Psychology is the scientific study of thought, emotion and behaviour.
Psychologists examine the various aspects of human experience, such as human emotions, thought, and actions. They may also study animals as a means of understanding the world around us. They apply their understanding of people in a variety of professional settings, including , counselling, educational, organisational and academic settings. The first step to becoming a psychologist in Ireland is to study for a primary degree at honours level in psychology at University. A high achievement in the primary degree will enable a student to proceed to postgraduate training, including higher degrees by research, to specialise in an area of professional psychology.