a little clarification
When I tell people that I am a graduate student, I always dread the follow-up question. Because that question is, what program? and when I say, psychology, or even try to be more specific and say, social psychology, my answer is always misunderstood. People assume that I counsel people or want to counsel people or am learning to diagnose people. They say things like, wow, you should study my crazy family, or uh-oh, are you going to diagnose me? When I try to explain that I don’t do that kind of psychology, it usually gets me nowhere.
Even my own mother has no idea what I do. I was lamenting the fact that jobs in my field are scarce a few months ago. She said that there were lots of jobs in Kentucky (where she lives). I inquired further. She said that yes, there were lots of jobs working as a counselor for this or that and that they started at 60 thousand dollars a year, etc. I said that I don’t do that kind of psychology. She got huffy with me and said, well, I know it’s not your first choice, but I was just suggesting it as a backup plan. What she failed to understand is that I am not even remotely trained to do what most people think of when they hear "psychology". When I say "psychology" they just hear "therapy".
I just stumbled across a blog entry that I think may clear up a few things. I may just have to memorize the url or have cards printed up or something. This entry lists 10 brilliant social psychology experiments. This is the heart of what social psychology is all about. These are the experiments that lit a fire in my mind. This is what I do with my time. Or what I would be doing if I could create experiments this cool.
Truth be told, in the last year, I’ve actually been doing more research that blends social psychology with other branches of psychology, like developmental and clinical. But it’s still research oriented and I still can’t tell you what to do with your life. Well, I guess I can tell you if you ask, but I can’t get paid for it.
Heather I occasionally check out the blogging world and I always love to see your posts but
I generally do not comment I just kind of lurk when I have a moment but I feel really compelled
to let you know that you are so who you are. I am not even sure how to say this but I get
who you are and what you want to do and I need to tell you that it is so you. From the moment
I meet you I got it from you. You are awesome and who you are and I am so thrilled to know
you. Keep up your great work and remember that what you do makes you an awesome mom.
Comment by Connie — November 19, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
Hey,
I read a little about what you do and it sounds fascinating. Coming at it from a political angle and watching as people play out their scripts, bounce off each other’s stuff and generally end up doing the very same things they swear they abhor and want to change about the world…myself included…I’ve been thinking more and more in terms of how human beings “work” and the various steps through time, as we moved collectively and socially, that got us to this place. Thanks for sharing info about what it is you do.
Comment by darkdaughta — December 13, 2007 @ 6:04 pm