future psychologist essay

I Want to be Psychologist in the Future

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With the development of the modern economy and other aspects, people’s minds will be more prone to stress, and more likely to suffer from mental illness or have light or heavy psychological problems. In the future, psychologists will become daily life. The profession that is essential in life, so psychology is more likely to be widely used in the future. This is also my reason to chose psychology as my major. This is not just a science, but a tool that can heal people’s minds.

Compared with other European and American countries, China’s psychological consulting industry is relatively imperfect, but in the future, this industry will be well developed in China, because the Chinese have much more pressure than Europeans and Americans, so more domestic or psychology students who will return to China and build psychological counseling for Chinese.

Psychology is a new subject in China. People don’t know much about this profession, which limits the scope of employment to a certain extent. However, due to the relatively small number of students attending, the employment prospects are still relatively optimistic. After more and more people know about psychology, the future employment of psychology masters is mainly concentrated in quite a few aspects, which provides me a certain number of places to use my knowledge, and shows a bright future of this major in China.

First, colleges and universities, this is the main destination after the graduation of psychology graduate students. The same as the United States, in China, colleges and universities have paid more and more attention to students’ mental health problems. In the future, there will be more public coursed and required courses in psychology. This undoubtedly will expand the employment aspect of psychology graduate students. One of the best career directions for a master’s degree in psychology will become a psychology teacher in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Education. It will help people understand and solve their mental health problems as soon as possible before they truly enter society. Even when psychology graduate students are more competitive than other professional students in the job of recruiting counselors, the future of psychology is clear and optimistic.

If people don’t get good mental help earlier, then they make mistakes, will they get it future. Yes! Which come to my second kind of future of psychology in China.

Civil servants. The recruitment of psychology graduate students as civil servants will be generally the public security system: The Public Security, Bureau, labor camps, prisons, border checkpoints, etc. will be all possible places. Someone may ask why they will need psychology in prisons. Because according to psychology knowledge, an individual’s personality can be formed by nature and nurture. Psychologists can use the knowledge of psychology to understand how prisoners change from good people to bad people step by step and will also help them to understand the impact of the psychological activity. There will be schools in prisons for prisoners to learn psychology, if they do it well, they will have a chance to reduce the penalty. When they understand the meaning of nature vs. nurture, they will find their confidence and positive power back. After the release, they will not always count them as a bad person, they will have the motivation to change and help others who will or are thinking about committing a crime. There is a famous slang in Chinese, “Man on Earth, Good at Birth” (Mencius, Three Character Canon / San Tzu Ching). Punishment is required, and education will also be essential for them to reform evils.

Can Psychology link with other majors in the future? But not always live as a mysterious and lonely subject? Yes! Let’s work together with business. “Knowing ourselves and knowing each other will help us to win each competition” (Sun-Tzu, The Art of War, Plan of Attack Articles). Business is another version of the competition. And the way using psychology will be an essential part of a competition. Which come to my third kind of future of psychology in China.

HR, Human Resources Management. It is a subject that is planned in the business department. However, it is about human resources, so it will need psychology’s help. Psychology students advocate humanized management and complement human resources, management students. According to the article on The Balance Careers, HR has an internal element – quality management. Mainly refers to the use of modern scientific methods to effectively manage people’s thoughts and behavior (including the coordination, control, and management of individual and group thinking), giving full play to people’s subjective initiative to achieve Organizational goals (Heathfield, 2018). Psychological knowledge will be the “modern scientific method” in the future and will be the only one because psychology is the tool to understand people’s thoughts and behavior. My older sister’s friend is an HR, she said it was hard sometimes that she needed to learn employers’ behavior which links with their working ability or working area. In the future, this problem will be solved because of the inevitable development of Psychology in China.

Although Psychology knowledge not valued before in China, it will in the future. There will be so many areas for people who love psychology to show their abilities and the magic of psychology. The three areas I suspect will not be the only ones, because psychology has many different types by itself. After we explore more possibilities about psychology while we are learning it, we will find more spots for it, also for people who love psychology, like me.  

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What does my future look like as a psychologist?

• Careers in Psychology

Have you ever wondered what a typical day looks like for a psychologist? What educational path should you pursue to become a psychologist? What advice would a psychologist give you as a student?

A series of video interviews with academic and research psychologists ranging from a cyber-psychologist to a school psychologist address these questions and more. Hosted by the national honor’s society of Psi Beta, the Psi Beta National Youtube Channel contains brief 15–30 minute video interviews with psychologists about their career path. 

Anyone interested in psychological careers can view the career series videos on the Psi Beta National YouTube channel. The career series videos feature interviews with psychologists in a variety of different settings and a wide array of professions. There is no typical route that these individuals took on their path to becoming a psychologist, but rather many routes, some circuitous, to reaching their dream job.

As a psychology student, you are learning and honing skills that qualify you for a 21 st century evolving job market. So, what do these jobs look like? Interested students can watch these video interviews to get a sense of what different types of careers are out there, what psychologists find rewarding about their jobs and what has surprised them the most about their career path. Students can learn about the many subfields of psychology and get insights into the different academic paths and training routes to prepare for a career in psychological science. These videos can also be used in the classroom or in a Psychology Club meeting in lieu of a live guest speaker to shed light on, and introduce conversations about, careers in psychology. 

Become a member of Psi Beta

References and resources

American Psychological Association (n.d.). Preparing to use your bachelor’s degree in psychology: Understand how your skills, degree, experiences, and brand prepare you to land a job that’s the right fit for you . h ttps://www.apa.org/education-career/guide/bachelors

Naufel, K. Z., et al. (2018). The skillful psychology student: Prepared for success in the 21st century workplace. www.apa.org/careers/resources/guides/transferable-skills.pdf (PDF, 56KB)

Psi Beta National. (n.d.). Home (YouTubeChannel). Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/4mmxr5sc

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Why I Study Psychology (10 Essays)

Why I Study Psychology  is a collection of short essays. Each student explains their motivation for choosing psychology.

Psychology students are often motivated by personal experiences and a wish for healthier, happier communities. The essays demonstrate the value from having a vision for your career – whether it’s detailed or “big picture” – before you start a psychology degree. Having a long-term goal in mind offers a reliable source of study motivation.

Why I Chose Psychology Essays

As part of a national essay competition, current and future psychology students were asked to explain their study motivation. Each student describes in 250 words or less (a) why I chose psychology as a major and (b) how I’m motivated to succeed at psychology studies. The best, most inspiring essays are published here.

1. Motivation

We all know that there will almost always be something to do that sounds much more appealing than our studies, so why do we study if there is something better? Motivation, that’s why. Everyone has their own motivating factor that keeps them in line with studying. Mine is pretty general and that is my future.

I have dreams of becoming a psychologist and helping people throughout my life. I also have a huge passion for American Sign Language. I plan to merge these two goals into one for my future career. I don’t want to be just any psychologist, I want to be a psychologist that is open to Deaf people and hearing people alike.  I want Deaf people to feel comfortable coming to me without the need of a third person interpreter who is usually a stranger . Many Deaf people feel uncomfortable visiting a psychologist because of the need for a third person. I plan to make a step towards breaking that barrier by being able to sign or speak with any patient who comes to me.

With all these huge goals I know that I have to be very on top of studies and make sure I continue to stay on track and do my best. All of these reasons put together make up my ideal future and therefore my motivation to study.

