The Importance of Psychology on Human Understanding by Elaina

The Importance of Psychology on Human Understanding by Elaina - November 2021 Scholarship Essay

While classes like Math, Science, English, and History are important subjects to a well-rounded education, there is one class that I believe is often overlooked. This class is psychology. I know this may sound like an unimportant class because it is viewed as simply another elective class in most educational facilities, but this class has sparked a passion inside of me for the understanding of other cultures, lifestyles, and belief systems and I believe it should be given more attention and emphasis in a school setting.
This course teaches students not only how the brain works and basic human behavior, but WHY humans behave the way they do and what causes us to think in certain ways. For example, through studying human behavior in my psychology class I have learned about confirmation bias which describes how we as humans search for information that "confirms" or agrees with our own beliefs and opinions. This is so relevant in today's world as people are so divided whether over political disagreements or even trivial Facebook arguments. Most people will only search for information that confirms their own opinions because this is what we are wired to do. Knowing why our peers act or make the decisions that they do from a psychological perspective is a key piece in beginning to bring understanding to our communities today.
I believe that learning about psychology is also a fantastic way to spread awareness about mental health. A major part of psychology is abnormal psychology in which students study different mental health disorders such as Depression, Anxiety, Eating Disorders, etc. I think there are so many high school students struggling with depression and anxiety, and so many students that don't understand how these mental disorders truly affect their peers and therefore don't know what they can do as a friend to help. With an emphasis on psychology in schools, students would be given a greater opportunity for an understanding not only of the mental disorders plaguing their generation but also the coping mechanisms and tools to help themselves and their friends take care of their mental health. A basic understanding of psychology also includes learning about the tips and tricks to managing stress as they navigate high school and the various struggles in the world around them that can have a major effect on mental health.
In conclusion, Psychology is a class that I believe can aid students in creating a better understanding of their peers including those who hold different beliefs than their own. Learning about human psychology can also prepare students for managing stress and understanding mental health which I believe can bring about a basic understanding of other humans in general and allow an opportunity for growth in acceptance in our generation.