Home » Psychology Degrees » Behavioral Psychology

Behavioral psychology education and degrees

When humans are struggling with mental health, societal issues and overall challenges, psychologists can often provide an essential lifeline and support. It was that desire that prompted Brandon Simpson, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Behavioral Health Specialist at the Men’s Health Foundation, to pursue a psychology career.

“I originally grew up in a small town with no or very limited LGBTQ resources, and it was hard. So when I decided to get a Bachelor in Psychology and later a Master in Clinical Psychology, my main goal was to help,” explains Simpson. “I wanted to provide spaces for LGBTQ people to be their most authentic selves and have a space here; at least, I was concerned about them and want to help them. As a practicing therapist, I am still looking for certificates that will only further my ability to help my patients. I think anyone should take more than one psychology class in university because it helps explain human behavior and provides the potential “why” answer for people or a person’s behavior.”

Behavioral psychology focuses on the study of human behavior, feelings and thoughts. Psychologists work to evaluate patients and identify treatment approaches to help address issues like anxiety, depression, aggression and response to trauma.

For example, a behavioral psychologist might help a patient break a bad habit, such as smoking, and create a new, healthier habit. Behavioral psychology can help parents to learn how to teach their children right from wrong.

Why study behavioral psychology? 

Pursuing behavioral psychology can be highly rewarding. By studying behavioral psychology, you’ll gain valuable insights into human motivations, decision-making and learning processes. These insights can deepen your understanding of human behavior, leading to greater empathy and overall awareness.

You’ll also develop practical skills that are applicable to diverse careers. A degree in psychology is useful not only if you want to work specifically in the mental health field, but can be helpful in industries like business, education, marketing and more.

Additionally, you can use your psychology knowledge to contribute to positive changes in individuals, organizations and society. Knowing that you’re making a meaningful difference can make this a highly rewarding career.

What you’ll learn in your classes

During a behavioral psychology degree program, you will learn key concepts and skills needed to become a psychologist. You can find bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in behavioral psychology.

Core coursework you’ll take  

While the specific courses that you will take will depend on the program level and the specific program you choose, you can expect to complete courses covering core areas like:

• Learning and conditioning theories, including how environmental stimuli shape behavior and learning, the process of operant conditioning and how it impacts behavior and other key factors in how humans learn.
• Behavioral assessment and intervention strategies, such as different ways of assessing challenging behaviors, how to establish appropriate goals for each individual and how to develop and implement a behavior intervention plan.
• Social psychology, including examining social psychology and cognition, the early development of cognitive perception, group behavior and social identity theories, as well as how these theories can be applied to real-life situations.
• Experimental design and research methods, including how to create a research study, the factors and variables that affect research study participants, and how to evaluate a study.
• Ethics and professional practice, such as how to approach potential issues such as human relations, privacy and confidentiality and research and publication in a professional setting.

Choosing electives for this specialty

While you are required to complete certain core courses, your degree program will also give you the flexibility to explore specific interests through diverse elective courses. You may be able to pursue elective courses such as:

• Consumer behavior, examining how perceptions, beliefs and feelings impact purchasing behaviors, as well as how elements like commercials or advertising enact social persuasion to sway purchasing decisions
• Organizational behavior, studying human behavior in the workplace, including how organizational dynamics impact the individual and the performance of the entire business
• Health psychology, including the study of the factors that motivate people to pursue healthy habits, cope with chronic illness or recover from an injury
• Behavioral economics, exploring how the psychological motivations of consumer behavior can inform better strategic decision-making for businesses
• Animal behavior, focusing on how animals interact with their environment and other organisms

Skills and qualities for behavioral psychologists

If you’re considering a behavioral psychology career, you will need certain skills and qualities to succeed. “I think the most important skill a person pursuing a career in psychology would need is empathy,” says Simpson. “Empathy is important because no matter the sub-field of psychology, you are interacting, researching and helping people; genuine empathy will help them connect with you.”

Additionally, employers seek certain key skills and qualities in behavioral psychology graduates, including:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities are important in helping a job candidate navigate the challenges they will face on the job. It’s important to be able to approach problems deliberately and come up with appropriate solutions.
• Strong analytical and research skills are essential in many fields that you might work in. Attention to detail and a focus on accuracy can also contribute to your success in the workplace.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills can help you to be effective not only with clients, but also with coworkers. Just as psychologists need to be able to listen effectively, they also need to be clear communicators who understand the nuances of language so they can accurately convey their message.
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability are vital and can help you to work effectively and appropriately with different groups of people.
• Ethical decision-making and professional conduct are key in maintaining professionalism and interacting appropriately with clients.

Keep these skills and qualities in mind when you explore available programs, and choose a program that will help you to develop and enhance these key skills.

Choosing a program that’s right for you

There are many behavioral psychology degree programs available to choose from. To determine which program is best for you, consider these factors: 

What’s next?

Pursuing a behavioral psychology degree can help you to better understand human behavior, feelings and thoughts. Whether you plan to become a psychologist or might want to explore a different field, the skills you’ll learn during this program are highly valuable and can be transferred to other fields. For example, you might use your behavioral psychology skills and learnings as a market researcher, policy analyst, human resources professional, researcher or other profession. If you decide to focus on a mental health career, you could go on to become a therapist, school counselor, social worker and more.

If you think a behavioral psychology degree might be right for you, take the next step by exploring program options. Connect with advisors at the schools that you’re interested in, and start determining which program is best for your career goals. These first steps will start you on your journey to understand and influence human behavior.

Published: April 2, 2024