[PrincessxKitty]

so after a lot of thinking, i've decided that to double major in psychology and criminal justice. i want to get into criminal psychology/profiling. i was a nursing major before, but i lost the passion with nursing and am really passionate about psychology and the justice system.

i keep worrying, because i'm diagnosed with bipolar and i keep thinking that its an oxymoron or hypocritical to be going into that field considering my diagnosis...

any thoughts from anyone??

[Umbral_Seraph]

I don't think it's an oxymoron. I know BP can make life very difficult but I would think that you would have a much deeper understanding of what those people are experiencing. I hope you enjoy your studies!

[PrincessxKitty]

i was thinking that too. i joke around (kinda) and say that my own head is kind of like an internship. but i still worry about how i'll be looked at in that field because of my bipolar. i think its part of my anxiety.
thank you for the reassurance, i needed it

[Oxidopamine]

I'm graduating with my HBSc very soon and will start my Masters once accepted. I did a double-major biology and psychology with a minor in criminology. I initially enrolled in psychology because like you, I wanted to be a criminal profiler, especially after watching Criminal Minds. In several courses there were people who visibly suffered from anxiety and as much as a detriment, it can be a benefit because not only do you learn the theoretical aspects of it but you can apply first-hand knowledge that many other students don't have and cannot appreciate. You won't be able to take a forensic psychology course right off the bat, you'll need to do first-year and at the very least second-year psychology courses. In my case I bounced around with my programs and eventually landed in neuroscience/neurophysiology (including disorders from brain damage), pharmacology and pathophysiology. I wrote several course research papers and a few combined physiology with psychology (i.e. neuro-imaging scans and neurobiology of psychopaths) and one paper combining neurophysiology with criminology.

Obviously I'm biased but keep an open mind because when people first enter psychology, and I was guilty of this as well, I was unaware of the various fields of psychology so don't be afraid to dabble in other areas. Neuroscience has a tremendous contribution to psychology and profiling, although I've found that it's a hit-or-miss, some people love it and understand it whereas others hate it and are confused. Since you have some biology knowledge given your background in nursing, so give it a try and if worst comes to worst, drop the course.

I would recommend you take several courses in sociology and law or sociology of law as it will greatly help you with criminology. If you passionate though, which you seem to be, you'll do fine. In psychology courses, students wouldn't look at you as though you escaped from a freak show, rather they'll be interested because most psychology students are quite interested in abnormal psychology. If you're still concerned, speak to the professor in their office because every single psychology professor I know is very sympathetic, even if they appear as ball-busters.

[PrincessxKitty]

Originally Posted by Oxidopamine

I'm graduating with my HBSc very soon and will start my Masters once accepted. I did a double-major biology and psychology with a minor in criminology. I initially enrolled in psychology because like you, I wanted to be a criminal profiler, especially after watching Criminal Minds. In several courses there were people who visibly suffered from anxiety and as much as a detriment, it can be a benefit because not only do you learn the theoretical aspects of it but you can apply first-hand knowledge that many other students don't have and cannot appreciate. You won't be able to take a forensic psychology course right off the bat, you'll need to do first-year and at the very least second-year psychology courses. In my case I bounced around with my programs and eventually landed in neuroscience/neurophysiology (including disorders from brain damage), pharmacology and pathophysiology. I wrote several course research papers and a few combined physiology with psychology (i.e. neuro-imaging scans and neurobiology of psychopaths) and one paper combining neurophysiology with criminology.

Obviously I'm biased but keep an open mind because when people first enter psychology, and I was guilty of this as well, I was unaware of the various fields of psychology so don't be afraid to dabble in other areas. Neuroscience has a tremendous contribution to psychology and profiling, although I've found that it's a hit-or-miss, some people love it and understand it whereas others hate it and are confused. Since you have some biology knowledge given your background in nursing, so give it a try and if worst comes to worst, drop the course.

I would recommend you take several courses in sociology and law or sociology of law as it will greatly help you with criminology. If you passionate though, which you seem to be, you'll do fine. In psychology courses, students wouldn't look at you as though you escaped from a freak show, rather they'll be interested because most psychology students are quite interested in abnormal psychology. If you're still concerned, speak to the professor in their office because every single psychology professor I know is very sympathetic, even if they appear as ball-busters.

Thank you for that. I actually took a "law and social change" course that can be sociology or admin of justice. Glad i did

[Christina86]

Go for it! We need people who have an understanding of mental health involved in criminal justice, especially personal experience -- really! I think if you're passionate about something, even with problems like mental health issues, it means it will be more difficult but not necessarily impossible.

[deanaa36]

Wow! Psychology's an awesome major :P Good luck~!!