François : Hi, I’m Fançois. And you, who are you? Can you tell me?
Lucie : Hi, my name is Lucie, I am 22 and I am studying social and occupational psychology in Nantes university.
F : Ok. Thank you. Why did you choose to do psychology studies ?
L : Hum. I had a complicated entrance in university. I started to study archeology and art history, but I wasn’t really able to imagine myself working in this field for the rest of my carriere, so …. I was really lost at that time, but it allowed me to realise why I wanted to study psychology : I thought that when people are lost and when they don’t know how to cope with difficulties in the choices they have to make, it is really important that they can be helped by some people or some… or someone. That’s why I choosed psychology : it can seem naïve, but I wanted to help people.
F: Ok. So, Why did you choose to study IO Psychology, Social rather than the other fields of psychology ?
L: In the first place, I wanted to take clinical psychology as a speciality… as a specialism. But I realised I was not really made for the direct confrontation with psychopathological issues. Also, I was also more curious about group mechanisms and social influences, so I choose social psychology. Above all, my important interest for spirituality, beliefs and religions was the main determinent for my orientation in social psychology. I also thought that it was the closer psychological field to philosophy and I missed that dimension in the other psychology areas.
F : Ok. What do you think of the “new” Master of IO Psychology that is now separated from other areas of psychology ?
L : I think this is a relevant choice. First of all, because the bachelor’s degree is a general certificate, and even if every area in psychology is related to the others, I think we need to come to a specialization and learn things more specifically in the master. By doing this, we end the two years of master being real professionals or experts. I don’t think that it would be very relevant for us, organisational psychologists, to keep studying for instance child’s developement, which won’t be very useful in the workplace. So, I think we need to have classes which are relevant regarding of our orientation choices.
F: Ok. What is the subject of your Thesis and why did you choose this one ?
L: The subject of my Master thesis is the social representation and the social beliefs in energies. More precisely, I want to know if believing that we’ve got mystical or spiritual energies circulating or moving in our bodies make people feel better. For now, I’m only realising my litterature review, around themes such as social representations, social beliefs, magical beliefs, and the impacts on well-being of new age practises. Like Yoga…
F: Interesting… So, In which professional areas do you think IO psychologists can practice and why ?
L: I think this is a complicated question, because indirectly we can work almost everywhere. Every organisation needs more or less a psychologist to enhance the quality of life at work. Companies, organisations, associations, recruitement cabinets, consulting firms, skill assesment centers, research laboratories… I think we have plenty of possibilities as long as we are able to show adaptability.
F: Ok. That’s true (Laughs). Finally What are your professional projects once you graduate ?
L: I don’t really know yet. During my L3 year, I trully wanted to become a researcher. But now I am hesitating between keeping studying or going directly into a company. It may be utopian but I wish I will integrate a structure that agrees with the values I belive in. Ideally, I would like to reach a job that is really helpful for the companies’ members. For instance, working on psychological, psychosociological risks. But I think it will depend on my internships and the job openings of that time.
F : Ok. Thank you very much.
L : Thank you.
F: By.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JpWkh6xYKn3sGZA0-Z1dG7mGIYYeC4t4Réalisé par Bouton-Guyon Lucie et Hérault François.