How to Study Psychology To Avoid Going Crazy!

In the latest addition to our “How to Study…” blog series, we outline various study techniques you can apply to your quest to understand Psychology. Take a look at out previous articles in this series discussing how to study Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, History and Law.

Psychology is one of the most sought after university courses. However, after the first few weeks of class, many students lose that initial excitement and decide to abandon the race. Today we share some study techniques that have helped many psychologists and that can help you learn more efficiently and keep motivated.

These techniques are not only useful for psychology students at university but also for students who are studying degrees which have aspects of psychology such as Marketing, Education and Health courses.

How to Study Psychology: 5 Study Techniques

1. Avoid “Patient Syndrome“

By this we mean that you should NOT try to identify with symptoms you read or try to diagnose your friends and family. Before entering class or studying, leave your troubles aside. Remember, you chose to study psychology, you didn’t choose to be psycho-analysed.

Attempting to solve personal and social problems is by far one of the biggest mistakes made by many psychology students.

2. Read

Psychology includes numerous readings and case studies so you need to be comfortable reading comprehensive pieces on a regular basis. Remember that reading, like any other skill, improves with practice.

3. Use Flashcards

Admit it! Psychology includes a lot of terms that seem impossible to memorise. Even the names of some disorders can cause a serious loss of memory! Fortunately, Flashcards are a great help for storing key terms and definitions which will help you improve your memory.

4. Create a Study Group

Psychology is a social field so it is highly recommended to study in groups. This will allow you to begin discussions with peers and teachers and share study resources which help to maintain a high level of motivation. In addition, study groups will prevent you from wasting time trying to identify with the traits you read in the study material.

5. Measure Your Progress

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Set reminders to frequently review, summarise and measure your progress at intervals. A good alternative to this are tests that can give you a rough idea of ​​the amount of material you have assimilated. Following this strategy will not only help you understand the study material but you will also be able to retain and recall what you have learned better.

 

If you want tips on how to study other subjects, check out some of our most popular items on how to study Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, History and Law.