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emi
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why do we do this?
why do people think they way they do and act they way they do? i am instrested in psychology and not sure what to major in the fireld of that and what jobs
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James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6185
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Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Emi!
Say hello to money the primary human motivator! A lot of psychological justification gets invested in this.
Understanding Human Behavior and Thought Processes
Human behavior and thought processes are complex phenomena that have been studied extensively in the field of psychology. There are several factors that contribute to why people think and act the way they do, and understanding these factors requires a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses various subfields within psychology.
Biological Factors
One of the key determinants of human behavior and thought processes is biology. The biological perspective in psychology emphasizes the role of genetics, neurochemistry, and brain structure in shaping an individual’s behavior and cognitive processes. Genetic predispositions, hormonal imbalances, and neurological conditions can significantly influence how individuals perceive the world, process information, and respond to stimuli. For example, research has shown that certain genetic variations are associated with an increased risk of developing mental health disorders such as depression or schizophrenia, highlighting the impact of biological factors on psychological functioning.
Cognitive Processes
Cognitive psychology focuses on how people perceive, think, and solve problems. Cognitive processes such as attention, memory, language, and decision-making play a crucial role in shaping human behavior. The way individuals interpret information, form beliefs, and make decisions is influenced by their cognitive abilities and thought patterns. For instance, cognitive biases, which are systematic deviations from rationality in judgment or decision-making, can lead individuals to perceive the world in specific ways and behave accordingly.
Social and Environmental Influences
The social environment in which individuals are raised and live also significantly shapes their behavior and thought processes. Social psychology examines how social interactions, group dynamics, cultural norms, and societal influences impact human behavior. From conformity to social identity to interpersonal relationships, individuals’ actions are often influenced by their social context. Additionally, environmental factors such as upbringing, family dynamics, socioeconomic status, and exposure to stressors can contribute to the development of certain behavioral patterns and psychological traits.
Emotional and Motivational Factors
Emotions and motivations play a fundamental role in guiding human behavior. Emotional psychology delves into how emotions influence cognition, decision-making, and interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, motivation theory explores the underlying drivers of behavior, including basic needs (e.g., food, safety) as well as higher-order needs (e.g., self-esteem, self-actualization). Understanding how emotions and motivations shape behavior is essential for comprehending why individuals act in particular ways under different circumstances.
Psychological Disorders and Abnormal Behavior
The study of abnormal psychology provides insights into atypical patterns of thinking and behavior. Mental health disorders can significantly alter an individual’s thought processes and actions. Conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders can profoundly impact an individual’s perception of reality and their behavioral responses.
Educational Pathways in Psychology
Given your interest in psychology and your desire to pursue a major in this field, it’s important to consider the various educational pathways available within psychology. Some common majors related to psychology include:
Psychology: A major in general psychology provides a broad understanding of human behavior from a scientific perspective. It covers topics such as cognitive processes, social influences on behavior, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, research methods, and statistical analysis.
Clinical Psychology: If you are specifically interested in working with individuals who have psychological disorders or mental health concerns, a major in clinical psychology may be suitable for you. Clinical psychology programs often include coursework on assessment techniques, therapeutic interventions, psychopathology, ethics in clinical practice, and practicum experiences.
Counseling Psychology: Another potential major is counseling psychology which focuses on helping individuals cope with everyday challenges as well as more severe psychological issues. Counseling psychology programs typically emphasize counseling theories and techniques, multicultural counseling competencies, career development interventions, group counseling skills, and ethical considerations in counseling practice.
Career Opportunities in Psychology
After completing your major in psychology or a related field within the discipline, there are various career paths you can pursue:
Clinical Psychologist: Clinical psychologists assess and treat individuals with psychological disorders through therapy sessions or other interventions. They may work in private practice settings or within healthcare institutions.
Counselor: Counselors provide guidance to individuals dealing with personal challenges or mental health issues. They may specialize in areas such as marriage and family therapy or substance abuse counseling.
Research Psychologist: Research psychologists conduct studies to expand our understanding of human behavior and mental processes. They may work in academic settings or research institutions.
Industrial-Organizational Psychologist: Industrial-organizational psychologists apply psychological principles to workplace settings by addressing issues related to employee morale, productivity enhancement strategies, leadership development programs, etc.
