When people converse about psychology, their main point of the conversation focuses on the mind, behavior, disorders and the stigma surrounding it. However, the term ‘Psychology’ is an umbrella, under which there are a variety of topics that focus on aspects that occur in the environment around people as well as within them. Psychologists use scientific research to better understand how people learn, interpret events and make decisions. They then translate that knowledge into techniques to help people make smarter choices in their daily lives. Based on a deep knowledge of how lifestyles are affected by factors related to biology, mental processes, and social relationships and interactions, psychologists identify and help people overcome the obstacles that inhibit them from making better choices, from exercising more or working more efficiently to using technology safely.

As research has explored various avenues, some of the most popular fields of Psychology are

  • Clinical psychology relates to psychologists directly providing comprehensive healthcare to clients who are suffering from mental illness while patients who are suffering through stressful moments in life could be advised to see a counseling psychologist.
  • Counseling psychologists treat clients who are experiencing an emotional strain caused by social or physical factors.
  • Industrial-Organizational Psychology, also known as I/O psychology, serves to study how human behavior impacts industry and organizations. I/O psychologists evaluate a work situation and develop a plan for the optimal performance and work-life balance (APA, 2008).
  • Social psychology strives to understand individual behaviors and personalities within a social context, helping in dealing with conformity, attitudes and social decision making (APA, 2014).

Other fields include: forensic psychology, criminal psychology, neuropsychology, developmental psychology, child psychology etc.

In India, many students first learn about psychology in Grade 11 or 12. They get introduced to topics like memory, learning, personality, and intelligence. Many students find it interesting, but not everyone chooses it as a career because families still often prefer paths such as medicine, engineering, or business. Still, psychology is becoming more popular, especially with young people who want to better understand emotions, thoughts, and relationships. Movies and TV shows also make therapy seem cool and helpful, which increases interest.

Students who decide to study psychology must initially complete their under graduation in psychology. Here, the students get to choose between the B.A. and the B.Sc degrees. While there are two options presented, both the B.A. and the B.Sc degrees do not have major differences between them.. The courses involve plenty of concentration and practical work such as field exposure, and experimental learning to understand the theoretical aspect of what is covered. This helps them move from just reading books to doing real-life work. But sometimes, getting hands-on experience is hard because internships can be limited or expensive, which makes things more difficult for students.

A postgraduate degree deepens theoretical understanding and enhances practical skills through supervised internships, thesis writing, and applied research. This knowledge is further honed and applied by upcoming psychologists in their future practices. A postgraduate degree is considered absolutely crucial in the field of Psychology and is required to help people move into their desired specializations. Following this, there are diploma courses for students who cannot do a full degree post their master’s degree but still want to work in psychology. These include diplomas in clinical psychology, rehabilitation psychology, and counseling.

Specifically for the field of clinical psychology, in order to legally be a registered clinical psychologist, students had to complete a degree called the M.Phil to become a licensed clinical psychologist as per the requirements of the rehabilitation council of India, but this is now being replaced with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Programme. The aim of this programme is to prepare trained Clinical Psychologists to function as an independent clinician, competent to deliver mental, physical and rehabilitative healthcare services, possibly becoming a cornerstone in the Indian Psychology chapter as it is part of the NCAHP Act of 2021, that aims to standardize the education and services of healthcare professionals. It is important to note that this has not been completed implemented yet and is still in progress. Until then, the M.Phil in clinical psychology programme will continue in the colleges approved by the RCI.

In order to ensure that this journey into the field of Psychology is smooth for the upcoming generations, the National Education Policy (NEP) aims to create a more uniform, flexible system that allows for students to gain a more holistic educational experience, with the key highlights of the policy being

  • Introduction of credit based system for greater flexibility
  • Provision of multiple entry/exit
  • Transportability of the credits between programs
  • A uniform course code with regular updating each course with recent advances in the area
  • Skill-based learning through hands-on practice and real-world application
  • Introducing a set of measure for objective evaluation and grading of academic and hands-on training components uniformly as well as a system of regular feedback of faculty performance by trainees

The journey into psychology in India is far from linear as it is dotted with hesitation, frustration, learnings, rediscovery, and purpose. There are hurdles that often prevent an individual from achieving an ideal and holistic learning of the field and its multiple facets. However, as the nation moves towards a more progressive thought process, the key objective is to allow students to be able to guide themselves towards their goals and ensuring that they are able to create an environment that allows for positive communication regarding not only mental health but all the other various fields that are impacted by psychology seen through human behavior, attitudes and reactions. There are various governmental bodies that are playing an active role in ensuring a proper system is implemented for students and healthcare professionals to create a more standardized, effective way of imparting the knowledge and skills required in the field. However, it is always easier said than done. In India, there are still minimal avenues towards gaining the required knowledge due to the stigma, lack of funding and a callous attitude from the higher authorities. For aspiring psychologists, this will never be enough as the field of psychology is ever growing and expanding, creating new topics to learn and dive into.