Honestly, What aspect of psychology do you find most convincing and in your heart you believe is the truth and

Question

would make the world a better place by knowing. Let's play a game. I'm giving you 7 days to convince me to believe that this aspect of psychology is going to make the world a better place. what are the positive and negative aspects of it, and how would I overcome the negative aspects of it, if i were to convert to your frame of mind? Who is your idol in the field of psychology?

Answer 1

As a mental health clinician with 20+ years experience, now retired, I can unequivocally tell you that, after all my studying and all my licenses and all my years in practice, Jesus our Christ is THE ONLY "idol" I would have. I have heard, and, sad to say, practiced, all the hyped-up "cures" in the field, and compared to what I discovered in the Bible, it's all trash. Whether you believe it in seven days or not is completely immaterial, because it took me around 35 years to catch on, and Christ gave me that much time to realize how shallow psychology and psychiatry is, and now He gives me a peace of mind, and a severe challenge as well, for discovering Him and to try to actually live my life as He asks, or Commands (as in the Ten Commandments, etc.). Positive or negative effects of my discovery? One way I live. The other way I stay dead for eternity. God Bless you, and maybe in faster than seven days, or 35 years.

Answer 2

Karl Menninger had a common sense approach to the Human Mind. Could Psychology change the ills of the World. No way; their are to many variables. Cultures are to complex. I agree with the writer who said giving people the tools to improve their lot is the best thing for Humanity. Building Schools, giving people tools to work with and resources to improve their communities. We still have to deal with things that are unconquerable: Religious Fanatics, prejudice and greed. These problems are insurmountable. Diplomacy and education are the only possible grounds that can bridge these problems. I do not see how it can resolve most scenarios with such deep seeded hatred of generations.
Check the net and see all the anti-Semitic and Racial hatred still alive and thriving in our own Nation. That should have died a Generation ago.
Psychology can help an individual to cope but it can not enlighten a World bent on destruction.

Answer 3

Hi there NK, Having studied psychology for 3 years, I think that there is not a definitive answer to your question. That is to say, we can only really find an element of truth in psychological studies. Psychology is very complex, to define it would possibly be to say that it is the 'science of mental life.' Psychologists help us to distinguish between inside information which is subjective, and may be biased and unreliable, and the facts: between our preconceptions and what is 'true' in scientific terms. The fact that psychology, like any other discipline, can be misunderstood and misused does not detract from its value. Both the findings of psychologists and the methods they use to discover things are potentially useful in a range of personal and professional roles. It teaches skills that are widely applicable as well as providing a training in thinking scientifically about mental life - about thoughts, feelings and behaviour. In my opinion, Social psychology would be the field that would help to make the world a better place. It is a useful tool in order for us to have a better understanding of each other.
It would be difficult for me to single out one particular 'idol,' therefore, here are few of my favourites:George Mead 1863-1931,
Eric Berne 1910-1970, Stanley Milgram 1933-1984, and Phillip Zimbardo 1933-

Answer 4

I went to school to study psychology, and when it was all said and done, I belive the greatest factor in changing most people's lives for the better is to help them obtain the resources to become self-sufficient. If I were to call this an aspect of psychology, I guess I would call it: Building Self Reliance. This could be done in a counselling environment, where people were helped to allocate resources.

Today people live life at such a hurry-hurry competition-style rat race. Counselling someone to merely "cope" with these stresses does not solve the underlying problem of this lifestyle. And I think as people "breed" and have kids under this kind of stress it breeds more mental illness which begets even more mental illness. It is shown that women, for example, who are under a lot of stress during their pregnancy, are more likely to have children with ADD/ADHD which is a difficult learning disability that inhibits that person's success in life.

How it should be, is this: People are made to be physically active and self-reliant in life. Doing physical work to obtain that goal (such as growing one's own garden, working at a labor job, etc.) is the best road to both mental and physical health. Also, being a part of someone else's life in a way that is helping them (and likewise) is the best thing for physical and mental health. In other words, community is imperative.

The positive aspects of the aformentioned are their own fruit - it feels good and gets that ol' brain chemistry working the way it should, therefore producing the mental and physical health that psychology seeks to produce.

I think the biggest roadblock to mental and physical health (which causes people to seek psychological counselling) is lack of proper brain chemistry, brought on by the sedentary lifestyle, too much junky input, and just getting screwed day after day in the workplace - you know - working hard for nothing you really want deep down inside. It takes a lot out of you. And people often don't know how to get out of the cycle. They don't know how to help themselves.

The negative aspects of this? It requires people to make major lifestyle changes, because things like... say... starting your own garden for better health costs a significant ammount of money, and may even require the person to move to an area where this is feasable, yet the payoff comes way later. Delayed gratification is a hard concept for most people to grasp. Especially people who have been brought up in frustrating environments..and just can't get ahead, so to say, physically and mentally.

So that's my favorite field of psychology... Building Self Reliance.

Answer 5

I agree with MBK Carl Rogers was amazing and must have been a breath of fresh air compared with Freudian believes and Psychoanalysis. Unconditional Positive regard is the greatest gift one could give and receive, how about combining those beleives with the ideal of Self Actualisation, or way of becoming en-route towards a "fully fuctioning" person, happy fullfilled self !

Answer 6

The aspect of psychology that is the truest is that people are seeking love all their lives, and are happiest when they find it, or are on the right track. If they find meaning, it will lead them to love. But love is the goal, and it is also the path. I hope you find this convincing. I tried very hard.

Answer 7

I think Gustav Maslow is my hero. His framework for the hierarchy of needs is on the money, and as a teacher it has helped me deal, or should I say sympathize, with students that don't have all their needs met. I think it is an important lesson our politicians should learn, because they expect all students, regardless of their situation, to be at the level of actualization when a lot of them are still very close to the bottom rung of the hierarchy.

Answer 8

I think it's all a bunch of hogwash.

Let's make the world a better place by smiling at one another once in awhile!

Answer 9

4get it your brain will hurt if your going to study the human mind dont bother - dont go there people are sooooooooooooooooooooo complicated it hurts my brain trying to think about their every day activities and what there reasons or motives are for doing what they do - so I'm sure you will be baffled by people too.

Answer 10

I'm with Sunshine.... Most of it is hogwash!


She/He is my new hero in psychology because it really should be that simple...


* Smiles back at Sunshine... Give him/Her the points!