• Question: is it hard being a phycologist?(:

    Asked by anon-288225 to Marjorie on 15 Mar 2021.
    • Photo: Marjorie Pichon

      Marjorie Pichon answered on 15 Mar 2021:

      Hi there, I think that this is a hard question because what is hard for one person, another person may find easy, and vice versa. Yes, I sometimes find it hard being a psychologist, but I also think it suits my skillset well. When thinking about what kind of job you want to have I think it is important that you reflect on what you are good at, what you aren’t so good at, what kinds of things make you happy (for example, do you love talking to people? Or would you rather be reading a book). Answers to these kinds of questions will help you figure out what you are best suited for. I love learning about people, so no matter how hard psychology gets I am willing to put in the work!

Comments

  • Photo: Dennis

    Dennis commented on :

    I’m not a practising psychologist. Instead, here’s the sort of psychology that I do (which I’m not even sure makes me a psychologist): I run an online psychology magazine, I’m a psychology YouTuber, and I’m doing a PhD in clinical psychology (doing research to improve resilience among adolescents).

    Are these hard? I wouldn’t say so. They’re time-consuming – definitely! But I enjoy the variety within my line of work(s); I just wish I can spend more time doing them.

    Psychology (just like many sciences) requires intense commitment of time, energy, focus, and the ability to learn and retain a great deal of information – maybe that’s what makes it hard.

  • laraquartel commented on :

    Hi Skye,

    I wanted to add it can be both really hard and really amazing in equal measures.
    It can be hard for a number of reasons. Personal reasons include being stressed, long hours and feeling lonely in being a psychology researcher as there is only me and my supervisor do this project!
    I also get affected by reading and hearing about young people’s mental health, as it is both hard to hear for obvious reasons, but also because I too as a young person had mental health issues, so sometimes their experiences can resonate with me, which can be hard.
    But.. for every hard day, there are two days where I love my job! I get to travel the country (pre-covid!) meeting young people and doing pioneering research. It is totally worth it.
    I like to think if something is hard, it means you are doing it right (probably).