Working with human behavior/psychology...

[BusyNAbroad]

...does it sometimes make us crazy/insane or at least confused about our own selves?

 

My undergraduate degree is in the social sciences, which also has a large proportion of courses in psychology (the larger one being economics). I have been interested especially in psychology before university, probably since I was a kid and watched documentaries and read science magazines about the human brain and behavior. Independently also accross my entire high school period, I read up things that university students did, out of pure curiosity and, well, with a hidden interest to improve my own life.

 

My current set of knowledge and courses would make me "ideal" for a job in human resources development, organizational/industrial psychology or areas such as career counseling or development counseling in general - but also as an academic researcher.

I have explored a wide range of self-help movements, especially NLP, as a teenager. I might be very good, as a coach or a trainer, and many people who know me in person say that I'm inspiring, that I'm like a guru, sometimes joke that I might even create my own religion (Tony Robbins? L Ron Hubbard? naaaah OR I might spend hours as a scientist doing academic research on human beings in labs or on field, their behavior and their brains trying to find out what makes them truly tick and how to efficiently improve their lives.

 

Or I might do nothing at all related to psychology, because I have been increasingly aware of something I feel is hampering me in my own personal development:

 

I somehow feel that ever since I was interested in it (=really, since I was a kid!), most of my own behavior in my daily life depends on what I read in books, and thus I formed my own expectations and views of life based on what I learn through psychology or read on self-help books.

I often wonder, "How would I have tackled this situation if I had applied this other theory, if I had believed that scientist, that other empirical research? That philosophy?", mostly in the field of my own personal relationships, probably most importantly in romantic relationships (or "mating behavior" as scientists would call it; see my previous thread on that: )

And the problem is I have nobody else to talk to about these things since professors don't seem like they apply what they research in their daily lives.

 

I often feel confused about whether my own personal identity should be distinct from what I learn through psychology or whether it is a synthesis of the best theories. So... each time I fail romantically, I see it as a failure of some scientific theory and the victory of another.

 

I'd also love to know whether anyone else here is or knows anyone who works in/with psychology, and whether they have encountered this kind of difficulties and existential questions in their own lives.

 

I'd also be curious to know whether other social scientists/counselors/psychologists are doing well in their romantic relationships

[laisla]

BusyNAbroad, your career path is very similar to mine. i will be getting a degree in sociology with a minor in psychology, and have taken HR classes and will be taking more so i can be a manager.

 

i often think about what job i should have.

 

the best thing i did was go to a career counselor at school. they may help you make more sense. once you know what you like, you can make something from there on.

[BusyNAbroad]

Hmmm... thanks for your answers.

 

My question was not much about choosing the area I want to work with, but how this specific area (psychology, social sciences) integrates, or should integrate, with my personall life... or how it should be separated from it.

[Alezia]

As long as you don't take the theories too seriously, you should be fine.

It's always great to stop and analyze your behavior (with a theory or no theory), but if the theories start dictating your actions/behaviors I would say that it's too far.

 

Theories can definitely be wrong, and any science is a proof of that (else it's not a science - math, creationism); therefore don't put yourself in a box thinking they are always "right" and change your actions according to them.

[BusyNAbroad]

As long as you don't take the theories too seriously, you should be fine.

It's always great to stop and analyze your behavior (with a theory or no theory), but if the theories start dictating your actions/behaviors I would say that it's too far.

 

Theories can definitely be wrong, and any science is a proof of that (else it's not a science - math, creationism); therefore don't put yourself in a box thinking they are always "right" and change your actions according to them.

 

The main point is, if I adhere to a theory, shouldn't I behave accordingly if I were to maintain my personal integrity/consistency?

 

e.g. I read there is plenty of evidence of the "Female Dual Sexuality", which means that women are attracted to different types of men during different phases of their menstrual cycle.

Knowing this, I feel that I can predict my chances of being rejected by a woman whom I flirt with. So, whenever I have information that a person is in an unfavorable phase of her cycle, I don't communicate with her at all.

Would this kind of behavior of mine be "correct"?

[Alezia]

I think acting on a theory like that is a bit extremist and unnecessary.

Maybe on an animal level perspective (assuming that the theory is right), it would work.

 

People have feelings, and even though she might end up "more attracted to you" because of this said theory (if it is correct, which it might not be); she has the emotions/intelligence to realize that you were not there for her at those times. She might decide not to be in a relationship with you just because of that, even though you might be more attractive in her eyes.

 

Are you really going to start mapping cycles of every chick you want? lol!

"Sorry miss, are you on a regular or irregular cycle?"

"Are you 26 days or 32 days?"

"Are you physically capable of ovulating each month?"