Think of major subject of study that is only 125 years young and is taking the world by storm! This is how one can probably describe psychology. Psychology is a subject of study that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Psychology is a science that deals with human behavior as well as non humans – animals. Its study finds its roots in biology and touches on many areas in sociology, trying to seek a relationship between the brain functions and the behavior or the relationship between the environment and the behavior generators. There are many areas in which one can specialize since the subject is so vast and nowadays, more and more areas of life need the application of psychology.
The importance of the psychology and why one is secure by building a career in the subject can be seen from the fact that since 1960, there has been a big increase in the students who pursue psychology and have become a part of the competition on jobs that are psychology related. To be precise, the number of students opting for a masters in psychology has gone up 6 folds, a trend that was not observed earlier. It has also been observed that more than two thirds of the students graduating with masters in psychology get jobs in fields which are outside psychology and only about a third are employed in jobs which are directly related to psychology. A large number of those employed after graduating with masters in psychology work on data collection and analysis in various firms and institutions, both in the government circles and the private sector.
When we look at the trend of job projections and growth the area of psychology, there has been a great percentage increase in demand for people with psychology degrees. According to a survey conducted in 2001 by APA Center for Psychology Workforce Analysis and Research (CPWAR), 73% of the people who graduated with degrees in psychology were able to be employed in the areas they first chose to work in, and 75% were able to get jobs within 3 months of graduation. The trend has gone up since then and there are many more areas where psychology gradates are much needed. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for psychology-based jobs will keep on increasing at a high rate in the next decade.
One can build a career in the subfields of psychology. For example, one can take on Evolutionary psychology where you can study how human thought, feeling, and behavior are affected by evolutionary aspects like mutation, selective fitness and adaptation. You can also study Clinical Psychology where to will get knowledge to be able to deal with emotional and behavioral disorders. You can also go for Cognitive and perceptual psychology, Developmental psychology, Educational psychology and many other subfields.
The computer revolution scripted by the emergence of internet and personal computer as household items in the developed world has altered the way people approach the concept of education. The old methods of education, particularly, that of distant education, are changing to remodel themselves in the changing world driven by computer and internet. For obtaining a degree through online education, one does not need to go to the classroom in an educational institution at a specified time to attend the class by the teacher. Now, one can sit at the comfort of one’s home or at any other place that is convenient at any time one wishes to attend the class and hear the lecture. Only thing is that one should have a computer and internet connection to have access to the online lecture and other study materials. Through a simple search in Google, one can find a number of websites that offer online college degrees on various topics. Then there are websites specifically set up to compile the information about colleges that offer online courses from which one can get graduation certificate. Also, many community colleges and junior colleges provide online associate degrees on a variety of subjects.
The advantages such online learning facility offers are many. Other than the convenience factor, one can save time and energy needed for commuting from the residence to the college. This facility is most useful for people who engage in some other activity like a full time job or a business. Also, online courses have an international flavor and naturally will offer more courses than what a local college can possibly provide. Another advantageous thing is that most of these courses are customized; that is one can set one’s own pace for studying a particular course depending upon the availability of time. In spite of all these advantages, one should do a detailed research to find the right college for obtaining a college degree through online. It is because in internet fraudulent activities coexist with genuine ones, and sometimes even the experienced people find hard to distinguish between the two. If the college has a reputation as a traditionally good college, then chances are that the online course provided by that college will be better. Also, the graduate certificate provided by such colleges or universities tend to have more value for potential employment opportunities.
Some of the popular universities in the United States that provide online degree courses include The New England College, Norwich University, Harding University, Jones-International University, Regis University, University of Phoenix Online, Salem International University, Western Governors University, Ohio University, City University of Seattle, Kaplan University Online, Central Michigan University Online, Iowa Central College, and Northeastern University College of Business Administration. Also, Baker College Online, Berkeley College, Ellis College, and Florida Metropolitan University are some of the prominent colleges and universities that provide associate degrees online. But ideally, one should seek the help of friends or other known persons who have experience in online education to find the right college to study a particular course online.
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28
Addictions are most commonly associated with drug and alcohol addiction. The truth is millions of people suffer from all kinds of addictions. Common addictions are to alcohol, controlled substances and prescription medicines. Additions you might not think are addictions are related to compulsive behaviors like gambling, shopping, food, the internet.
An addiction of any type is readily recognized by the fact that “it is not a matter of choice.” Individuals who are addicts do not have the ability to “decide” to stop abusing, for example, alcohol or a certain drug, or even the behaviors of gambling or shopping. Addictions affect the user, their family and friends.
What is an addiction? How does an addiction begin? When does the pattern of behavior become an addiction? Some individuals may be able to use a substance or engage in a behavior periodically over a period of years without becoming “addicted.” Other individuals are not capable of stopping and do become addicted.
Are addictions only in certain social, educational or ethnic groups? Absolutely not! There is no such thing as a typical addict.
The causes of addiction have been studied for several years. Addiction is caused by the emotion the substance or behavior brings about in the user. The body and mind become dependent on that feeling and seeks to maintain it.
There are addiction risk factors that make some people more likely than others to become addicts. Studies show that sometimes addictions can be hereditary. The child of an alcoholic may not grow up to be an alcoholic; however, they may become addicted to gambling or some other type of compulsive behavior as an adult.
Besides hereditary, individuals who grow up in families with abuse, neglect and who are impoverished are more likely to become addicts.
For most addicts, it can be extremely difficult to recognize that what they have associated as simply a habit is actually an addiction. While every individual is different there are some symptoms that are prevalent among most addicts and addictions:
Symptom # 1
Unable to meet responsibilities at home, school or office.
Symptom # 2
Continues to use substances or engage in behavior even when it is dangerous.
Symptom # 3
The need increases to engage in behavior or use more of a substance to achieve the same effect or feeling.
Symptom # 4
Has tried but failed to stop using the substance or end the behavior.
Symptom # 5
Continues to engage in the behavior or use the substances even when they are aware of the dangers.
Answering yes to three or more of the above symptoms during a 12 month period may show that you or a loved one has an addiction. The first step to treating an addiction is recognizing that it exists.
There is no cure for an addiction. Treatment and counseling can help an addict to learn how to control their behavior, withstand impulses and recognize the presence of a problem, but an addict is never cured. Treating an addiction can take years and requires ongoing support from friends, families and support groups.
A 12 step program can be particularly beneficial in treating an addiction. One of the most well known 12 step programs is AA, also known as Alcoholics Anonymous. There are similar programs for all types of addictions.
Living with an addiction requires a daily commitment and there is always the possibility of relapsing. An addict that has been “clean” for even 20 years can succumb to temptation just as they did decades before.
There are several treatment programs and centers that can help with the numerous types of addictions that are prevalent today. Many of them are anonymous. Support groups are also available to help family and friends who experience the effects of an addiction in a loved one.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.
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