Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour.
This also includes our mental processes -- so
how we think, remember, and feel.
Believe it or not, a common misconception
is that if you study psychology, you will
be able to read other people's minds -- in
fact, this is actually not the case.
The scientific emphasis means explanations
need to be based on principals of objectivity,
validity and reliability.
You will learn to understand behaviour from
multiple perspectives including biological,
cognitive including our basic thinking processes,
developmental, social including how others,
including groups influence behaviour, and
cultural including indigenous cultures.
All of these areas will in turn influence
each other.
You will also gain an understanding of how
emotions influence behaviour, what drives
motivation and how personality is defined.
Because human behaviour is a vast and complex
area, psychology is diversified into specialised
fields.
Within the degree in psychology at the Open
Polytechnic, we also have an emphasis on health
related topics.
For instance, at level 5 you can study courses
on the psychology of stress, psychology of
grief, and relationship management and communication.
At more advanced levels, you can select courses
which look at issues affecting children, adolescents
and adults, and how psychological disorders
are diagnosed and treated.
To become a psychologist, the first step on
this path is an undergraduate degree in psychology.
The Open Polytechnic offers a Bachelor of
Applied Science majoring in psychology.
You will also need postgraduate training,
at least to Master's level.
Universities provide this advanced training.
Quite often, psychologists will also have
completed a postgraduate diploma in their
respective field, for example, the postgraduate
diploma in clinical psychology.
Once qualified, you can work as a clinical
psychologist -- which involves diagnosing
and treating people with mental health issues
through therapeutic interventions.
This differs from a psychiatrist, who also
treats people with mental health issues but
have a medical degree and can prescribe medication.
You can also work as a criminal justice psychologist
which involves working with offenders to reduce
reoffending.
Or you can work as a educational psychologist
which involves developing learning and behavioural
programmes in educational settings.
Or you can work as an organisational psychologist
which involves understanding workplace performance
and job satisfaction, and helping organisations
transition through periods of change.
Or you work as a health psychologist which
involves promoting changes in people's attitudes
and behaviour towards health and illness and
may include developing health campaigns and
policies.
Of course, the first step to becoming a psychologist
is an undergraduate degree in psychology,
which you can do at the Open Polytechnic.
