Do you think ppl who go into studying psychology are nutts and /or have issues?

Question

when i first went into the field, ppl would say that about this field and i didn't know why they said that...but my experiences with professors and students are proving it to be true...i think ppl who study psych need massive therapy, more than crazy ppl do...
do u think psycholgists are messed up ppl?

Answer 1

I recently met a clinical psychologist, who is married to a clinical psychologist.

Apparently, they say to each other "You're fine, how am I?"

Correct, all psychologists arel mad.

Answer 2

From what I've heard, there is a lot of self analysis required and when people dig around too deep it can disturb then - this is quite a big generalisation.

On the other hand I do know two quite odd people who have psychologists as parents. One has changed his name several times and can never hold down a job (despite being very intelligent) and the other is a women in her 50s who dresses like shes in her teens and has severe emotional problems.

At the end of the day people are ... human and even though they have been trained, after absorbing all the weird, crazy and disturbing things their patients have done - it has to have some effect on their lives right? Well it's normally the family that pays the price.

Have you ever read the 'Dice Man', it's very interesting.

Answer 3

The way Jack put it sounds like a definition of a "wounded healer" as I understand it. Many psychologists are working through issues, just the same as anyone else. Would you rather have someone tinkering in your head who has never gone through therapy themselves? Or a healer that has never been in need of healing themselves, and truly has no idea really what it is like to be in the patient's shoes? Granted if someone is a sociopath or something, they should not be getting in to anything of the sort, but pretty much every body could benefit from therapy in one way or another, and in the case of someone who seeks a career in mental health, they would learn ways and insights that could help others while they are also helping themselves. For a psychologist to see a psychologist is part of thier training, if for no other reason than to understand what is going on on the other side of the couch.

Answer 4

I used to know a psychologist who said that a lot of people go into the field to understand themselves and deal with personal problems.

If, during the course of becoming therapists, they were helped by the therapy they received, they went on to become successful therapists; if therapy didn't take, they became unsuccessful therapists.

Answer 5

Psychologists often see other psychologists to help resolve their issues. People who go into the field either had great loving childhoods and supportive parents, or if not, they go into the field with a gift of empathy to help other people overcome their problems. Don't be fooled, every adult on this planet has issues.

Answer 6

Sometimes it does seem like the blind leading the blind in that field.
Example; My ex-husband has a Psychology degree and is employed by the State of California in a lock down Forensic Facility.
He was a wife beater, IS an alcoholic, recreational drug user, AND a dead beat dad.
But apparently is VERY respected in his field.

Answer 7

I double-majored in Bio and Psych, and my psych profs said that a great number of students enter psychology as a form of therapy. Many of my psych classes were extended group therapy sessions, and I *hated* it.

The "hard science" Psych classes- neuro, behavior, cog sci, developmental- tend to not be like that.

Answer 8

Most people that study psychology are people that have a lot of personal issues that they never resolve, as a professional councillor that deals with inner child work and trauma, I find psychologists are the most messed, and unable to function when dealing with personal issues.

Answer 9

I'm not sure how far use are in this field... using terms like "crazy"? I think everyone is suffer from psychological issues to some degree.

Answer 10

I don't know a large enough sample to say for sure, but of those I know or knew, I tend to agree.