Many people are fascinated by the idea of studying psychology but are unsure of the career paths they can follow after graduating.
Psychology is generally considered to be the science of the mind. It’s also a very diverse, multi-disciplinary field. In many cases, you can study a psychology degree before progressing to a specialism which ties into one of your other interests.
Here are four of the many areas of psychology you could specialise in:
Sports Psychology
Being successful in sport is no longer considered to be down to pure skill and fitness. Psychological studies have proved that conditioning of the brain’s pre-frontal lobe can improve a competitor’s attitude, decision-making, awareness and anticipation – vital attributes in most sports.
It’s now common for the top teams and individuals to employ sports psychologists to help them gain the mental edge on the competition.
Imagine being the one whose words inspired a Wimbledon final win or Olympic gold!
Military Psychology
With the amount of conflict around the world, huge numbers of military personnel and their families suffer the emotional turmoil of war.
Military psychologists are specially trained to help soldiers, and those around them, cope with the mental pressures of war, such as separation, fear, anxiety, and grief.
Military psychology can be difficult to break in to, due to the specialist knowledge and skills required. The reward of knowing that you’re making a huge difference to people’s lives can make the challenge worthwhile.
Media Psychology
As technology continues to evolve, we become more and more engulfed by media.
Media psychologists focus on how humans use and interact with media, and the impact different types of media have on our thoughts and behaviours. Their research can help educate organisations on how, where, and when to use which types of media, to effectively engage with their audience.
As we enter an age of virtual and augmented reality, the role of the media psychologist will continue to evolve at a thrilling rate.
Retail Psychology
Even the most occasional of shoppers will have noticed the large colourful displays designed to catch your eye in stores, or have been offered the chance of a loyalty card at the check-out counter.
Retail Psychology is a study of consumers, and how they react to and engage with these marketing activities, designed by businesses to boost sales. From packaging to promotion, everything is planned carefully and evaluated by specialist psychologists, to provide a better understanding of consumer behaviour.
If you feel your experience gives you a solid understanding of retail, this could be the psychology discipline for you.
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