School Psychologist: School psychologists work within educational settings to support students’ academic achievement as well as their social-emotional well-being through assessment and intervention services.
In conclusion,
Understanding why people think the way they do and act the way they do involves considering a wide array of factors including biological influences on behavior & thought processes; cognitive processes; social & environmental influences; emotional & motivational factors; psychological disorders & abnormal behavior among others. When choosing a major within the field of psychology it’s important to consider options like general psychology; clinical psychology; counseling psychology among others. Career opportunities after completing a major in psychology include roles like clinical psychologist; counselor; research psychologist; industrial-organizational psychologist; school psychologist among others.
Top 3 Authoritative Reference Publications/Domain Names Used:
American Psychological Association (APA): The APA is one of the most authoritative sources for information on various topics within psychology including research articles on human behavior.
Psychology Today: This publication offers comprehensive insights into current trends in psychology research as well as practical applications of psychological principles.
Verywell Mind: Verywell Mind provides evidence-based content on mental health topics including articles on human behavior from a psychological perspective.
Make sure you do read my auto biography because it outlines which nutrients can be got from foods to increase the capability of the human brain to process academic information and that's got to be essential to your trade God bless James
Say hello to money the primary human motivator! A lot of psychological justification gets invested in this.
Understanding Human Behavior and Thought Processes
Human behavior and thought processes are complex phenomena that have been studied extensively in the field of psychology. There are several factors that contribute to why people think and act the way they do, and understanding these factors requires a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses various subfields within psychology.
Biological Factors
One of the key determinants of human behavior and thought processes is biology. The biological perspective in psychology emphasizes the role of genetics, neurochemistry, and brain structure in shaping an individual’s behavior and cognitive processes. Genetic predispositions, hormonal imbalances, and neurological conditions can significantly influence how individuals perceive the world, process information, and respond to stimuli. For example, research has shown that certain genetic variations are associated with an increased risk of developing mental health disorders such as depression or schizophrenia, highlighting the impact of biological factors on psychological functioning.
Cognitive Processes
Cognitive psychology focuses on how people perceive, think, and solve problems. Cognitive processes such as attention, memory, language, and decision-making play a crucial role in shaping human behavior. The way individuals interpret information, form beliefs, and make decisions is influenced by their cognitive abilities and thought patterns. For instance, cognitive biases, which are systematic deviations from rationality in judgment or decision-making, can lead individuals to perceive the world in specific ways and behave accordingly.
Social and Environmental Influences
The social environment in which individuals are raised and live also significantly shapes their behavior and thought processes. Social psychology examines how social interactions, group dynamics, cultural norms, and societal influences impact human behavior. From conformity to social identity to interpersonal relationships, individuals’ actions are often influenced by their social context. Additionally, environmental factors such as upbringing, family dynamics, socioeconomic status, and exposure to stressors can contribute to the development of certain behavioral patterns and psychological traits.
Emotional and Motivational Factors
Emotions and motivations play a fundamental role in guiding human behavior. Emotional psychology delves into how emotions influence cognition, decision-making, and interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, motivation theory explores the underlying drivers of behavior, including basic needs (e.g., food, safety) as well as higher-order needs (e.g., self-esteem, self-actualization). Understanding how emotions and motivations shape behavior is essential for comprehending why individuals act in particular ways under different circumstances.
Psychological Disorders and Abnormal Behavior
The study of abnormal psychology provides insights into atypical patterns of thinking and behavior. Mental health disorders can significantly alter an individual’s thought processes and actions. Conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders can profoundly impact an individual’s perception of reality and their behavioral responses.
Educational Pathways in Psychology
Given your interest in psychology and your desire to pursue a major in this field, it’s important to consider the various educational pathways available within psychology. Some common majors related to psychology include:
Psychology: A major in general psychology provides a broad understanding of human behavior from a scientific perspective. It covers topics such as cognitive processes, social influences on behavior, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, research methods, and statistical analysis.
Clinical Psychology: If you are specifically interested in working with individuals who have psychological disorders or mental health concerns, a major in clinical psychology may be suitable for you. Clinical psychology programs often include coursework on assessment techniques, therapeutic interventions, psychopathology, ethics in clinical practice, and practicum experiences.
