Psychology is the systematic study of mental life, behaviour and relationships. It asks how we develop over our lifetime and how we differ from one another.

It investigates how we behave in groups such as families or work teams. It studies how the brain and nervous system subserve psychological functioning and how this functioning may be affected by injury to the brain or by the use of drugs. Psychology is taught in UCD as an academic subject, i.e. you will be introduced to the main subject areas that comprise the academic discipline of psychology. You will be taught about the methods of investigation that are used in each of these areas and the major theories that have been proposed.

Psychology is a diverse subject and people study it for many reasons. Some wish to use psychological knowledge to train and help people. Others have a primarily theoretical interest and are curious to know how children acquire mathematical concepts or how brain injury may affect speech. Others again are interested in the psychology of how people behave in groups, or in how cultures shape the psychology of individuals.

To practise as a psychologist in the health services, in work organisations or in a university requires the completion of a postgraduate degree. This will involve between two and six years of further study or supervised experience.