Blog 1: Cali Ruth Hays

While reading the first three chapters of The Psychology Major's Companion I suddenly realized that I can relate to a large amount of topics that the author discussed. In this post, my main focus is the fact that so many people think psychology is not a "good" major and it won't get me anywhere in life. Too many times, I have had people tell me that I am just taking the easy way out and they don't understand my plans for the future. First of all, psychology is not an easy major by any means. People assume it is simply just common sense and knowledge we already know. However, psychology is a major based off of statistics, research, and science. The American Psychological Association discusses the benefits of different paths you can take with psychology. It also explains how psychological science creates new and better ways for people to exist or thrive in this world. Psychology is broad and encompasses a more detailed type of studying that most people do not recognize. http://www.apa.org/action/science/index.aspx So many people think the only job you can get with a psychology degree is a psychologist or therapist. This is not true. There are plenty of different options and areas to explore for a career with a psychology degree. Personally, I am in this major because GCSU does not have the major I need. My goal is to be a child life specialist and the degree I need is child life and family development. Psychology is the major that will fulfill the courses and qualifications I need in order to become that. I have also been told that majoring in psychology will not put me on the right path to make a lot of money. I am a firm believer that you should spend your life doing what you love and makes you happy, no matter how much money you make during the process. Psychology will be able to give me a job that I enjoy and I will be able to support myself with the money I make. I don't need extravagant luxuries to make me happy in this lifetime. Amie M. Gordon, who has a Ph.D in Social- Personality Psychology, talks about how our experiences give us more happiness than material things. Recalling memories of happy moments gives people much more happiness than recalling something they just bought. Just think about it, wouldn't you find much more happiness in going to the beach rather than buying a pair of shoes? The beach brings along with it memories and experiences you can actually remember. I guarantee you won't even remember buying the shoes a month down the road. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/between-you-and-me/201712/can-money-buy-you-happiness


Gordon, Amie M. “Can Money Buy You Happiness?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 14 Dec. 2017, www.psychologytoday.com/blog/between-you-and-me/201712/can-money-buy-you-happiness.

“The Go-To Science .” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/action/science/index.aspx.