A choice you won't mind

Nowadays psychologists play not only a corrective role but also a supportive one as counsellors in fields ranging from fitness and sports to education, writes Sunit Dhawan

THE discipline of psychology — said to be as old as human civilisation itself - has become all the more relevant today. The modern era might have made our life convenient, but it has also brought cut-throat competition and intense consumerism.

Life has become much faster, demanding and stressful. Consequently, more and more people have become susceptible to anxiety, depression, hypertension, maladjustment and other behavioural disorders.

The role of psychologists, who have always endeavoured to unfold and modify various aspects of human behaviour, has become even more pronounced in the given circumstances.

With the changing nature of human problems and challenges before society, the demand for trained applied psychologists is on the rise. Thus, psychology has rightly been termed as the ‘science of the 21st century’.

While psychology is the science of behaviour, applied psychology implements the psychological methods and strategies to effectively modify our behaviour for betterment.

Contrary to the popular notion, psychology does not necessarily deal only with abnormal behaviour. Timely psychological counselling and advice enable us to exploit our full physical and mental potential. It also helps enhance our performance by aiding in self-management and personality growth.

An increasing number of reputed hospitals are now hiring trained psychologists to help the patients suffering from life-threatening illnesses endure intense pain, which even the strongest medicines fail to assuage. Medical research has proven that psychotherapy, including proper motivation, confidence-boosting and positive thinking, induces the secretion of endogenous opoids, also called natural painkillers. Similarly, hypnotherapy has proved successful in curing burn victims.

The subject has a number of branches, including Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Neuro Psychology, Health Psychology, Sports Psychology, Consumer Psychology, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Child Psychology, Para Psychology and so on.

The students aspiring to make psychology their career option are required to have a keenness to understand human behaviour. In addition, a will to serve humanity by helping others is also a desirable quality for wannabe psychologists. Admission to the courses is usually provided on the basis of merit in the qualifying exams, though some institutions have entrance tests.

A number of schools and colleges and almost all universities offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in psychology and applied psychology. The prominent among these are Panjab University, Chandigarh, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University and Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi, Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, Kurukshetra University, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjabi University, Patiala, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and so on.

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, and the Central Institute of Psychology, Ranchi, also offer specialised programmes in the discipline.

After acquiring a professional degree in psychology, one stands a fair chance to get a decent placement in a clinical set-up or hospital, educational institutions, industrial houses, the defence sector, Forensic Departments or research wings of organisations working in the field.

The trained professionals can also get absorbed in WHO projects on AIDS or TB control or join some NGO working in health, environment, rehabilitation or other such areas. They can also start an independent practice , or work as career counsellors, placement advisors or recruitment consultants.

Those holding postgraduate degrees in the discipline may go in for research in the emerging areas of their choice. There is ample scope for doctoral as well as post-doctoral research in the subject in the country and abroad.

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‘Psychology is science of future’

Psychologists are in demand not only to treat mental disorders but also in the role of counsellors and consultants, says Dr Jyotsana, in charge of the Department of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar. Excerpts from an interview:

It plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and therapeutic cure of various mental diseases and personality disorders. Research has found that many physical disorders like ulcers, asthma, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and skin problems originate from the brain. Hence, psychological methods are being increasingly used independently or along with medication for treating psychiatric and psychosomatic illnesses.

Psychological therapies are very effective in identifying the root cause of the disorder and removing it through specific therapies. These therapies are highly beneficial as they target the cause of the disease, instead of going in for symptomatic treatment. Moreover, unlike medicines, they don’t have any side-effects on the body.

That is due to lack of awareness on part of the people. Shortage of trained psychologists is another factor. But gradually, people are becoming aware of the immense benefits of the discipline.

It is a misconception that psychological procedures are meant only for the abnormal. It is a beneficial tool in helping one exploit one’s physical as well as mental capabilities to the fullest. Given the high levels of stress and competitiveness in today’s life, psychological counselling is a must for almost everybody.