Benefits of Taking a Psychology Class

Benefits of Taking a Psychology Class December 06, 2019 PeopleImages/Getty Images More in Student Resources APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips Careers Even though youre not a psychology major, you can definitely benefit from learning more about the human mind and behavior  by taking a psychology course. Many universities require students to take at least one class in psychology or a related topic such as sociology or anthropology. Why is psychology often included as part of a core general education requirement??? There are a few great reasons. How Learning About Psychology Can Benefit You There are a few great reasons to learn about psychology, even if you dont plan to pursue a career in it. Better Understand Others If you are majoring in a subject that will lead you to a career that involves working directly with lots of different people, such as teaching or nursing, understanding more about how people think and behave will be extremely helpful in your career. Even if you dont plan to work with people, psychology is still beneficial in helping you understand how and why the people in your life think and behave the way they do. Better Understand Yourself Just like it helps you better understand others, taking a psychology class can help you understand yourself too, including areas like what motivates you, what sort of personality you have, and how your personality contributes to the way you think and behave. Understanding yourself better can help you improve your relationships with others, your communication skills, your motivation, and how you relate to the world around you. The study of psychology helps you to understand yourself and others, which can be extremely fulfilling and lead to better, stronger relationships with your family, friends, and co-workers. Improve Critical Thinking Skills Psychology classes help you learn the scientific method, how to evaluate sources of information, and how to think critically about the information you encounter on a daily basis. These classes can help you hone these skills, which prove useful in a variety of careers and different areas of life. What Your Psychology Class May Include You might be expected to take one introductory psychology class, which can be a great way to get a basic grounding in the topic. In an introductory class,?? you will learn about a range of topics including: The history of psychologyPersonalityHuman developmentSocial  behaviorCognitive psychology Sometimes your major might require you to take a class such as  abnormal psychology  or developmental psychology as part of your core requirements. Health majors, in particular, can benefit from taking such classes.?? These topics can help prepare you to work with individuals who are experiencing some form of mental illness and teach you more about human  behavior  and development. By learning more about the symptoms and treatments of such disorders, you can experience greater empathy and understanding when working with people suffering from psychological problems. Of course, knowing why your university requires you to take a psychology class doesnt necessarily make it any easier. If you know little about the topic or if youre  struggling in your class, there are a number of things you can do to find help. Many universities offer free tutoring  centers  or academic assistance labs, but you can also turn to online resources to help you make sense of the subject.