A Psychological What?
Are some of us born more aggressive than others? How could that fight with your parents have been avoided? Why do some people stop to help a stranger who has dropped their groceries and others keep walking? Why do some people use physical actions to solve a problem whereas others try to rationally talk it out?
Since I have you wondering about these questions, I bet you’re curious as to where I am going with this. Well, when most of us think about Family and Consumer Science careers, we picture a teacher, counselor, or professional speaker. However, have you ever thought about a career in psychology? You may not see the direct relation between FCS and psychology, but they are very much connected.
First off, since psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes, it can be used in almost every career. It is the second most popular college major in the United States. So, why are so many people getting a degree in psychology? Do they find the idea of sitting in an office, notebook in hand, writing down every detail in a person’s life fascinating? Unlikely. This stereotypical form of a psychologist is very rare. In fact, the most popular type of psychologist is a clinical psychologist, who uses his or her skills as a therapist, researcher, educator, or assessment specialist.
The primary focus of FCCLA is family. A social psychologist explores how our behaviors, feelings, and beliefs are influenced by our interaction with others. That being said, if you want to improve and strengthen the function of the family in our society as your career, do not rule out psychology. As a matter of fact, a social worker is even classified as a psychologist. Maybe a career in researching how attitudes, leadership, and prejudice affect family behavior is exactly the type of career that fascinates you.
There is also a developmental psychologist, which studies the growth or development that takes place from birth to death. For example, they may study how birth order or how growing up in a single parent home affects a child from birth until adulthood. One may even try to figure out how much of an impact sending a child to daycare has on them later in life. This is definitely related to Family and Consumer Sciences.
Maybe you don’t want a career working with families. A cognitive psychologist studies thought processes from intelligence, happiness, memory, or decision making. If you want to make an impact on specific people, then a career as a cognitive psychologist could definitely do so. You’re knowledge of why they act the way they do could be exactly the kind of information a patient is looking for.
My point is simple: a psychology career opens up many doors. Although it is not easily apparent to see how majoring in psychology will benefit your long time dream of strengthening families, making people feel better about themselves, or studying how leadership as a teenage affects adult life, it does. I challenge all FCCLA members to look at the numerous fields and subfields of psychology. You’ll find that psychology and Family and Consumer Science careers are extremely closely related.