After studying law, we became interested in studying psychology. Over the past eight years, the number of students enrolled in psychology faculties at ULB, UCLouvain, ULiège and UMONS has increased by 70%. What are the main clichés that surround these studies that interest more and more students?
1. Psychology is only for becoming a psychologist
It’s wrong ! Opportunities and places of activity are many and varied. The Forem site lists 17 possible professions and almost 30 very diverse places of activity such as the police, CPAS, schools or even clinics.
« Often, the term psychologist refers to the fact of being a liberal psychologist, it is simplistic because the choice of professions is actually very wide », assures Marilou, student in a bachelor’s degree in psychological sciences at the ULB.
2. With a degree in psychology, it’s guaranteed unemployment
According to a study by Actiris in 2020, 87% of bachelor’s graduates find a job and 79% after a master’s. However, given the growing number of graduates, the demand is growing.
« I believe that, as in many professions, the beginnings are difficult. But there are possibilities of evolution during the career »,says Baptiste, a master’s student in psychology and education sciences at UCLouvain.
3. Studying psychology is easy, you just need to know how to listen
« I don’t find it particularly easy. There are a lot of very different subjects, you have to be efficient in a lot of areas » having fun Marilou, « I don’t feel like I’m twiddling my thumbs at all. » Indeed, the subjects taught in psychology are diverse and varied. In the baccalaureate, we study the psychological sciences and education, but also the life sciences, the tools necessary for scientific research, the social sciences. And even economics and statistics! It is in the master’s that you choose your specialty.
« Many people think that we do five years of study to learn how to listen and nod when we are spoken to. Our job goes beyond listening. We had lessons on pathologies, types of personalities » , says Chiara, a ULB master’s student in clinical psychology and psychopathology.
4. Young people choose to study psychology because they don’t know what to do
« That’s partly why, in my opinion, there are a lot of us in the first year and then people realize that it’s not that easy or that they just don’t care. » says Alexia Barbier, student in psychology and education sciences at UCLouvain.
« As these are fairly global studies, it’s a good excuse for those who don’t know what to do », thinks Clarisse, a psychology student at UCLouvain. However, all the students questioned agree on the fact that the key to success is to choose these studies and this job out of passion and not out of spite.
5. These are girls-only studies
Indeed, it is a cliché that turns out to have some truth. Women are indeed in the majority in psychology lecture halls. At ULiège, 81.3% of students enrolled in the faculty of psychology are women and 77.8% at UMons. And this is a trend that is also true in the world of work. In 2016, 77% of those exercising were women. But fortunately, it is a trend that is rather downward! Men are increasingly interested in this field of study.
« It is true that there are more girls. But I still know boys in my class and they are doing very well »,said Clara, a classmate of Marilou.
6. You psychoanalyze those around you
« We mainly study cognitive-behavioral theories rather than psychoanalysis. But these are processes that take time and energy, it’s impossible to do that on the basis of a lambda conversation with those around you. In addition to that, we have big biases of interpretation when it comes to our entourage so even if we wanted to, it’s impossible to objectively analyze a member of our close entourage » says Audrey, master’s student in clinical psychology of children, adolescents and families at UCLouvain.
« It is the lack of knowledge of our profession that leads to this kind of cliché » Chiara said.
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