Why Is Psychology Such a Popular Major?

Psychology Is Interesting

Is there anything more interesting than the amazing (and sometimes bewildering) ways that people think, feel, and act? At the heart of this discipline lies the desire to better understand who we are—as individuals, as societies, and as a species.

Psychology delves into the very depths of this yearning for knowledge and seeks answers to some of the major questions that we often share. Who are we? How did we get this way? Is it possible to change? Psychology can offer us insight and answers.

Psychology Helps Us Better Understand Ourselves

Young adulthood is often a time in which people explore different facets of themselves and establish who they are as individuals. For this reason alone, it's not surprising that psychology holds so much interest for college students.

College-age people are often still working on forging a personal identity and figuring out who they really are. Many also grapple with the emotional turmoil brought on by love and romantic relationships.

With so many highs and lows going on during this busy time of a person’s life, studying the human mind and behavior can help offer personal insights and a deeper, richer understanding of one's self. No wonder so many college students decide to major in psychology.

Psychology Helps Us Better Understand Others

Many of us have been completely baffled by the behavior of other people at one time or another. This is just one reason psychology is so interesting to study—it derives from a desire to better understand how people think and why they act the way they do.

Psychology majors learn about many different aspects of the human mind and behavior. They learn about the genetic and environmental influences that contribute to​ a person's development, as well as the societal forces that influence individual behavior. All of this contributes to a better understanding of others.

Studying psychology can help us better predict and explain how other people will react. It can also help students gain greater interpersonal and communication skills.

Psychology Offers Many Career Options

There is an enormous variety of career options that are available in this field. Psychology jobs range from spending one's day doing research to providing services as a therapist or counselor in healthcare, education, or workplace settings.

Those who earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology may also use this degree as a stepping stone toward graduate study in psychology, counseling, law, business, or medicine. There are tons of career paths that psychology majors can choose from, and it is this variety that appeals to many students.

Psychology Enables Us to Help Others

Studying psychology can also be a direct path toward making a difference in other people's lives. In this case, majoring in psychology can lead to a career in a helping profession.

For example, one might use their psychology degree to become a counselor and work with kids who need academic, social, and emotional assistance. Or they might become a social worker and help people who are facing a variety of psychological difficulties.