Can Psychologists Make World Peace More Likely?

Question

This was a very interesting question in our text book, and part of our class discussion. If you think about it, a lot of the people that have done their part in threatening world peace, seem to have a lot of psychological issues. For instance, Hitler. In my opinion, Hitler had psychological issues, probably from the things he experienced in his youth. Though highly unlikely, if he'd seen a psychologist, i'm sure they would have been well aware of the threat he posed to himself and others. Also, what about terrorists in the world of today? Do you believe they have psychological issues? Many will say the only issue they have is hatred; however, doesn't hatred stem from something in the psyche? Even if we don't look at the famous, and media spotlighted people, what about just everyday citizens. The problem with serial killers and other criminals, is that they normally aren't evaluated until AFTER the crime is committed.

Answer 1

Look. Psychologists are human. There are good ones, and there are bad ones. Even the good ones can only do so much - they are not miracle workers. It would be easy to look at this and say that phychologists have no overall effect.

But I think a better picture can be had by comparing psychology to medicine. Ultimately, a doctor's goal is to heal, whether he is a medical doctor or a psycholgist. No one would doubt that the field of medicine has made the world a better place, eradicated whole diseases, and made many of the ones that remain much more bearable. Well, medicine had a big head-start on psychology and diseases of the body are often easier to see than diseases of the mind... I, personally, have no doubt that phychology will eventually be just as obviously beneficial to mandkind.

Let us also look at some of the benefits we have ALREADY recieved. Though anti-depressants tend to be over-prescribed, they have made massive changes for the better in many peoples' lives. I could produce accounts that would just floor you. It was psychologists that defined depression, understood it, and determined that drugs were treating it.

And who knows? There may be some treatments for autism on the horizon (I've seen some good reports). And bipolar disorder. And any number of other things we wouldn't even know EXISTED, much less be able to treat, if it weren't for psychologists.

Yay psychology!

Answer 2

I think the individuals, no matter how messed up they are in the head, have to want the help. Even though psychologist are out there to help, it doesn't mean people want the help or believe they need help. If you told Hitler he had too many issues, he would just throw you in the gas chamber and be done with you.
Alot of people hide there problems very well and manipulate others into believing the are something else than a monster. Good theory you have but very unlikely.

Answer 3

Psychologist, can convince a person with minimal problems, that their problems are much larger. A person also in discussing a problem begins to think about that problem or problems to a greater extent. That may not minimize but maximize, it may also have another adverse affect such as creating a bigger monster. Men such as Hitler as psychologically ill as he was, was also very intelligent, some psychological illnesses, effect emotional, and moral aspects and not the intelligent aspect. Consider Howard Hughes. Even Serial Killers commit crimes in very meticulous and intelligent ways.
I have dealt with some moderate psychological issues myself and it was my intellectual awareness that cause me the most torment.

Answer 4

Absolutely not. Psycho babble bulls**** is the problem now. Some people, like Hitler, for instance are just evil. At some point that has got to be accepted. Not everyone who has ever committed a heinous crime had a childhood problem, as a matter of fact people through history accepted this as fact and dealt with people who did these types of crimes exactly like they need to be dealt with. Swift, punishment has been a much better deterrent to crime than all the psycho babble bull that's ever been handed down. As a matter of fact I believe that the two biggest problems in our society today is govt. meddling in our affairs and psychology.

Answer 5

Very interesting question... I think that the answer is yes because psychologists have the skills to mediate conflicts and to create a nice sane environment in which communication.is possible. And they can make people think outside the box and get some creative ideas for world peace heared.

Answer 6

I think you have a misinterpretation of where the hatred comes from, with the terrorists In the vernacular of the day, is called "brainwashing," accomplished by teaching this hatred in the schools.. To be of any benefit, the psychologist would have to reach the ones teaching this sort of philosophy. I doubt they would gain any advantage.

Answer 7

Lmao when hell freezes over maybe. When I first read the title of this question I immediately thought "liberal". Evil can not be influence by appeasment nor negotiations. We've seen this all throughout history in every era.

Answer 8

world peace will only happen when people relaese their own ideals to grasp onto something that is one bigg idea. like religion
a heavy catholic gets along better with another devotee.

Answer 9

the world peace i guess it comes just with love,and love dosent come just with psychologists or what they do. love comes from inside of evry one of us and our believes to all human races and religions are same and they have the same rights.

Answer 10

psychologists have been with us for over 100 years. if they could deliver world peace we'd already have it. hope that doesn't burst your bubble