~ Hannah Reis, Palomar College

Related: Human Psychology: Study of Mind and Behavior

2. My Dream

We live in a world filled with hurt and suffering, and a place that is not equal for all. My dream is to leverage my unique set of skills, abilities, privileges, resources, and knowledge in a way that increases equality and privilege for all (not just people with white skin). I am pursuing a degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology which combines psychology and business.

I feel most alive when I am volunteering with my family at The Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (CCHO) which is a non-profit orphanage for children. I love working with the children there, and it hurts my heart when I see them being forced to leave once they are eighteen without any further aid or support. Consequently, after gaining work experience in applying psychology principles to the business world, I intend to establish a non-profit organization . This entity will support young adults from foster care or orphanages, providing them with essential skills and emotional support as they transition to adulthood. Once they have turned eighteen the government will no longer provide very much aid to them; I want to supply them with the additional skills and services that they need to make it in the real world, and give them the emotional support that they may not have.

One of the main services I want to provide them is taking them to do mission work because the best way to grow as a person and gain perspective is through service and travel. When college gets hard, I hold on tight to this dream because I know my studies will help me achieve this dream.

~ Alyssa Powers, The University of Akron

Related: Different Fields of Psychology Study

3. A Catalyst for Change

The incredible transformation I have experienced through the power of therapeutic relationships motivates me to immerse myself in my studies and move closer towards my goal of becoming a psychologist. Recognizing how the quality of my own life has been profoundly enhanced by self-reflection, the invaluable lesson of how to learn from suffering, and coming to a deeper understanding of who I am, encourages me to try and be a catalyst for this kind of change in other’s lives. I’m motivated to empower people to feel confident enough in who they are that they don’t feel the need to bring others down.

When life as a student feels exceptionally challenging, I remind myself of the impact that the work I wish to practice has on people’s lives and those around them. I strongly believe large scale change happens on the individual level first, and if we want to see a world where we value the earth and all the people living on it, we have to do the work with ourselves first.  I want to help people in their transformation towards becoming more unconditionally loving, tolerant, and compassionate people . I think when people are more comfortable with, and accepting of, who they are, they are consequently kinder and more loving towards those around them. Encouraging this kind of growth first on an individual level, and ultimately on a global level, motivates me to not only get through, but thrive within my program.

~ Hannah Freund, California Institute of Integral Studies

Related: What Does a Psychologist Do?

4. Reshaping Mental Health

People who are given psychiatric diagnoses experience some of the worst prejudice and discrimination. They are more likely to be the victims of violence, have a harder time securing jobs and housing, and constantly come face-to-face with the harmful stereotypes that state that these individuals are violent and unpredictable. As such, much research needs to be done to understand the cause of such distress, as well as to develop effective interventions and achieve healthy minds.

Our current mental health paradigm, which views distress as primarily biological and best treated medically, has unfortunately increased stigma and disability rates related to mental health. I was one of the fortunate few who was able to pursue a college degree despite being given a severe diagnosis and a hopeless prognosis. However, I know that much of my success has been due to luck and privilege, and  the opportunities that I have been afforded are an exception, not a rule. I am striving to change that.

It is my hope that, through increased research and advocacy, society can come to understand that extreme distress is often a message about something that is wrong in a person’s world, and as such, is profoundly meaningful and can be understood. Furthermore, by understanding the psychosocial origins of distress – trauma, poverty, inequality, etc. – we can refocus upstream and create policies that protect against these stressors in the first place.

~ name withheld, Mount Holyoke College

Related: Is Psychology a STEM Major? Science vs Social Science

5. C’s Get Degrees

It is said that “C’s get degrees”, but that isn’t enough for me. C’s show an average amount of work, an average amount of time, an average amount of effort. “Average” is not something that I want to be known as. I want to be known as the girl who kept moving forward, went above and beyond, and never looked back. My driving force is making my family proud and reaching my ultimate goal—becoming a school psychologist.

I am the very first in my family to attend college. Every time the topic of school or my future is mentioned, I can see on their faces that they are overwhelmed with pride. When I received my Associate’s degree, seeing my grandpa cry made me realize how special my academic journey is to them. They have given up so much and have supported me in every way, making them proud is the very least I could do in return.

Becoming a school psychologist has been my dream career since I was in middle school.  The thought of being able to connect and help a child grow both academically and socially is the greatest reward I could ever receive . Every time I am procrastinating typing a paper, not studying when I know I should have, or wanting to give up on a difficult problem, I think about my end goal. Making a difference to even just one child will make all of school worth it.

~ Haleigh Cordeiro, California Polytechnic State University

Related: How Long Does It Take to Get a Psychology Degree?

6. Find Your Unconscious

Psychologists have discovered reasons, stages, and correlations among our biopsychosocial make-up. Over the centuries, they have managed to explain why humans experience what occurs in everyday life. They provide answers when we have questions about ourselves; it is for this reason that I strive to major in psychology.

I believe that I can make people in my environment, as well as myself, healthier by providing some sense of clarity whenever life situations become foggy. My dream is to someday become a successful industrial-psychologist. Why not a clinical psychologist, you might ask? While working one-on-one with individuals who are struggling would definitely be rewarding, I believe I can have a greater impact by helping larger groups . This dream of mine to become an industrial-psychologist would allow me to make the environment of common day people the most comfortable and enjoyable one.

Through the study of psychology, I will be able to know what qualities are the most necessary to enrich the daily lives of people and ensure that I apply them to my work. What drives me? The fact that I have seen psychologists help my family make sense of one of the most difficult things that we have gone through. Psychologists helped my sister facing anorexia nervosa deal with her disorder and helped my family become a strong support system to aid my sister’s recuperation. I want to know that I can help other people, psychology will open the doors to this dream of mine.

~ Iridian, Cal State University of Long Beach

Related: Clinical Psychologist

7. My Dream

Over 22 million children in the United States do not live with their biological mother and father and reside with their grandparents. This means that 3 percent of children living in America face the same situation as me. My father and mother were teenagers when they had me, so raising a baby girl was a difficult task for them. Neither of my parents went to college either, so having me took a toll on their lives. For the both of them, college was an opportunity to better their education and be successful, but with me, that would have been harder for them. Living with my grandparents was the best option for me.

I am currently experiencing teenage life and I can understand why raising a child, when you are only a child yourself, is a daunting responsibility. I commend my parents for choosing to provide a better life for me, actively shielding me from adversity and their own struggles.  When I enter college, my goal is not just to pass my classes, it is to make something of myself . I know my parents would want that for me.

My dream is to work up to my doctorate and become a psychiatrist, fulfilling every opportunity and experience that comes my way. Psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung once said “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become”, and through my hardship, I choose to overcome and prepare for my destiny.

~ Nina Grizzle

Related: How to Become a Psychologist

8. Art Therapy

My love for psychology began my junior year when I took the AP course. What was supposed to be a schedule-filling elective credit accidentally grew into a genuine fascination.  I found myself going above and beyond the curriculum purely out of curiosity . My interest in what we were discussing in class every day would often send me down long, thought-provoking paths that motivated me to hunt down explanations to the answers of questions I didn’t know I had. But once I had the answers, they seemed to be demanding further explanation, and I was always more than happy to oblige.

With my future education in this field, I aim to innovate art therapy techniques that directly aid individuals with mental disorders and cognitive declines. I feel that experimenting with the effects that art has on people’s brain chemistry will open up a new type of therapy that can be clinically prescribed. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 52.9 million adults in the United States suffer from mental illnesses. This new form of therapy could possibly improve the mental state of the millions of people impacted while inspiring the creation of art.

