While I was looking into my college paths, I was interested in psychology. It looked like a good option
to help people, I’ve met various psychologists throughout my life since I was 9 — so I thought that
maybe I could be like one of the good psychologists that I worked with.
However, while trying to understand the scope of what it meant to be a psychologist, there were a lot of
things that seemed overwhelming for me. I went to ask people around me about what they thought about
psychologists, and well… It was ugly! Some started to talk about psychology as if it's supposed to read
minds, manipulate people and even people that claimed it was easy because there was no mathematics
involved.
It was one of the fields that I thought were a good “calling” for me, but after doing some research and
seeing what they did, the types of cases they come across and seeing some lectures, I decided that it
was not something for me.
There’s other things that I’ve left out of this specific page, such as but not limited to bad
therapists, people who pretend to be therapist but don’t have license, those that might have license but
use outdated practices (like conversion therapy) - but I’m only going to focus on a few notes here. This
is an example of some common topics that people misunderstand about what real psychology is, if you
were/are interested in psychology, this is what you might come across. I've also added some questions
that I think you should ask yourself before moving on as well.
Claims
- “Psychology lets you read people.”
- “It’s useful for manipulating others.”
- “There’s no math, so it’s easier.”
- “You’ll understand everyone—including yourself.”
Mind-Reading vs. Statistics & Probability
The Myth
You’ll walk into a room and instantly know someone’s deepest trauma because they crossed their arms or blinked twice.
The Reality
Psychologists don't read minds; they read trends. You study the likelihood of a behavior occurring within a specific population. Instead of "knowing" what one person thinks, you calculate the probability that a stimulus will trigger a specific response based on a sample size.
"Dark Psychology" vs. Ethics & Consent
The Myth
You’ll learn secret "dark" techniques to influence, manipulate, or control others' decisions without them knowing.
The Reality
Real psychology is governed by strict Institutional Review Boards (IRB). The "Dark Triad" (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy) is a subject of study, not a manual for behavior.
The Demand
You spend weeks learning about the Belmont Report and the ethical failures of the past (like the Milgram or Stanford Prison experiments).
Pseudoscience vs. Peer-Reviewed Research
The Myth
Psychology is just "common sense" or based on "vibes" and outdated theories like Freud’s dream analysis or personality types (such as MBTI)
The Reality
If it isn't falsifiable and replicable, it isn't modern psychology. The field relies on the scientific method to weed out anecdotal evidence.
The Demand
You will spend hours in "Journal Clubs" tearing apart papers to find flaws in their methodology. You’ll learn that most "viral" psychology facts from social media are actually based on small, non-representative samples that failed to replicate.
"No Math" vs. Data Analysis & Experimental Design
The Myth
People often choose psychology because they want to avoid "hard sciences" like physics or calculus.
The Reality
Psychology is essentially applied statistics. You can’t prove a theory without the math to back it up.
The Demand
You have to master software like SPSS or R. You'll deal with:
- Null Hypothesis Significance Testing (NHST): Determining if your results happened by chance.
- Effect Size: Calculating the actual strength of a relationship (r or Cohen's d).
- Error Margins: Accounting for the "noise" in human behavior.
Question
If the parts you’re excited about aren’t actually central to the field, what are you really signing up for?
Why I think these misconceptions are so attractive
Desire for control over others
Fear of math and “hard” sciences
Romanticization of intelligence and insight
Identity-building (“I’m the one who understands people”)
Media distortion (TV shows, TikTok, pop psych)
Question
Are you drawn to the subject—or to the identity it promises?
The cost of choosing a career for the wrong reasons
Burnout when the reality doesn’t match the fantasy
Dropping out or switching majors late
Feeling “trapped” because of sunk cost
Resentment toward the field itself
Ethical harm when people misuse partial knowledge
Question
What happens when curiosity fades and only the work remains?
Recommended videos
The Ugly Side of Psychology Degrees... by TheOxfordPsych
Hard questions to ask yourself before studying psychology, by Psychology with Dr. Ana
explaining EVERYTHING psychologists do 🧠💬📓✏️ by the psych diaries
❌ You SHOULD NOT Become a Psychologist | 10 reasons WHY, by the psych diaries
WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GRAD SCHOOL TO BECOME A THERAPIST || Clinical Mental Health Counseling, by Allyssa Powers
Why You SHOULDN'T Do a PhD! | Clinical Psychology, by JoJo Douglas
What Psychology Grad School is Really Like, by Private Practice Skills
Clinical Psychology PhD Program: What to Expect - Year 1 through 5, by Grad Life Grind | Dr. Aeriell Armas
Psychology is not the issue
Psychology is rigorous, ethical, and powerful
It requires humility, not dominance
It’s more about uncertainty than certainty
It often raises more questions than answers
Ask yourself:
Do you enjoy the process, not just the outcome?
Are you okay being wrong—often?
Do you like learning things that don’t feel intuitive?
Would you study this even if it weren’t “cool”?
Can you tolerate the parts people don’t post online?
Question
Are you choosing a career—or chasing a story about yourself?