Is psychology profession heartless?

[lightbulb27]

I'm helping my step daughter study for Psychology. Everything I see is viewing humans as if they are a lab rat... an animal. There seems no thought nor concern in the heart or spiritual level.

Key things people need most... love, connection, compassion, guidance, support... seems devoid. I see no training for it in the profession. When do people learn to care for another? It's like they want to treat people in a white lab coat and not get that coat dirty.

When I think of therapists I went to, quite a few... were very disconnected emotionally... thus useless.

Is this profession screwed up and is it possible to unscrew it?

Hi, I'll tell you whats wrong with you, but I don't give a crap about you.

[Lliam]

I don't have much experience with shrinks.

When I was growing up, a neighbor who was good friends with my mom became a psychiatrist. She always seemed like she was analyzing (judging) people and making assessments about their various psychopathologies. As if there is any such thing as normal.
I was struck by how she could maintain an ambiguous smile on her face all the time that struck me as condescending.

It made me think that all psychologists did was look for things that are wrong with a person instead of focusing on their humanity.

By the way, that lady, herself, was messed up.

Nowdays, I think psychiatrists, who are PhDs, are really into prescribing drugs to treat symptoms or anxieties.

Even before we were married, and a couple times after we were married, my wife asked if I would go with her to couple's counselors. It wasn't because we were having problems. She just felt that it was a way to learn about each other and strengthen our relationship.

I found those people to be quite genuine. They weren't looking for psyschopathologies. They just had my wife and I ask each other questions. With our answers, they then encouraged us to dig deep into why we had those attitudes or behaviors.

Some of it was uncomfortable but, overall, it was very enlightening. I learned things about myself that I hadn't understood or even thought of.

They offered advice and taught skills, too. They even shared information and anecdotes about themselves. They weren't hiding behind their "superiority".

My wife and I learned a lot about ourselves and each other. It helped us to be more honest with ourselves and open with each other. Plus we learned a lot about healthy communication skills.

[lightbulb27]

Yes, that sounds like a very mature and healthy process to get a good start. Everyone should do that in some fashion. I went to couples counseling but it wasn't so effective as we were battling.

Yes psychiatrists, only saw one as thought I may be ADD, but didn't push meds, I wasn't. but they do when they find an issue... It's unfortunate our system is based upon masking symptoms, takes a seeking mind to find their way out of whatever trap they fell in in this world. Professional help sometimes, isn't.

[GubGubo]

There are MANY different perspectives in psychology and there are two that adapt to this complaint. Humanistic psychology and positive psychology are very human oriented and aren’t so “heartless”, but every perspective has its strengths and weaknesses.

[GubGubo]

Therapists most always practice positive psychology from what I’ve been exposed to, the other perspectives are very emphasized in different professions and areas of study though, because there you’re usually working with statistics and science, not people.

[lightbulb27]

Wouldn't it be better to be loved and cared about by your therapists, rather than it be some kind of engagement in intellectual knowledge?

[GubGubo]

Therapists may talk about psychology but for the most part they’re just employing it to help their client achieve what they want to achieve. Like for instance there is Carl Roger’s unconditional positive regard which proposes that the best way to help people is to support them unconditionally. A therapist doesn’t really engage in conversation about unconditional positive regard itself so much as they would USE the proposal to help their clients

[Agape93]

Hardly. What she's doing, the knowledge, is academic. The human connection is a different beast entirely.

[lightbulb27]

she's?
yes it is academic agree, but do they learn and develop their human connection potential... or is it even shunned... ethically?

[Agape93]

Yes, she, unless your step daughter is a man.

Yeah, they do, and a lot is intrinsic to that person. Go on YouTube and watch some stuff from Katie Morton.

[lightbulb27]

oh yea, that she... haha.
agree.

[DJB72]

It depends on the school of thought by the lecturers. Behavioural psychology can seem clinical in the early stages of learning and is actually derived from animal studies. Moving through the syllabus should broaden to include the emotional side.

A psychologist or counsellor needs to be able to identify attachments and avoid becoming too personally involved emotionally or they can't be the objective ear they need to be.

[lightbulb27]

Great answer!
I think as well though, what people want... is emotional support. sounds like this person can't do it due to the arrangement and roles.

[Astarlessnightsky]

Humans are just animals who think they are more than animals.

[lightbulb27]

haha... I like that. So a person thinkith, they becomith?
we are, but we aren't.

[Anonymous]

I look at psychology as man yet again trying to think he can control everything. Keep in mind psychologists are typically doctors. Most doctors are compassionate people. But not all doctor's always listen to thier patients. Doctor's are all human and have bad days like everyone else. And some (hopefully few) might have what I like to call the "God complex". They went to school, earned a degree, they might even be highly respected in thier field. But that doesn't mean they know everything and can't still learn more.

[exitseven]

This is done to separate us from our feelings. Today the individual is viewed as the enemy. Anybody that stands for individual rights or the ability of a person to excessive his or her individuality is viewed somehow as wrong

[kakaling]

The thing is, what kind of person wants to be psychologist, does he have the talent, does everyone that learn the knowledge ever get a psychologist job.

[AngryCarl2]

No, quite the opposite. Psychologists are wonderful and intelligent people who just want to help you.

[In_Trance]

Show me a profession that's any different

[lightbulb27]

well... this is about humans returning to good functioning. it's not mathematical logic, it's emotional... and I'm not seeing that be trained... so far.

[In_Trance]

That's the point. It's not trained anywhere

[lightbulb27]

that's a big miss in society...