~ Taylor Himes, University of Texas San Antonio

Related: Psychology Symbol Ψ (Psi or Trident): Greek Text and Images

9. If You Put Your Mind To It

For as long as I can remember, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the world. I knew that the first step was to attend an accredited university, and that university happens to be Michigan State. I went into college with the dream of becoming a doctor, however, I had a change of heart.

At the beginning of my freshmen year, the unthinkable happened. My dad committed suicide. My world came crashing down. It was a complete shock. My dad always kept all his feelings masked. I never knew what he was going through, and everyday I regret not paying closer attention. Not a day goes by where I don’t think about him. If only I had known. I could’ve done something. That experience then motivated me to change my major to psychology.

I’ve always wanted to make a difference, and now I know exactly how to achieve that dream. I aim to support those enduring what my dad went through.  I want to be there for them, to help them overcome their inner demons. I want to let them know that their lives are worth living.  Losing a family member to suicide is one of the most detrimental events that anyone can ever endure, and if I can one day prevent someone from experiencing that, then I would have accomplished my goal; I will make a difference.

~ Kayla Harper, Michigan State University

Related: Is Psychology a Hard Major?

10. Motivated by God to Help Others

I’ve heard from so many different people how difficult college can be. Late nights, big tests, difficult and early classes, that doesn’t even sound like fun. The only thing that keeps me moving towards college is the idea of being able to help other people when I graduate.

In December of 2016 I travelled halfway around the world to the Philippines. While I was there I met 15 wonderful children with horrible backgrounds. The love these children missed out on for so many years is heartbreaking. My future goal is to study Psychology and Religion at Liberty University.

The dream that keeps me motivated to go back to school is the chance to help many , not just children, but anyone who needs a listening ear and a voice to discuss their problems. People need more people to care and who want to listen. If people would feel the love that God made for them this world would be a much better place.

~ Trinity Rake, Liberty University

Related: Difference Between Counselling and Psychology

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Dream Job — Becoming A Psychologist: My Dream Job

An Overview of My Dream Job: Psychologist

• Categories: Dream Job

About this sample

Words: 1657 |

Published: Dec 16, 2021

Words: 1657 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

Table of contents

History of psychology, job description, a psychologist specification, job resourses, works cited.

• American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Careers in psychology.
• Cherry, K. (2022, March 28). What is a psychologist and what do they do? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-psychologist-2795764
• Comer, R. J. (2016). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology (8th ed.). Worth Publishers.
• Goodtherapy. (n.d.). Psychologist vs. psychiatrist: What’s the difference? https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychologist-vs-psychiatrist-whats-the-difference-0419165
• Lepeshova, T. (2020). Formation of the professional competencies of future psychologists. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 24(5), 4403-4409.
• National Association of School Psychologists. (n.d.). Who are school psychologists?
• Pomerantz, A. M., & Handelsman, M. M. (2019). Clinical psychology. Oxford University Press.
• Psychology Today. (n.d.). Find a therapist. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
• Study.com. (2003). What does a psychologist do?
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, March 31). Psychologists.

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What Will the Future of Clinical Psychology Look Like?

A licensed clinical psychologist for more than three decades, John Kluczynski, Psy.D., shares how the field has evolved and outlines emerging trends in clinical psychology.

The field of clinical psychology has come a long way over the last few decades. As technological advancements progress and demographics change, the field will continue to evolve.

Clinical Psychologists will Become Younger and More Diverse.

In the not-so-distant past, many clinical psychologists were white men. Today, women have not only caught up but actually surpassed men as both the percentage of field practitioners and current students in graduate-level programs. There is a continuing trend in the direction of clinical psychology becoming a younger and more diverse field.

A report from the American Psychological Association analyzing demographic changes in clinical psychology from 2007 to 2016 discovered the following:

• The median age of psychologists has decreased from 50.1 to 48.9 years and baby boomers have been surpassed by younger generations as the majority of the workforce.
• The percentage of psychologists who are women increased from 57 percent to 65 percent.
• From 2007 to 2016 the number of psychologists who are racial/ethnic minorities nearly doubled, although it still accounts for a relatively small proportion of the total workforce (16 percent in 2016).

John Kluczynski, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist for more than three decades and an adjunct faculty in The Chicago School’s Clinical Psychology program , believes that the future pipeline of professionals in the field is reflected in the students he sees every day in class.

“From the time I started until now, I have seen the demographic changes that are taking place firsthand,” he says. “And the future of the clinical psychology field looks increasingly diverse as the students I teach come closer to graduation and prepare for their eventual licensure.”

Technology will Expand Access and Increase the Effectiveness of Clinical Psychology

Technology has changed the everyday lives of professionals in many different fields, and psychology is no exception.

“I tell my students all the time that I truly believe they will be the first generation of clinical psychologists to practice internationally,” Dr. Kluczynski says. “And they won’t even need to leave the U.S.”

The World Health Organization has declared access to mental health services an important priority in its Mental Health Action Plan , noting a tremendous gap in access to services around the world. And in the U.S., many rural areas lack access to local mental health professionals . Virtual treatment options and online therapy may help future psychologists begin addressing this issue both on a domestic and international scale.

Clinical Psychologist Licensure will Be More Broadly Recognized within the U.S.

To legally practice psychology, it is required that you receive licensure through your state’s licensing board. Typically, you must meet minimum requirements before licensure, such as meeting a required number of hours in practicum and internships in addition to receiving a doctoral degree. But even once you become licensed, you are often restricted to the state where you received your licensure.

“When you begin getting into state licensures and different state laws, our field becomes kind of constrained,” Dr. Kluczynski says. “There is no such thing as national licensure, but a lot of states are now beginning to come together and form interstate compacts where your license in one state may be recognized in another state. That is going to make practice much easier.”

Through interstate compacts, clinical psychologists will be able to treat patients from across state lines.

For example, someone living near a state border may still be able to seek treatment if their closest mental health provider is across the state line. Or if a licensed clinical psychologist moves to a new state, they may not have to go through a new licensure process.

Ultimately, this puts the focus back on patients and improving access to mental health services.

Clinical Psychologists will Work in Primary Health Care

As awareness around the importance of mental health continues to increase, it will become more normal to see clinical psychologists in traditional health care settings.

“I would actually take it further than just working in primary health care,” Dr. Kluczynski says. “Why can’t clinical psychologists be primary health care physicians? In other words, if you are ill then you can call your psychologist first who can refer you to a specialist from there.”

According to Dr. Kluczynski, some estimates say that nearly 50 percent of the issues people are suffering from in primary care offices are emotional or psychological problems.

“These are issues like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia,” he says. “Or, on the other end of it, they may have issues related to addiction like alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or eating disorders. All of this comes back to which role psychologists should be playing and what the future of health care looks like.”

Dr. Kluczynski also points to medical cost offset research, some of which has found that if people have access to good mental health treatments, their utilization of other medical services is reduced.

“Think about someone who struggles with obesity and elects for mental health treatment instead of bypass surgery,” he says. “It’s an example of expensive or costly procedures that can often be handled in a more cost-effective manner.”

Clinical Psychology and Pharmacology will Become More Integrated.

There are some psychologists who simply don’t want to be prescribing medication, and that is fine. But the knowledge of the biological components of mental illness and issues like substance abuse can be crucial for a clinical psychologist, even if they don’t want to be the one prescribing.

