33 things that every psychology student has gone through

A summary (with touches of humor) about what it's like to study psychology and soak up the university.

The time spent at the faculty of psychology is not only a stage in which knowledge is accumulated, but also goes hand in hand with a series of experiences that students of the science of behavior are used to living.

University life is accompanied by myths that are demolished, existential doubts and reflections on the future of work and experiences that, in a certain sense, are full of humor.

Going through the faculty of psychology means...

Let's review the main experiences related to this career.

1. You discover that the origin of the word "psychology" does not describe what it consists of...

Although etymologically the term psychology means the study of the soul, in reality psychologists are dedicated to investigate and intervene on very concrete and delimited aspects of our daily life, and they do not use the concept of "soul" to work with the soul. do not use the concept of "soul" for their work..

2. Everyone starts asking you for free therapy

These attempts to approach for free psychological consultation may seem endearing at first. at first. However, the time and effort of psychological care deserves payment... and a university degree attesting to your training.

3. People's eyes light up when they hear what you study at the university.

And that's when point number 2 occurs.

4. You realize that there is a lot of life beyond psychotherapy.

Almost everyone starts out wanting to go into therapy, but little by little you discover other branches of psychology.

5. You completely demystify the idea of clinical hypnosis.

You discover that hypnotists cannot control the actions of the hypnotized person... and that disappoints you. You had been under a lot of illusions because of the myths about this practice.

6. You completely demystify the idea of bipolarity.

Being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder is not fun and probably not what you thought it was before you started your career.. And no, it certainly has nothing to do with what is said in that Porta song.

7. You completely demystify the concept of psychopathy.

No, psychopaths are not dedicated to dismembering people during their free time.

8. You wonder if you could be a psychopath

This is the next logical step after having reached the previous conclusion. After all, being a psychopath or not being a psychopath is a matter of degrees. is a matter of degrees and amounts of psychopathy. of psychopathy.

 

9. You discover that nobody uses a couch anymore

The couch is a piece of furniture that has become obsolete in psychology offices, although it is very iconic.

11. You stop attributing magical powers to the Rorschach test.

No, interpreting those ink-stained sheets is not going to reveal the innermost part of your mind.

12. You begin to question the concept of "mind".

After all, it is a very ambiguous and confusing term. Wouldn't it be better to speak of "mental processes"?

13. You begin to seriously question the concept of "human nature".

Many of the things we assume happen to everyone are far from universal. Learned behavior shapes much of the way we look at things, and not everyone learns to be human.and not everyone learns in the same context.

14. You begin to question the concept of "consciousness".

Is consciousness the base of operations of our brain, or is it the consequence of our brain being activated? It is very confusing.

15. You realize that you are questioning more things than you are fully understanding.

It can be frustrating, but a good part of what it is to study psychology is to unlearn certain myths. involves unlearning certain myths.

16. You plan moral dilemmas about animal experimentation.

Much of the research in psychology is based on animal studies, and this will force you toand this will force you to take a position on the subject.

17. You start looking for possible future patients among your classmates.

It is tempting to attribute symptoms and disorders to others, but this is something that can only be done with preparation and in can only be done with preparation and in a clinical context..

 

18. You discover that the smallest things can lead to psychological problems.

Education, work, noise in the vicinity of the house? all of this, even in small doses, can produce psychological crises.

19. You drop an idol: Sigmund Freud

When you start your studies you discover that Freud's ideas are totally outdated and that current psychology follows other paths. current psychology follows other paths.

20. You realize that psychologists' clients do not know what they are hiring.

The myths about psychology are so pervasive that not even the people or organizations that pay for these services know very well what they are doing.

21. You wonder if the career is difficult in itself or if they inflate its difficulty by making you read a lot.

It may seem difficult in some schools, but at least it is a rewarding difficulty: if you study hard, you get good gradesnot like in engineering.

22. You begin to analyze series, movies and video games in a psychological key.

It is hard not to do it. After all, screenwriters strive to make the characters' personalities interesting or very strong.

23. You have a love-hate relationship with psychotropic drugs.

Psychotropic drugs can be alienating, but they improve the lives of many people. they improve the lives of many people..

24. You begin to believe much less in conspiracies about the use of psychotropic drugs.

After all, the fact that the existence of these products benefits pharmaceutical companies does not mean that they are not effective in many cases.

25. You notice that sociology students have a respect for you that you believe to be undeserved.

Sociologists see in psychology a point at which social science meets neuroscience, and this often commands their respect.and that usually earns them respect. However, you will respect them because they spend their days working with statistical programs.

 

26. You will experience an identity crisis when you do not know which psychological current to join.

Because no, eclecticism does not have to be the best option. necessarily.

27. You enjoy answering evasively to questions about what you study.

What is the most important thing about the human mind? Define for me the idea of "human mind".

28. You pretend to be a psychoanalyst just to joke around.

Are you the kind of person who prefers an omelette without onions? Well, well... How's your relationship with your father?

29. You tend to choose electives where there are fewer loud-mouthed students.

Classes with few students may encourage participation, but that will backfire on you in those where one or two students go on at length about their opinions..

30. You realize that "emotional psychology" doesn't tell the whole story.

All those images circulating on the Internet about "the teachings of emotional psychology" are based on lies and, in fact, are not true, there is no well-defined branch of psychology that goes by that name.. Emotions are components that address many branches and approaches of psychology at the same time.

31. You plan to create a specific savings fund to cover book expenses.

Studying this career means investing a lot of money in buying psychology books that, unless they are 600-page manuals, you will devour greedily.

32. You realize that you read more during your lunch breaks than during your last semester of compulsory education.

Learning psychology involves transforming books into a second brain.

33. You begin to look for evolutionarily advantageous characteristics in your potential mates.

You will look especially for waist-hip ratio and dark thriad.