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Psych Students or Psychology Majors?
- Thread starter JMiller
- Start date
TheKnight
Guardian of Life
I appreciate the compliment. However my discontent with your post was that your post implied that his belief in Christian Fundamentalism is not progressive in the same manner as psychology and thus at odds with ideas that psychology might promote, like that of homosexuality not being a disease or not being harmful.
I was simply pointing out that Christianity itself doesn't teach that homosexuality is especially harmful. So there would be no reason to assume his beliefs had anything to do with his ability to accept psychological principles.
Either way, I admit I am nitpicking your choice of words. What you meant was clearly communicated I suppose.
BHSU_Student
Member
Psychology has got to be the easiest degree you can get. Not knocking anyone with a Psyc degree but I find most so-called " Psychologists " to be quacks. I've been around them long enough to know that getting their degree had to have been a cake walk. Most that I've been around are total Airheads ( Nothing Going On Upstairs ) and a total disgrace to their "profession". I'm sure there are some pretty smart pyschologsist out there but I've yet to meet one. And, yes, I've been around them for a good 3 years so far. I don't have a degree in Psychology, but, I know I've been around them long enough to know that I could easily get a Masters in it with ease.
Psychiatrists are even worse. Every Psychiatrist that I've been around is from India and they can't even speak good english yet some how managed to get a job in America. Not being racist or anything but I find it rather pathetic. All their job takes is asking a few simple questions: Hearing any voices ? Feeling Depressed ? Feeling like harming yourself or others ?
Well, if you're depressed, why we have many anti-depressants to put you on! Here - we'll try giving you 20 MG of Paxil! If that doesn't work we'll up the dose or switch you to another. Hearing voices, are you ? Well lets start you off on 20 MG of Abilify. What a joke. Psychiatrists think medications are the answer to everything.
Sighs... and they get paid so much money for doing next to nothing. Something is wrong with that picture...
A bachelors of science in Psychology from my personal experience is somewhat difficult (I'm a Psych Major, Biology Minor). The PhD is very difficult to acquire from an APA accredited university. Acceptance rates can be as low as 3% and averages to about 10%-15%, so as you can imagine, PhD programs are extremely competitive. Courses are rigorous, and eventually you will have to produce novel research that contributes to the field of science and this involves writing a 100-200+ page book (dissertation).
I actually agree with you on some points. After earning their PhD and some tenure, their ego starts to get in the way. They think they know everything and can analyze everyone, but in the process become wreckless with their analyzes. Arrogance and overconfidence can lead to a multitude of mistakes. Also, the clinical field of psychology (like most other fields in the U.S.) is primarily organized to make money, not help people IMO.
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gnomon
Well-Known Member
What does neuropsychology entail?
Honestly, as the recipient of psychiatric and psychological treatment I don't see much progressive thought in the field. Given that in the 21st century such minds working for the third ranked mental hospital sent this manic-depressive to a spiritual recovery program for treatment I have a hard time garnering respect for this rather light science.
Darkness
Psychoanalyst/Marxist
gnomon
Well-Known Member
Maybe it is just the academic portion of psychology that is progressive.
It may be. My perception might be colored by the number of people I witnessed that were overprescribed medications by psychiatrists as opposed to those who were treated by psychologists. I can't say much for my own experience because I had a psychologist who dumped useless drugs on me as opposed to a psychiatrist who was sparse and rather discerning in his treatment.
Darkness
Psychoanalyst/Marxist
I have heard bad things about a good many psychiatrists over-prescribing. Since psychiatrists are able to testify in court and declare people medically insane, part of it may be a power trip. I mean, there have been many instances where psychiatrists and psychologists have hit on prostitutes and sex slaves seeking rehabilitation.
The Neo Nerd
Well-Known Member
I'm doing a bachelor of applied social sciences
TheKnight
Guardian of Life
A big part of it, at least in my opinion, is that so little is known about the human condition to make any veritable conclusions about treatment. Yes, progress has been made through studies and what not, but many psychologists are taught a less fluid and open approach and are instead trained to be more rigid when approaching treatment options. At least, that was the impression I got when I was in an undergrad psych program.
Ended up turning to Computer Science. Much more interesting to me.
The Neo Nerd
Well-Known Member
I did the exact opposite, i was studying IT, but found it boring.
TheKnight
Guardian of Life
It's not for everyone. I find the wonderful world of interconnecting computer networks to be extremely exciting.
BHSU_Student
Member
My impression about clinical psychology is that all treatment modalities and the DSM, is a tentative way of handling psychological issues. In really, not much is yet understood about the mind, given the limitations of science (the mind is staggeringly complex). IMO, clinical psychology is primarily a pseudoscience. Historically there has been a cleavage between research psychology and clinical psychology. Clinical psychologists trained in research often drop their scientific training once they earn residency.
So current treatments are tentative treatments, and there is much controversy behind various diagnosis. Various diagnosis are culturally determined social constructs, that make money. We have a pathological model that I personally think is counter-intuitive, more damaging then helpful. Most people already know that something is wrong with them, by the time they get mental health. They don't need someone to further tell them what a bad person they are.
I have decided not to become a psychologist because of my personal perspective about the field, and because of my negative experiences with psychologists.
So current treatments are tentative treatments, and there is much controversy behind various diagnosis. Various diagnosis are culturally determined social constructs, that make money. We have a pathological model that I personally think is counter-intuitive, more damaging then helpful. Most people already know that something is wrong with them, by the time they get mental health. They don't need someone to further tell them what a bad person they are.
I have decided not to become a psychologist because of my personal perspective about the field, and because of my negative experiences with psychologists.
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Mathematician
Reason, and reason again
BHSU_Student
Member
Basically the pathological model in psychology is like the pathological model of medicine, only it is applied to one's psychology. In medicine, various diseases and disorders (objects) are pathologized. In psychology, your personality or self concept may be pathologized. Basically, you are screwed up, damaged goods, etc. I personally don't think it helps people psychologically, but creates stigma, makes people feel discriminated, etc.