We can trace the origins of Psychology back to the 17th century when it was deemed to overlap with Philosophy. The French philosopher Rene Descartes introduced the idea of dualism, which asserted that the mind and body were two entities that interact to form the human experience. As time passed, Psychology emerged as a separate discipline with the genius of Wilhelm Wundt. In the 1800s, an estimated 17,000 students attended Wundt’s psychology lectures, and hundreds more pursued degrees in psychology and studied in his psychology lab. In 2017, according to the U.S. Department of Education, Psychology was the fourth most popular individual major overall, behind the business, health professions and related programs, social sciences and history.
Since 2020 we have heard people talk about fear, anxiety, loneliness, burnout, and chaos – experiences which have changed humans all over the world, in more ways than we can imagine. The pandemic paved the pathway for the popularity of psychology by forcing people to introspect. The mental health crisis deepened and exposed itself through the pandemic. Psychotherapy became a valuable part of the response to the COVID-19 crisis. Psychotherapists explored the psychological complications of social isolation, job loss, fears of contagion, and grief (Swartz,2020). Mental Health professionals remained high in demand as the virus multiplied mental and physical health problems for the youth, adults and the elderly. The uncertain times which were thrusted upon all of us aided in the decrease of the stigma surrounding mental health. Conversations were sparked throughout the globe regarding the importance of keeping the mind healthy.
Another way in which the pandemic helped increase the popularity of Psychology was the rise in the development of mental health apps. These apps not only accelerated the spreading of awareness regarding mental health but also created an outlet to help individuals find ways to help themselves, experience the feeling of belonging within a virtual community and realise when they needed to go to therapy.
‘What’s Up?’ ‘Talkspace’ ‘Evolve’ ‘PinkyMind’ ‘Now&Me’ are a few such popular apps.
As this subject studies something as dynamic as the human mind and behaviour it is always evolving. There are several ways to learn and explore this discipline. A majority of practising therapists see social media as a fruitful tool for spreading awareness regarding concepts of psychology, availability of treatment options, ways to make a career in Psychology, and how to help oneself through tough times. A more structured way is to study Psychology as a subject through formal education and last but not least through a plethora of movies and books, one can expand their knowledge regarding Psychology. You may want to deep dive into some mental health books and movies that aid you to boost mental health.
It is imperative to highlight the importance of mental health services as it became a pillar of support and facilitated healthy minds through the despair of the pandemic. The increased popularity of Psychology and its recognition as a positive force of improvement can be considered one of the most rewarding consequences of the pandemic. As you reach the end of this article, we would urge you to continue your efforts in spreading awareness regarding this promising field and if you have not been doing so then it is never too late to start.
– Urveez Kakalia and Ferangiz Hozdar.