Counseling Psychology: Another potential major is counseling psychology which focuses on helping individuals cope with everyday challenges as well as more severe psychological issues. Counseling psychology programs typically emphasize counseling theories and techniques, multicultural counseling competencies, career development interventions, group counseling skills, and ethical considerations in counseling practice.
Career Opportunities in Psychology
After completing your major in psychology or a related field within the discipline, there are various career paths you can pursue:
Clinical Psychologist: Clinical psychologists assess and treat individuals with psychological disorders through therapy sessions or other interventions. They may work in private practice settings or within healthcare institutions.
Counselor: Counselors provide guidance to individuals dealing with personal challenges or mental health issues. They may specialize in areas such as marriage and family therapy or substance abuse counseling.
Research Psychologist: Research psychologists conduct studies to expand our understanding of human behavior and mental processes. They may work in academic settings or research institutions.
Industrial-Organizational Psychologist: Industrial-organizational psychologists apply psychological principles to workplace settings by addressing issues related to employee morale, productivity enhancement strategies, leadership development programs, etc.
School Psychologist: School psychologists work within educational settings to support students’ academic achievement as well as their social-emotional well-being through assessment and intervention services.
In conclusion,
Understanding why people think the way they do and act the way they do involves considering a wide array of factors including biological influences on behavior & thought processes; cognitive processes; social & environmental influences; emotional & motivational factors; psychological disorders & abnormal behavior among others. When choosing a major within the field of psychology it’s important to consider options like general psychology; clinical psychology; counseling psychology among others. Career opportunities after completing a major in psychology include roles like clinical psychologist; counselor; research psychologist; industrial-organizational psychologist; school psychologist among others.
Top 3 Authoritative Reference Publications/Domain Names Used:
American Psychological Association (APA): The APA is one of the most authoritative sources for information on various topics within psychology including research articles on human behavior.
Psychology Today: This publication offers comprehensive insights into current trends in psychology research as well as practical applications of psychological principles.
Verywell Mind: Verywell Mind provides evidence-based content on mental health topics including articles on human behavior from a psychological perspective.
Make sure you do read my auto biography because it outlines which nutrients can be got from foods to increase the capability of the human brain to process academic information and that's got to be essential to your trade God bless James
Jerome Dees Jr.
Sales Professional and Networking Expert
607
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
I LOVED the classes I took for my psychology degree. Not only exploring why people do things, but how those individuals form groups and why they act the way they do also. I think you can certainly find enjoyment and a great education while gaining a Psychology degree.
Gary Cheng
Organization Development and Organizational Effectiveness
1
Answer
Berkeley, California
Updated
Gary’s Answer
Hi Emi,
Just to give you additional options to consider, if you are interested in using psychology to improve how organizations and groups of people work together, then you can pursue a career in industrial/organizational psychology or organization development. Organization Development (OD) is the work that I do, but it took me 10 years to learn that the field even existed! It uses psychology "why do we act the way we do?" and applies it to groups (businesses, nonprofits, governments, etc) to help them work better together. If you like to think about systems and how that influences human behavior (and vice versa), then you might enjoy a major in this field.
Possible careers: Many OD and I/O psychologists go into management consulting (on their own or with a consulting firm like Deloitte, etc.). Also, many large companies have their own OD departments or they place it under HR/Human Resources (examples are Google, Intel, University of California, etc). Example roles you could do: training and development of employees, performance management, improving employee engagement, change management, leadership development, team building, organizational design, and professional coaching.
Google search "what is organizational psychology" (commonly called I/O psychology) or "what is organization development"
Just to give you additional options to consider, if you are interested in using psychology to improve how organizations and groups of people work together, then you can pursue a career in industrial/organizational psychology or organization development. Organization Development (OD) is the work that I do, but it took me 10 years to learn that the field even existed! It uses psychology "why do we act the way we do?" and applies it to groups (businesses, nonprofits, governments, etc) to help them work better together. If you like to think about systems and how that influences human behavior (and vice versa), then you might enjoy a major in this field.
Possible careers: Many OD and I/O psychologists go into management consulting (on their own or with a consulting firm like Deloitte, etc.). Also, many large companies have their own OD departments or they place it under HR/Human Resources (examples are Google, Intel, University of California, etc). Example roles you could do: training and development of employees, performance management, improving employee engagement, change management, leadership development, team building, organizational design, and professional coaching.
