Introduction
Preparing for a career in the field of psychology is no small feat. Students should be highly motivated to complete challenging courses and pursue further education to increase their competitive advantage. They are also recommended to consider the potential concerns they may encounter in their chosen field of work to better prepare for it. It is crucial for students to be intrinsically and extrinsically motivated and prepared for common issues faced by professionals working in psychology.
Main body
Higher education is a long-term commitment that requires intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation pertains to performing tasks due to the performer’s inherent interests or enjoyment (Ryan & Deci, 2020). It depends on one’s innate sense of purpose, the sense of mastery, and autonomy that allow students to remain motivated for more extended periods. Meanwhile, extrinsic motivation concerns behaviors prompted by external factors such as a promise of reward (Ryan & Deci, 2020). Both types of motivation are equally important, and relying on one is not sufficient for pursuing education and a career in psychology. Research shows that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation contribute to students’ perseverance of effort and consistency of interests and facilitate the completion of challenging long-term tasks (Karlen et al., 2019). Thus, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation complement each other and help students achieve their goals.
Furthermore, students should be prepared for the typical concerns encountered by professional therapists. Psychology is an extremely demanding field characterized by emotional demands that increase burnout risk (Simpson et al., 2019). Therefore, it is crucial for aspiring psychologists to develop strategies to manage the emotive aspect of the profession. They should be able to separate themselves from their clients’ emotions to help them. It should be noted that motivation plays a critical role in such strategies, as the profession involves constant learning and development.
Summary
In summary, prospective psychologists face a challenging education course and an equally demanding profession. This field of work requires constant learning to gain a competitive advantage over others, effectively help patients, and avoid emotional burnout. Thus, future psychologists need to remain motivated to address the rising challenges they face and gain the necessary knowledge and experience. Constant learning and self-improvement are vital to helping students and people at the beginning of their careers overcome many difficulties and find fulfilling jobs.
References
Karlen, Y., Suter, F., Hirt, C., & Maag Merki, K. (2019). The role of implicit theories in students’ grit, achievement goals, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and achievement in the context of a long-term challenging task. Learning and Individual Differences, 74, 1–12. Web.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective: Definitions, theory, practices, and future directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61, 1–11. Web.
Simpson, S., Simionato, G., Smout, M., Van Vreeswijk, M. F., Hayes, C., Sougleris, C., & Reid, C. (2019). Burnout amongst clinical and counselling psychologist: The role of early maladaptive schemas and coping modes as vulnerability factors. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 26(5), 35–46. Web.