Psychology is the scientific study of human mind and behaviour. Psychologists understand what influences our behaviour and use this to help us address many of the problems and issues in society today. There are many specialities within psychology helping people deal with all sorts of issues in life including: bereavement; trauma; mental illness; stress and anxiety; problems at school; and even improving athletic performance.
See the job profiles of the different divisions of psychology to get further information on a specific specialism.
The Work
You could be:
interviewing people on a one to one basis, as part of a group, in couples or as a family
carrying out tests to assess people
applying psychological theories to solving clients’ problems
helping clients cope with events such as bereavement
using psychological tests and monitoring performance and behaviour to assess the needs of athletes
attending case conferences and writing reports on the cases.
Have a look at each of the specialisms for more information.
You would work towards registration with the British Psychological Society (BPS). It's important to realise this takes at least 6 years to achieve.
To be eligible for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), you need either a BPS recognised degree (first or second class Honours) in psychology, or a degree in another subject plus a BPS recognised conversion course.
To do an Honours degree in psychology you usually need 4-5 Highers.
Paid or unpaid work experience is advantageous.
After your degree you would find relevant paid or voluntary work experience (at least 12 months) ideally as a psychology assistant or research assistant, before choosing your speciality.
See the individual job profiles or the British Psychological Society careers website to see which postgraduate qualification you would need depending on the route you take.
You will require a satisfactory criminal record check from Disclosure Scotland to show that you are suitable for this type of work. Contact Disclosure Scotland for details on the type you would need.
emotional strength to cope with distressing situations
organisation skills.
You should be:
interested in healthcare and science
sympathetic and tolerant
assertive
able to communicate with different people
able to respect confidentiality.
Training
Once you have achieved Chartered Membership of the BPS you will continue to learn and train during your career through a programme of Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
You will need to keep up to date with research on a wide range of conditions and developments in the treatment of these conditions.
2024