“We still have this battle going on over what the boundaries of psychology practice are, and the prescription component is a really big part of that.”

However, while Dr. Kluczynski believes prescription privileges can be an important evolution in the field of clinical psychology, he also believes it will encounter tremendous pushback.

“With prescriptions, we are going up against a financial interest of the medical community,” he says. “There was a time when psychologists couldn’t bill for insurance, and I’m talking about during my career. So we’ve come a long way over the years. But you start getting into prescription privileges and other responsibilities of the medical community and you really begin stepping on some toes. There is no doubt that we deserve a place at that table, but we have to continue to fight for that place.”

Clinical Psychologists will Become More Politically Active

Examine the top industry lobbyists in the U.S. and you’ll find representation for health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and hospitals in relation to money spent annually.

But you won’t find any major representation for the field of psychology.

“Psychologists don’t necessarily like to talk about money, but we have to start talking about it,” Dr. Kluczynski says. “Because there are battles that we are going to have to fight in the struggle over health care dollars and it will determine the extent of the role that psychologists can play in someone’s life.”

To achieve the future outlined above, clinical psychologists will need to become more active in advocating for their field. According to Dr. Kluczynski, advocating for the clinical psychology field is really advocating for their clients and the people who depend on their services.

“Let’s use the opioid crisis as an example,” Dr. Kluczynski says. “The vast majority of the new money that has been proposed is going to law enforcement. And when it does go into the treatment world, it is focused around biological treatments and interventions. Part of this is because we are still fighting for our place at that table.

“We haven’t informed the public well enough; we haven’t learned to lobby for the use of government resources to advance our clients’ best interests. There’s no shortage of people who need our services, but there is a shortage of money to provide our services. Advocating for our clients also advocates for the field and that is going to be a much longer-term issue that we must begin to address. It is the key to truly begin serving the underserved.”

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If you would like to learn more about The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s clinical psychology programs, fill out the form below for more information. You can also visit our clinical psychology programs page or apply today through our application portal .

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How to Write a Psychology Essay

Saul McLeod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

Before you write your essay, it’s important to analyse the task and understand exactly what the essay question is asking. Your lecturer may give you some advice – pay attention to this as it will help you plan your answer.

Next conduct preliminary reading based on your lecture notes. At this stage, it’s not crucial to have a robust understanding of key theories or studies, but you should at least have a general “gist” of the literature.

After reading, plan a response to the task. This plan could be in the form of a mind map, a summary table, or by writing a core statement (which encompasses the entire argument of your essay in just a few sentences).

After writing your plan, conduct supplementary reading, refine your plan, and make it more detailed.

It is tempting to skip these preliminary steps and write the first draft while reading at the same time. However, reading and planning will make the essay writing process easier, quicker, and ensure a higher quality essay is produced.

Components of a Good Essay

Now, let us look at what constitutes a good essay in psychology. There are a number of important features.

• Global Structure – structure the material to allow for a logical sequence of ideas. Each paragraph / statement should follow sensibly from its predecessor. The essay should “flow”. The introduction, main body and conclusion should all be linked.
• Each paragraph should comprise a main theme, which is illustrated and developed through a number of points (supported by evidence).
• Knowledge and Understanding – recognize, recall, and show understanding of a range of scientific material that accurately reflects the main theoretical perspectives.
• Critical Evaluation – arguments should be supported by appropriate evidence and/or theory from the literature. Evidence of independent thinking, insight, and evaluation of the evidence.
• Quality of Written Communication – writing clearly and succinctly with appropriate use of paragraphs, spelling, and grammar. All sources are referenced accurately and in line with APA guidelines.

In the main body of the essay, every paragraph should demonstrate both knowledge and critical evaluation.

There should also be an appropriate balance between these two essay components. Try to aim for about a 60/40 split if possible.

Most students make the mistake of writing too much knowledge and not enough evaluation (which is the difficult bit).

It is best to structure your essay according to key themes. Themes are illustrated and developed through a number of points (supported by evidence).

Choose relevant points only, ones that most reveal the theme or help to make a convincing and interesting argument.

Knowledge and Understanding

Remember that an essay is simply a discussion / argument on paper. Don’t make the mistake of writing all the information you know regarding a particular topic.

You need to be concise, and clearly articulate your argument. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences.

Each paragraph should have a purpose / theme, and make a number of points – which need to be support by high quality evidence. Be clear why each point is is relevant to the argument. It would be useful at the beginning of each paragraph if you explicitly outlined the theme being discussed (.e.g. cognitive development, social development etc.).

Try not to overuse quotations in your essays. It is more appropriate to use original content to demonstrate your understanding.

Psychology is a science so you must support your ideas with evidence (not your own personal opinion). If you are discussing a theory or research study make sure you cite the source of the information.

Note this is not the author of a textbook you have read – but the original source / author(s) of the theory or research study.

For example:

Bowlby (1951) claimed that mothering is almost useless if delayed until after two and a half to three years and, for most children, if delayed till after 12 months, i.e. there is a critical period.

Maslow (1943) stated that people are motivated to achieve certain needs. When one need is fulfilled a person seeks to fullfil the next one, and so on.

As a general rule, make sure there is at least one citation (i.e. name of psychologist and date of publication) in each paragraph.

Remember to answer the essay question. Underline the keywords in the essay title. Don’t make the mistake of simply writing everything you know of a particular topic, be selective. Each paragraph in your essay should contribute to answering the essay question.

Critical Evaluation

In simple terms, this means outlining the strengths and limitations of a theory or research study.

There are many ways you can critically evaluate:

Methodological evaluation of research

Is the study valid / reliable ? Is the sample biased, or can we generalize the findings to other populations? What are the strengths and limitations of the method used and data obtained?

Be careful to ensure that any methodological criticisms are justified and not trite.

Rather than hunting for weaknesses in every study; only highlight limitations that make you doubt the conclusions that the authors have drawn – e.g., where an alternative explanation might be equally likely because something hasn’t been adequately controlled.

Compare or contrast different theories

Outline how the theories are similar and how they differ. This could be two (or more) theories of personality / memory / child development etc. Also try to communicate the value of the theory / study.

Debates or perspectives

Refer to debates such as nature or nurture, reductionism vs. holism, or the perspectives in psychology . For example, would they agree or disagree with a theory or the findings of the study?

What are the ethical issues of the research?

Does a study involve ethical issues such as deception, privacy, psychological or physical harm?

Gender bias

If research is biased towards men or women it does not provide a clear view of the behavior that has been studied. A dominantly male perspective is known as an androcentric bias.

Cultural bias

Is the theory / study ethnocentric? Psychology is predominantly a white, Euro-American enterprise. In some texts, over 90% of studies have US participants, who are predominantly white and middle class.

Does the theory or study being discussed judge other cultures by Western standards?

Animal Research

This raises the issue of whether it’s morally and/or scientifically right to use animals. The main criterion is that benefits must outweigh costs. But benefits are almost always to humans and costs to animals.

Animal research also raises the issue of extrapolation. Can we generalize from studies on animals to humans as their anatomy & physiology is different from humans?

The PEC System

It is very important to elaborate on your evaluation. Don’t just write a shopping list of brief (one or two sentence) evaluation points.

Instead, make sure you expand on your points, remember, quality of evaluation is most important than quantity.

When you are writing an evaluation paragraph, use the PEC system.

• Make your P oint.
• E xplain how and why the point is relevant.
• Discuss the C onsequences / implications of the theory or study. Are they positive or negative?

For Example

• Point: It is argued that psychoanalytic therapy is only of benefit to an articulate, intelligent, affluent minority.
• Explain: Because psychoanalytic therapy involves talking and gaining insight, and is costly and time-consuming, it is argued that it is only of benefit to an articulate, intelligent, affluent minority. Evidence suggests psychoanalytic therapy works best if the client is motivated and has a positive attitude.
• Consequences: A depressed client’s apathy, flat emotional state, and lack of motivation limit the appropriateness of psychoanalytic therapy for depression.

Furthermore, the levels of dependency of depressed clients mean that transference is more likely to develop.

Using Research Studies in your Essays

Research studies can either be knowledge or evaluation.

• If you refer to the procedures and findings of a study, this shows knowledge and understanding.
• If you comment on what the studies shows, and what it supports and challenges about the theory in question, this shows evaluation.

Writing an Introduction

It is often best to write your introduction when you have finished the main body of the essay, so that you have a good understanding of the topic area.

If there is a word count for your essay try to devote 10% of this to your introduction.

Ideally, the introduction should;

Identify the subject of the essay and define the key terms. Highlight the major issues which “lie behind” the question. Let the reader know how you will focus your essay by identifying the main themes to be discussed. “Signpost” the essay’s key argument, (and, if possible, how this argument is structured).

Introductions are very important as first impressions count and they can create a h alo effect in the mind of the lecturer grading your essay. If you start off well then you are more likely to be forgiven for the odd mistake later one.

Writing a Conclusion

So many students either forget to write a conclusion or fail to give it the attention it deserves.

If there is a word count for your essay try to devote 10% of this to your conclusion.

Ideally the conclusion should summarize the key themes / arguments of your essay. State the take home message – don’t sit on the fence, instead weigh up the evidence presented in the essay and make a decision which side of the argument has more support.

Also, you might like to suggest what future research may need to be conducted and why (read the discussion section of journal articles for this).

Don”t include new information / arguments (only information discussed in the main body of the essay).

If you are unsure of what to write read the essay question and answer it in one paragraph.

Points that unite or embrace several themes can be used to great effect as part of your conclusion.

The Importance of Flow

Obviously, what you write is important, but how you communicate your ideas / arguments has a significant influence on your overall grade. Most students may have similar information / content in their essays, but the better students communicate this information concisely and articulately.

When you have finished the first draft of your essay you must check if it “flows”. This is an important feature of quality of communication (along with spelling and grammar).

This means that the paragraphs follow a logical order (like the chapters in a novel). Have a global structure with themes arranged in a way that allows for a logical sequence of ideas. You might want to rearrange (cut and paste) paragraphs to a different position in your essay if they don”t appear to fit in with the essay structure.

To improve the flow of your essay make sure the last sentence of one paragraph links to first sentence of the next paragraph. This will help the essay flow and make it easier to read.

Finally, only repeat citations when it is unclear which study / theory you are discussing. Repeating citations unnecessarily disrupts the flow of an essay.

Referencing

The reference section is the list of all the sources cited in the essay (in alphabetical order). It is not a bibliography (a list of the books you used).

In simple terms every time you cite/refer to a name (and date) of a psychologist you need to reference the original source of the information.

If you have been using textbooks this is easy as the references are usually at the back of the book and you can just copy them down. If you have been using websites, then you may have a problem as they might not provide a reference section for you to copy.

References need to be set out APA style :

Author, A. A. (year). Title of work . Location: Publisher.

Journal Articles

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (year). Article title. Journal Title, volume number (issue number), page numbers

A simple way to write your reference section is use Google scholar . Just type the name and date of the psychologist in the search box and click on the “cite” link.

Next, copy and paste the APA reference into the reference section of your essay.

Once again, remember that references need to be in alphabetical order according to surname.

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Home / Blog

The Future of Psychology: New Methods for Helping People

June 14, 2019 

Bachelor’s degrees in psychology, like Maryville University’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology online , aim to provide students with a broad foundation in contemporary psychological concepts. Courses such as Social Psychology, Human Development, Multicultural Psychology, and more help bachelor’s degree students gain applied, career-related knowledge that they can use throughout their professional lives, while learning about key psychological concepts like experimental methodology, critical thinking, and human behavior in depth.

As a science and a field of study, psychology is constantly evolving. New areas of research are being explored, and decades-old beliefs are being questioned as new information comes to light. Depending on the desired role, students who wish to become mental health professionals and be part of the exciting future of psychology may sometimes need a graduate-level degree as well as certifications. But the first step in pursuing a rewarding psychology career is typically earning a bachelor’s degree in the field .

As aspiring mental health professionals pursue their bachelor’s degree in psychology, it is crucial that they are on top of the latest trends and developments shaping this field and the future of the mind, including burgeoning new topics in social science, the growing complexity of human diversity, and innovative new tools reshaping psychological research.

Psychology’s Influence on Topics in Social Science

Psychology is not an insular or isolated field. Instead, psychological concepts, methods, and research can be used to examine the causes and effects of other events and phenomena in several social sciences. For example, areas that are likely to be impacted by psychology in the future include workplace policies, nutrition and mental health, and even how humans are taking care of the planet.

Workplace-related health conditions

For decades, work-related injuries were thought of as physical events, like breaking an arm or suffering a physical injury on the job. But developments in psychology are pushing to include mental health events within workplace-related injuries as well.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration states that an illness or injury is work related “if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness.” This could include a factory worker who has his hand injured by a piece of manufacturing equipment or an employee whose back condition is worsened after carrying too many supplies.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2017 Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses report, the total recordable cases of nonfatal occupational injuries has declined nearly every year since 2004. Initially, this data can be interpreted as proof that workplaces are becoming safer on average. But some psychologists have started to question whether mental disorders, like depression or anxiety, caused by organizational stressors can also be deemed as work-related injuries.

Research reported in the Journal of Health and Social Sciences describes how psychological injuries can sprout “from a common workplace conflict, without a severe traumatic event, workplace violence, or the phenomenon of mobbing/bullying.” Even though the public may generally think of work-related injuries as physical events, this research shows that future mental conditions may be routinely diagnosed as owing to conditions in the workplace. The fact that psychological injuries are now being considered alongside physical workplace injuries emphasizes just how much psychology has and will continue to evolve.

The psychological effects of climate change

Climate change is reshaping our planet and drastically changing how humans will live on it in the coming decades. Those environmental changes will have a profound psychological effect on humanity, and researchers are already exploring some of the mental health challenges we may face in the wake of climate change.

The social sciences often focus on how climate change is impacting and will continue to impact humans, such as populations being displaced because cities are no longer habitable, or individuals dying because they live in areas where food production is not sustainable.

But one area of climate change science and research that is currently growing is climate change psychology. Climate change psychology refers to how climate change is affecting and could affect human minds, both now and in the future. For example, carbon dioxide, or C02, is a gas known to cause global warming. Carbon dioxide is expelled by cars that run on fossil fuels. Residents in major cities with strong public transportation systems don’t have to drive as much or at all, and their overall C02 impact is much lower. Psychological research can dive deeper into the effect of global warming on these major city dwellers by examining how living in these cities may impact both interpersonal and intergroup behavior as well as individuals’ mental health, despite their smaller contribution to climate change.

Even though a person living in a more dense area can have a less detrimental impact on the environment than other regions of the country, there are potential downsides to this urban lifestyle. A 2017 study published in Deutsches Ärzteblatt International noted that residents in large cities face a higher risk for serious mental illness than those living in rural areas. Studies like these show that even though individuals living in cities have many opportunities to leave a smaller carbon footprint, they still face other challenges as a result of this lifestyle.

The potential stressors associated with urban living can have widespread effects on health. An article in the journal Environmental Research notes, “Although urban living offers increased access to critical resources and can help to mitigate climate change, densely populated neighborhood environments are often higher in many of the physical and psychological stressors that are detrimental to health, and lower in the social capital that is beneficial to health.” Researchers determined that “natural space has the potential to address the pressing issue of social isolation and, in turn, poor mental health faced by residents of dense urban environments.” In the future, psychological research may determine the specific mental health benefits of spending more time in natural environments.

Nutrition and mental health

It can be tempting to think of nutrition as something that only affects physical health, but it’s actually deeply connected to mental health as well. Nutrition is an area where current and future psychology professionals can make great strides.

A recent study published in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal examined the relationship between severe mental illness and higher rates of obesity, in which poor nutrition has played a factor. It found mental illness can lead to poor nutrition, as when someone who is experiencing depression develops poor dietary habits. The poor nutrition may in turn create physical health concerns, such as obesity. In some cases, the poor diet can also exacerbate the current mental illness.

In the future, psychology will likely continue to show us just how linked nutrition is to how we think and feel. Researchers are proving that the food and vitamins we consume can have a large impact, positive and negative, on our mental state.

Exploring Human Diversity

The future of mind research may also offer valuable insight into how discrimination and stereotyping affects the health of different demographic groups. Recent research of human diversity has shown individuals from different backgrounds can face disadvantages and challenges throughout their lives. For example, a recent report in Pediatric Blood & Cancer noted how “health disparities related to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and insurance status impact quality, access, and health outcomes for children.”

But psychological research can take these types of studies a step further, examining the behavior and relationships that contribute to issues like bullying, stereotyping, and discrimination among diverse individuals. In an article published in the journal Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry , researchers examined how the relationships between siblings change after one of them comes out publicly as transgender or nonbinary. According to the article, “Developing an increased understanding of transgender issues appeared to enable young people to embrace supportive roles, and as a consequence, they reported that their relationships with their gender-diverse siblings were enhanced.” The researchers also noted that, beyond the relationships growing stronger, some respondents became more worried about their transgender sibling’s well-being after becoming more aware of significant problems that face this community. This study is a great example of the potential future of psychology, giving insight into both causes of and potential solutions to challenging social problems among marginalized groups.

Digital Tools Changing Psychological Research

As psychology has evolved over the decades, scientists, researchers, and health practitioners have utilized new digital tools to provide more effective care and treatment to patients and populations.

Digital tools may affect future study of the mind and how it is understood within the field of psychology by providing mental health professionals and researchers with new avenues and abilities to conduct and find research. These tools can help push their science forward and help improve people’s lives.

Many psychological studies involve surveying members of a certain population or group. According to an article in Behavior Research and Therapy , digital technology has made this task easier for researchers by improving how assessment questionnaires are delivered and interpreted which, “until recently, have been largely in pencil-and-paper format and manually scored,” the article notes.

Training websites are noted as popular tools that can help current and future psychology researchers learn new concepts. The article in Behavior Research and Therapy notes the numerous benefits of these training websites. “In addition to letting trainees see therapy actually being delivered, it can be accessed whenever and wherever it suits the trainee, and it can easily be updated. Digital training programs can be used on their own or supplemented with support,” the article says.

Digital tools can also be used to treat and assess patients. Online therapy, for example, enables patients to speak with their mental health practitioner from a remote setting, while patient portals can allow individuals to refill necessary prescriptions and obtain medical records with ease. These tools can also enable researchers and patients to provide and receive specialized treatment in any part of the country. A patient living in a rural area who needs to consult with a specialized mental health practitioner hundreds of miles away can often do so through digital means.

Discover How the Future of Psychology Will Continue to Change

Aspiring mental health professionals who want to contribute to future studies of the mind can start by earning their bachelor’s degree in psychology from an accredited institution. Visit Maryville University’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology online to learn more about this program.

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, “Occupational Therapy Intervention Addressing Weight Gain and Obesity in People with Severe Mental Illness: A Scoping Review”

Behaviour Research and Therapy, “The Impact of Digital Technology on Psychological Treatments and Their Dissemination”

Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses—2017”

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, “Understanding More About How Young People Make Sense of Their Siblings Changing Gender Identity: How This Might Affect Their Relationships with Their Gender-Diverse Siblings and Their Experiences”

Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, “Cities and Mental Health”

Environmental Research, “Exposure to Natural Space, Sense of Community Belonging, and Adverse Mental Health Outcomes Across an Urban Region”

Journal of Health and Social Sciences, “Workplace Conflicts and Psychological Work-Related Injuries: Our Experience in Italy”

Maryville University, Online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 1904.5—Determination of Work-Relatedness

Pediatric Blood & Cancer, “Payer and Race/Ethnicity Influence Length and Cost of Childhood Cancer Hospitalizations”

WNBC, “New Yorkers Are Fatter, More Depressed and Sleepless Than Ever, New Research Finds”

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The Future of Psychology Research Paper

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Over the past few decades, the field of psychology has undergone tremendous changes not only in its approach to problems associated with the behavior of the society, but also in terms of methodologies its practitioners use, in their endeavor to understand the working of the human mind.

Because of the ever changing socio-economic, political, and the overall mental health condition of individuals; as a result of the rapid changes in global systems of living, currently the field of psychology uses mostly a scientific approach in solving human behavioral and psychiatric problems.

In addition to using scientific approaches in dealing with these problems, practitioners in this field also widely use technological tools, for example, computers, because of their great significance when it comes to understanding the human behavior. Considering these and many others uses of scientific innovations in psychology, with time, the field of psychology is bound to undergo a drastic transformation, both in methodology and practice.

On the other hand, with inclusion of more scientific innovations in psychology, likelihoods of researchers finding better methods of dealing and understanding the human mind and behavior are high, something which is likely to offer psychologists or medics a chance of finding better treatment remedies to psychiatric and behavioral problems.

To deal effectively with such problems, psychologists are likely to combine both therapy and medicine, as both are necessary in dealing with human psychiatric and behavioral problems (Baker, McFall, & Shoham, 2010, p.1).

Although currently the use of scientific concepts is becoming common in psychology, still the society cherishes concepts of popular psychology, because they are easy to understand and implement. Further, although both fields; that is, science of psychology and popular psychology’s main aim is to understand the human nature hence, offer solutions to the ever-changing human problems, their methodologies vary greatly.

For example, to understand the human behavioral and psychiatric patterns, practitioners in the field of science of psychology subject psychological concepts to well monitored scientific investigations. Hence, through application of mathematical concepts and testing of psychological theories using technological tools, practitioners in this field are able to offer remedies to individuals’ psychiatric and behavioral anomalies.

In addition to offering solutions to behavioral and psychiatric anomalies, science of psychology is of great significance when it comes to understanding the functioning of the human brain in relation to individual’s surrounding environments. Such understanding finds wide application in other fields of psychology, for example, industrial psychology hence, offering solutions to organizational problems (Fuchs & Milar, 2002, pp. 2-10).

Unlike science of psychology, which relies on scientific-psychological investigations to understand the human mental life and behavioral patterns hence, offer solutions to many human psychological problems, “pop” psychology uses peoples published ideas in its endeavor to offer solutions to human problems.

Therefore, pop psychology’s main aim is to offer mental strategies that can help individuals enhance their personal psychological well-being, regardless of the scientific basis of such published concepts or strategies. Such a case is contrary in science of psychology; because all concepts of science of psychology are verifiable; hence, have other applications, apart from enhancing an individual’s personality and mental wellbeing (Cordon, 2005, pp. 5-25).

Although these role differences exist between different fields, because of the changing societal trends, all this fields are likely to undergo rapid changes to embrace the ever-emerging and changing societal psychiatric and behavioral patterns.

In the future technological tools are likely to take the center stage when dealing with human psychological anomalies, because they offer a better strategy of understanding the human mind and behavioral patterns. For example, for clinical psychologists to formulate appropriate strategies of solving human mental problems, likelihoods of practitioners in this field fully embracing the virtual reality ideology are high.

In addition, to make psychology a more real subject, psychologists have to embrace concepts of realism and autonomy, as this will provide a way of understanding and offering solutions to patients with varied psychological anomalies (Gaggioli, Mantovani, Castelnuovo, Riva and Wiederhold, 2003, pp. 117-119).

As research studies show, making psychology an autonomous and real field goes hand in hand with the practicality of psychology in meeting the society’s needs; hence, likelihoods of the field becoming a science field. For it to become fully a science field, learning institutions are likely to join both medicinal and psychological concepts in their trainings, as will offer practitioners in this field a mix of skills necessary for understanding their clients better (Baker, McFall, & Shoham, 210, p.1).

In addition to becoming a science field, because currently technology controls almost every of the human practices and with the development of the internet, there are high chances of psychotherapy going online. Hence, considering the fact that most homes have access to the internet, psychological service delivery will improve, for it will provide a convenient and better methodology of service delivery (Suler, 2001, pp. 265-270).

Because of the role played by psychology in understanding the human behavior, innovations and developments in psychology will give me a better chance of understanding others and myself. Through such understanding, I will be able to take control of my health status, through embracing practices that can help me to avoid or cope up with personal stress and other psychological problems.

In addition to understanding personal problems, psychology will give me a chance of understanding others; hence, formulate strategies of dealing, coping, and accepting other people’s behavioral and mental anomalies. On the other hand, inclusion of technological tools in psychology will give me a chance of accessing latest and updated information, necessary for health mental and behavioral growth.

In conclusion, because technology controls almost every human undertaking, the success of any future undertaking in the field of psychology depends on the ability of practitioners in this field to embrace technological innovations. Such tools are necessary for psychologists to succeed in their practices, because they can help to enhance their psychological scientific researches.

Reference List

Baker, T. B., McFall, R.M., & Shoham, V. (2010). Current status and future Prospects of clinical psychology: Toward a scientifically principled approach to mental and health care . Journal of Psychological Science, 9(2), 67-103. Web.

Cordon, A. L. (2005). Popular psychology . Westport: Greenwood Press. Web.

Fuchs, A. H., Milar, K. S. (2002). Psychology as a science . Web.

Gaggioli, M. S., Mantovani, F., Castelnuovo, M. S., Wielderhold, B., Riva, G. (2003). Avatars in clinical psychology: a framework for the clinical use of Virtual humans. Cyber Psychology and Behavior, 6(2), 117-125. Web.

Suler, J. R. (2001). The future of psychotherapy and clinical work. Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 4, 265-270. Web.

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Aspirations of a future psychologist anonymous, "become what you are not yet" - saint augustine. when you daydream, who do you hope to become in the future.

What makes a human tick? The brain, the mind, the personality? Why do we act the way that we do? How do we sense and perceive the world around us?

I am an inquisitive person. A trait I believe to be very important in the field of psychology. I feel a desire to ask these questions and search for solutions. The different perspectives of psychology, like cognitive or psychodynamic, intrigue me because they take such diverse viewpoints on mental illness, social interactions, and learning. Likewise, I am fascinated by the perspectives of everyday people because I have always been fascinated by the concept of putting myself in someone else’s shoes. Everyone hears sound differently, sees color differently, overall people are unique. I have a desire to study Psychology so that I can have a better understanding of myself. Once I know how the individual functions, I can channel that knowledge into understanding others.

The human mind is so complex to me, but the way that people describe it facsinates me even more. From the biological perspective we are merely many chemical reactions working together, where from a psychodynamic perspective we are the product of our upbringing. I personally believe that we are shaped by all of the...

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Future Psychologist - Essay Example

• Subject: Psychology
• Type: Essay
• Level: Ph.D.
• Pages: 6 (1500 words)
• Downloads: 1
• Author: brekkemaximilia

Extract of sample "Future Psychologist"

• A Comparison Between Psychoanalysis And Behaviorism
• life in the future 2050
• Wilhelm Wundt
• Cited: 0 times
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Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

How Thinking About the Future Makes Life More Meaningful

Mindfulness is all the rage these days, and for good reason. Focusing on the moment can improve our well-being , foster compassion , and help our relationships . What about going beyond the present moment? Yes, thinking about the future can trigger anxiety—but a growing body of research suggests that it can also make our lives more meaningful.

Humans aren’t alone in having some ability to consider the future, a process that scientists call “prospection.” After all, your dog gets excited when they see you holding a leash because they anticipate a walk is imminent; your cat may show similar excitement at the sound of a can being opened. There’s even evidence that some animals—like bonobos and ravens —can choose and save tools that they plan to use in the future.

But prospection’s unique benefits to humans extend beyond that of other animals. Not only do we fantasize about our next vacation or decide whether it would be better to take the stairs or the elevator, but our prospection can cast far into the future: We might save for our children’s education or plan for our retirement decades from now. We can make predictions about our own futures based on what we’ve learned about other people’s experiences and even from characters in books and movies. And we can consider multiple directions our futures might take.

It is this remarkable ability to simulate our possible futures that makes prospection special. Just like gold prospecting may literally make you rich, studies suggest that prospecting about your future can enrich your life in at least four ways.

1. Helps us make more prudent decisions

Perhaps one of the most fundamental and important functions of prospection is that it helps us decide how to act: Thinking about what the future likely holds helps us decide what course to take in the here-and-now. Several studies have examined how thinking about the future shapes our decision-making.

Researchers have been particularly interested in the psychology that drives our process of deciding between receiving something now versus receiving something of greater value later. In general, people tend to choose smaller but more immediate rewards over larger rewards that they have to wait for, a phenomenon known as “delay discounting.”

But they don’t always choose short-term rewards over long-run gains. For instance, studies have shown that present-day connection to a possible future event can counteract delay discounting. In one study from the United Kingdom, participants were told either to vividly imagine spending 35 pounds at a pub 180 days from now or to simply estimate what they thought could be purchased for 35 pounds. Participants in the former condition showed an increased willingness to wait for a larger future reward than the participants in the latter condition. In other words, visualizing a specific possible future counteracted the effects of delay discounting.

Another study showed that participants who felt closer to their future selves were more willing to wait for a larger reward than those who anticipated changing; the same was true when they were asked to make decisions on behalf of a fictional character who they knew would go through a life-changing event (like a religious conversion or returning home from war).

While interesting in its own right, this research could have important personal ramifications. If people could be made to feel a more immediate connection to their eventual retirement (and consequent drop in income), they may be more motivated to make prudent decisions.

