psychology for beginners without discussing what someone might do when working in this field. This can be somewhat challenging to explain since there is an enormous variety in the work that psychologists perform.

For example, some work in the field of mental health where they assess, diagnose, and treat psychological conditions. Others devote their time to researching psychological topics in order to add to our existing understanding of how people think and act. Still, others investigate specific real-world problems and come up with solutions to resolve these issues.

The day-to-day realities of what psychologists do depends on a number of different factors, including:

  • Where they work. Some professionals work in private practice while others may be employed in hospitals, clinics, and business settings.
  • Their level of education. People with bachelor's or master's degrees in the subject may be employed in the field of mental health but they likely need to work under the supervision of a licensed professional. Psychologists who are licensed have more opportunities and are able to work more independently.

This helps highlight the sheer number of options for someone who pursues psychology as a career. Work settings and duties can vary dramatically, enabling individuals to choose the ones that fit them best.

4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Britannica. Wilhelm Wundt.

  2. Harvard Summer School. Why choose psychology as your college major?

  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. How to become a psychologist.

  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Education pays.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."