Dunn & Halonen
The Psychology
Major’s Companion
Chapter 3: Should You Major
In Psychology?
Destiny is a name often given in retrospect to choices that had dramatic consequences.
~J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter author
Chapter Objectives
Develop a rationale for majoring in psychology.
Determine if your personality is a good fit for psychology.
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
Envision a future in psychology based on their preferences and values.
Defend the choice of a psychology major from detractors.
Describe side benefits associated with majoring in psychology.
Derive the story that explains the personal appeal of the major.
Recognize that some people who want to study psychology may not be well suited to the major.
Reflecting on Your Choice of Major
Psychology is a traditional liberal arts major.
Provides students with general knowledge rather than specific technical knowledge
Is similar to literature, math, history, philosophy, and other liberal arts subjects
Emphasizes critical thinking, reading, and writing, skills applicable to various settings
Measuring Up: Knowing Yourself (1 of 3)
What are your best features or skills?
Do you like interacting one on one or in groups?
What activities do you enjoy? Why?
Do you have activities you do when not studying or working?
Measuring Up: Knowing Yourself (2 of 3)
What would your perfect environment be?
Do you deal well with conflict?
What stresses you?
Do you prefer to work on small details or the “big picture”?
How do you define success?
Measuring Up: Knowing Yourself (3 of 3)
What is your life’s purpose?
What would you like to be known or remembered for?
What would you change to make the world a better place?
What is the one word you use to describe yourself?
Holland’s Trait Model of Career Choice
The model links personality qualities (e.g., interests, skills) to work settings.
People express their personalities, especially interests and values, in the work they choose.
Experiencing a good fit between personality and work setting leads to fulfillment and success.
Holland’s Trait Model: Six Personal Orientations
Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
Conventional
Holland’s Six Work Environments
Realistic – involve concrete physical tasks
Investigative – labs, scientific groups or teams
Artistic – performing or studio spaces, libraries
Social – medical, educational, religious settings
Enterprising – company, court, sale settings
Conventional – offices, banks, businesses
Know Your Motives (Meaning Versus Money)
Money does not buy happiness.
Happiness is not increased once annual income exceeds $75,000 per year.
Increased income leads to less leisure time and more responsibility.
Many majors work to find meaning—a sense of direction in life—rather than for money.
How Do You View Work?
Job
Career
Calling
Jobholders
Achieve a source of income to support life outside of work
Derive little satisfaction from what they do
Tend not to recommend their work to others
Live for the weekend, holidays, vacation, and retirement
Careerists
Succeed in one position in order to move to the next one
Can have careers that can be interesting and challenging—or not
Are usually competitive, so they are always looking for the next move
Those with a Calling
See work as integral to a person’s life as it provides satisfaction, pleasure, identity
Love what they do and socialize with peers who do the same thing
Experience work as play—a source of meaning and purpose
Report feeling more satisfied than people with jobs or careers
Side Benefits of Majoring in Psychology (1 of 2)
Strengthens self-regulation abilities
Enhances leadership
Improves communication skills
Deepens empathy and understanding
Improves quality of decisions
Side Benefits of Majoring in Psychology (2 of 2)
Sharpens memory skills, improving grades
Strengthens financial management strategies
Promotes healthy behavior
What If Psychology Isn’t for You? (1 of 5)
Bad Psychology Major
Candidates
THE CLINICAL-OR-BUST MAJOR
They expect that all their courses will be dealing with therapeutic issues and are destined to be disappointed.
What If Psychology Isn’t for You? (2 of 5)
Bad Psychology Major
Candidates
THE ANTI-SCIENCE MAJOR
They dislike the basic science processes involved in research and interpreting behavior. They don’t like measurement and don’t see the need for statistics.
What If Psychology Isn’t for You? (3 of 5)
Bad Psychology Major
Candidates
THE AVOIDANT READER MAJOR
They don’t like reading expert opinion in research that helps to explain behavior and experience serious disadvantages in later courses.
What If Psychology Isn’t for You? (4 of 5)
Bad Psychology Major
Candidates
THE REFUGE MAJOR
They are not successful in other majors and may get encouragement to try psychology as an easy pathway to the degree.
What If Psychology Isn’t for You? (5 of 5)
Bad Psychology Major
Candidates
THE DRIFTWOOD MAJOR
They may enjoy their studies but don’t see the major as a pathway to any plan of significance for the future. They tend to be lackluster in their assignments.
When Psychology Isn’t for You
If the requirements of the major feel more like work, you might honorably consider a different direction.
If you want to be in the helping professions, consider education, social work, or nursing.
Conclusions
Psychology is a good choice as a major for those with good intentions, reasonable energy, and good self-discipline.
Choose psychology for the right reasons.
Discussion Questions
What goals and values underlie your choice of psychology?
What will you say to those who might try to dissuade you from majoring in psychology?
What will you do if psychology is not a good fit?
What are some reasons that psychology would be a good choice for you?
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