In fact, one experiment found that manipulating how people think about the time until their retirement—in days rather than years—caused them to plan to start saving for retirement sooner, because the shift in time perspective made the participants feel more connected to their future selves. A 2014 study found that viewing realistic computer-generated images of what they may look like in the future decreased their discounting of future rewards and led them to contribute more to a hypothetical retirement account.

2. Motivates us to achieve our goals (if we do it right)

Prospection has another important application: It motivates us to achieve our goals. But the relationship here is not a simple one. Work by psychologist Gabriele Oettingen and colleagues shows that whether thinking about the future helps us actually reach our goals depends on how we think about the future.

In fact, research has found that positive thinking about our future can backfire . The more people positively fantasize about successfully reaching their goals, the less effort they actually put into realizing them. For example, in one study , the people who fantasized more about successfully losing weight actually lost less weight. Another study found that students who fantasized about their transition into a professional career were less successful in their job search and students who dreamed more about their crush were less likely to start a relationship with their crushee.

Importantly, both of these studies found the opposite effect for having positive expectations (“judging a desired future as likely”). People who expected to lose weight were more likely to actually lose weight; students who expected they would find a job were more likely to actually land one; and students who expected to enter a relationship with their crush were more likely to actually do so.

It makes sense that having positive expectations—optimism, essentially—could increase our ability to achieve our goals, but why might fantasizing about the future actually decrease the chance of achieving what we want? Because, write Oettingen and Klaus Michel Reininger, positive fantasies “lead people to mentally enjoy the desired future in the here and now, and thus curb investment and future success.”

But often our goals come from our fantasies. We want to excel at work, find Mr. or Mrs. Right, or run a marathon. How do we turn these fantasies into behaviors that can help us reach our goals? Research suggests that while optimism is important, it is also helpful to draw a contrast between our fantasies and our current reality, which allows us to see barriers that must be overcome.

For example, one study asked students to mentally contrast their positive fantasies about benefiting from a vocational training program with aspects of the program that could impede their progress. This reflection caused students who expected to do well in the program to commit themselves more, and those who expected to do poorly to commit themselves less—again pointing to the importance of optimistic expectations to success. But the mental contrasting was also key: Positive expectations did not increase commitment in participants who were not assigned to compare their present situation with their future desires.

Results from a later study suggest that the effectiveness of mental contrasting is due to “energization”—meaning that, when people have high expectations for succeeding at something, considering what might impede their goals gives them energy to try to overcome those barriers. In other words, it helps to stress yourself out a little bit.

Mental contrasting, particularly when used in conjunction with “implementation intentions”—making plans to help move past potential barriers—has been shown to help people reach their goals. To describe this process, Oettingen and colleagues use the acronym WOOP

: Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan. In studies, WOOP-type interventions have helped people break a bad snacking habit , get more exercise , and improve academic performance .

Thus, research suggests that thinking about the future can motivate us to take the steps necessary to reach our goals—but only if we take obstacles into account.

3. Improves psychological well-being

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Besides helping us make decisions and reach our goals, there is evidence that prospection may improve psychological health more generally. It might even help people who are struggling with depression and those recovering from trauma.

Indeed, some researchers pose a link between poor prospection and certain psychological disorders such as depression.

“We see faulty prospection as a core underlying process that drives depression,” write psychologists Martin Seligman and Anne Marie Roepke in the book Homo Prospectus . In particular, they note that people with depression imagine possible futures that are more negative than people without depression. Moreover, people with depression tend to overestimate risk and to have more pessimistic beliefs about the future.

That might be why research suggests that targeting negative beliefs about the future can be helpful. Some techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy, for example, involve correcting how people think about the future, and some studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy can improve prospection . There is a 10-week program called “Future Directed Therapy” that induces participants to spend less time dwelling on the past or on current struggles. Instead, they are asked to spend more time thinking about what they want from the future, while developing skills to reach those future goals. A nonrandomized pilot study found that patients with major depressive disorder who completed this intervention showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and quality of life compared to patients who completed standard cognitive behavioral therapy.

For people recovering from trauma, a 2018 study suggests that writing optimistically about the future—an intervention called prospective writing—might encourage post-traumatic growth (that is, positive psychological growth following a traumatic life event). In this study, adults who had recently experienced trauma were randomly assigned to a prospective writing intervention group, a factual writing control group, or a no-writing control. Throughout the study, those in the prospective writing group showed greater improvement in surveys measuring aspects of post-traumatic growth, including relationship quality, meaning in life, life satisfaction, gratitude, and religiosity-spirituality. The other two groups did not show the same progress.

There’s another technique that may help anyone improve their psychological health: “anticipatory savoring.” Taking time to simulate and enjoy a positive experience in advance—whether it be an upcoming meal, visit with friends, or vacation—can allow you to derive benefits for the experience twice. One 2018 study found that taking the opportunity to savor an upcoming experience actually heightened people’s enjoyment both during the unfolding of the experience and when remembering it later.

One way to engage in anticipatory savoring, suggested by Roepke and Seligman in a recent review article , is to modify the “three good things” gratitude exercise. Instead of writing three good things that happened today, you can write three good things you anticipate happening tomorrow and what you can do to make it more likely that those things actually happen. For people who are struggling, they suggest also writing down three methods that could be used to mitigate disappointment if the good things do not actually happen. These could include coping strategies (exercise, reaching out to a friend, etc.) or alternative strategies to making the good thing happen (e.g., if a friend canceled lunch, you could suggest lunch next week).

4. Makes us more kind and generous

How we think about the future doesn’t just influence our own lives. It can also influence how we treat other people.

In particular, picturing yourself helping someone in the future may make you more likely to actually do so. For instance, a 2018 study found that participants reported being more willing to help other people who needed help (such as a person who was locked out of their house or who lost their dog) if they had previously been asked to imagine helping a person in a similar scenario. People who were asked to imagine the helping scenario more vividly—by picturing the event occurring in a familiar location—were even more willing to help. One experiment even found that people who imagined helping actually gave more money to people in need when given the opportunity.

Another study found that when people think more broadly about the future consequences that could come from helping others, they might feel inspired to behave in more prosocial ways. In one experiment, researchers asked people who had volunteered for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts to imagine the meaning and consequences of their trip—or to think concretely about how they would be helping. Those who imagined the consequences of helping predicted that they would have a more rewarding trip than those who thought concretely about their actions. A second experiment replicated this finding: People predicted that giving money to someone they had never met would be more rewarding when they were asked to think about the more abstract meaning and consequences of their actions (e.g., how this decision fit in with their life’s past and future experience) than when they were asked to consider a more concrete perspective.

Could this abstract-versus-concrete effect have real-world consequences? The researchers think so:

We believe that our results suggest an intervention that could be used to prompt and sustain prosocial behavior. To the extent that people avoid or cease prosocial actions because of concrete costs, inviting people to construe those actions abstractly could help them persist at prosocial actions that have enduring personal and social benefits.

While there’s a lot left for researchers to discover about prospection, you don’t need to wait for their published studies. You can try your own experiments right now, to see if prospection helps you to live a more generous, happier, and more meaningful life.

About the Author

Summer Allen

Summer Allen, Ph.D. , is a Research/Writing Fellow with the Greater Good Science Center. A graduate of Carleton College and Brown University, Summer now writes for a variety of publications including weekly blog posts for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is also very active on twitter: follow her , or just reach out and say hello!

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