Gary recommends the following next steps:
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Emi !
A career that aligns with a study of psychology is such a wonderful choice. There are many careers you can have in the behavioral health field. Following a study of psychology and the human experience through sociology will explain why some people behave the way they do. People are very complex and each person's psychological and social history is unique.
Some of the end game after college careers that you can consider are: Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive and Perceptual Psychologist, Community Psychologist, Counseling Psychologist, Developmental Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, Experimental Psychologist and more.
There are some other careers to consider also such as Social Worker, Life Coach, Mediator, Counselor, Market Researcher, Human Resources Generalist, Recreational Therapist or Social service Case Manager. If you're not familiar with any of these careers, a simple search on line will bring explanations and answer some of your questions that you may have.
Part of being a psychology professional is to also learn about yourself. I have left a link below about some therapeutic activities that you may want to do now to get a start on things. Find out more about yourself and that will be a great foundation for the breadth of the Psychology major while in college.
One of the traits of someone who is drawn to a behavioral health field is that they are a people loving person. They like to be around a lot of people but more importantly, they understand how everyone is unique and therefore they have a high level of acceptance of and comfort with various people which helps when you work with clients. You will need excellent written, verbal and communication skills as well, so make sure you spell check and proof whatever you write. You will also learn in college about the necessity of being empathetic, a good problem solver, having great listening skills and the ability to have an open mind.
So, these are some things to consider, but once you are in college, things will be more clear. Read as much as you can now and search for pertinent videos on You Tube regarding what questions you have right now. Try not to worry about your future job just yet. Doors will open for you in college and you will have networked, made contacts that will be beneficial to you. You should think about what you want to do, who you'd like to work with, if you have a mission and one of the many positions involving psychology will be clear to you.
Best wishes on your further discoveries about the awesome behavioral health field.
A career that aligns with a study of psychology is such a wonderful choice. There are many careers you can have in the behavioral health field. Following a study of psychology and the human experience through sociology will explain why some people behave the way they do. People are very complex and each person's psychological and social history is unique.
Some of the end game after college careers that you can consider are: Clinical Psychologist, Cognitive and Perceptual Psychologist, Community Psychologist, Counseling Psychologist, Developmental Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, Experimental Psychologist and more.
There are some other careers to consider also such as Social Worker, Life Coach, Mediator, Counselor, Market Researcher, Human Resources Generalist, Recreational Therapist or Social service Case Manager. If you're not familiar with any of these careers, a simple search on line will bring explanations and answer some of your questions that you may have.
Part of being a psychology professional is to also learn about yourself. I have left a link below about some therapeutic activities that you may want to do now to get a start on things. Find out more about yourself and that will be a great foundation for the breadth of the Psychology major while in college.
One of the traits of someone who is drawn to a behavioral health field is that they are a people loving person. They like to be around a lot of people but more importantly, they understand how everyone is unique and therefore they have a high level of acceptance of and comfort with various people which helps when you work with clients. You will need excellent written, verbal and communication skills as well, so make sure you spell check and proof whatever you write. You will also learn in college about the necessity of being empathetic, a good problem solver, having great listening skills and the ability to have an open mind.
So, these are some things to consider, but once you are in college, things will be more clear. Read as much as you can now and search for pertinent videos on You Tube regarding what questions you have right now. Try not to worry about your future job just yet. Doors will open for you in college and you will have networked, made contacts that will be beneficial to you. You should think about what you want to do, who you'd like to work with, if you have a mission and one of the many positions involving psychology will be clear to you.
Best wishes on your further discoveries about the awesome behavioral health field.
Ellen Diviney
Business Program Manager
2
Answers
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Updated
Ellen’s Answer
A psychology degree can open up many career opportunities in various fields, such as therapy, research, education, healthcare, and business. Some of the jobs you can do with a psychology degree are: counsellors, case manager, child psychologist, art therapist and clinical psychologist. There is also an organisational psychology field which studies organisational culture, leadership and learning development. Psychology is a diverse and rewarding field that can help you make a positive impact on people, organisations, and communities.
Talk to a few people who do these types of jobs to understand more about them, and whether it would be of interest for you to pursue.
Ellen recommends the following next steps: