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Is it difficult to be a psychologist/ do you have to be really smart?

#psychology #smart #psychologist

psychology psychologist smart
Thank you comment icon You probably have to be smart because it's alot of hard work. Marykate
Thank you comment icon Honestly hardwork is what really matters! if you work hard you can achieve your goals! reach for the stars! Allie
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Simeon’s Answer

Yes, being a great thinker is important for psychological work, but you'll find it's just as, if not more, important to be an emotionally intelligent person when it comes to psychological work. You have to be patient and attentive to the nuances of people's personal narratives and alert to the lies they rehearse to themselves about themselves. I'd recommend reading books on active listening; they're helpful for understanding some of the most important skills for psychology as well as give you tips for listening well to people you know.
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Misty’s Answer

It is alot of work. I am working on my BA in Psychology. You have to have a mind set to be able to take in alot of brain functions as well as alot of different diseases of the mind. Alot of it is reading and absorbing all of the information which there is alot of however it is completely interesting finding out all of the weird things the brain can do and how it causes us as humans to act the way we do.
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Tim’s Answer

Hi Callie,! I'm going to confess that I was really worried about statistics which is the way that psychologists can make statements about things like behavior or learning with quantitative data... Basically science doesn't pay much attention to theories unless they have numbers LOL. But let me dispel any math anxiety you may have because psychometrics is it really about math although it involves numbers and equations and algorithms and blah blah blah. But if you can understand things like correlations and conceptualize things like the bell curve then you'll be fine.
I'll ask you a few questions about to see how smart you are but to see if psychology would be a good fit for you

Are u a person who is interested in human behavior learning relationships violence love etc?
Do you want to make a difference in the world? The people that will come to you whether they are children at a school convicts in a prison or elderly folks struggling with their mortality?
At its heart psychology is about people that it would be your job to help them in thousands of ways.

Tim recommends the following next steps:

I would suggest you look into some of the schools of thought in psychology like gestalt therapy, brief solution focused therapy and my favorite Rogarian therapy. It's based upon unconditional positive regard and acceptance of who you're working with no matter who they are what they've done what their value system is etc. I see it as the closest thing we have to genuine empathy and love in our society today
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Callie’s Answer

I am not a psychologist as of yet. But I have studied it as a hobby for nearly 13 years now. While I aspire to become an Elementary teacher first. I do plan on continue school once I'm teaching and my main focus will be psychology. I love helping people. Sharing what I know has worked for me. The amount of schooling required for this career can be daunting or intimidating, but it can be done, makes very decent money and there will Always be a need for psychologists. Being "smart" is only part of it. Ever met a psychologist or nurse who very clearly Didn't care? It wouldn't matter if someone with a perfect memory or decent intellect is counseling you- They would also have to show they Care in some form or fashion. If you have the Heart for it and are willing to do the studies it takes to have that degree that allows you to make such a Huge Difference in so many peoples lives- You Can Do It!
Thank you comment icon Thank you!! Shannon
Thank you comment icon You're most welcome Shannon. Best of luck to you sweetheart. Pursue those dreams and turn them into reality! Callie Stroud
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Sherry’s Answer

You can be anything that you want to be. Go to school, and study hard. Take classes that are based around psychology.

Thank you comment icon Thank you<3 Shannon
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