Why do people who go to college often use that as a means to make others believe they know more than them?

[Anonymous]

Like if you’re debating with someone who went to school for something specific like psychology and you guys are speaking on depression. You’re saying depression doesn’t have to be permanent and the one who went to school for psychology is saying it is permanent because their books and studies in school told them so. Which, to them, that means it makes it a fact. Basically, disregarding real life facts where people have overcame depression.

[SallyTho87]

People CAN absolutely overcome depression, but those who attended psychology studies in college or university will have a better understanding of the diagnosis, the medical aspect, the symptoms, the challenges, etc. that depression entails.
If the student who attended school is using textbook information, which is fact based, stemming from research, years of studies, patient studies, etc. I would gladly accept their more expert opinion based from factual evidence and medical reference, over someone who may have done research.

That is why we attend college, to learn more about specific interests so we can know more than the average individual, and obtain more information from specified sources, studies, theories, etc. than just online research or questions can provide.

[Asker]

It’s absolutely nothing wrong with attending college and getting more information on things someone who didn’t go to college doesn’t have. You can potentially sharpen someone else’s mind with the knowledge you gained in whatever you went to school and studied but there’s a difference between textbook facts and actual real life facts. Books/studies have been accurate about many things but there has also been things studied and taught in school that were able to be debated against due to things in life sort debunking the information received in school.

[SallyTho87]

Textbook facts, ARE true facts, with scientific evidence behind them. So the person who attended college or university, DOES know more, as they literally studied it. Textbooks are not theories, they are ALL evidence based from studies, and published.

[Dinklex3]

… I feel like nobody with a bachelors in psychology would ever say something so completely wrong and dumb.

& it’s because they’re saying that they’re educated in that specific topic. Certifications and continuing education do matter. I’m going to believe my doctor vs a friend that googled something and thinks something will happen based on their experience. & I’m going to believe a specialist vs my PCM.

[Makeushiver]

Well, with more education so they probably do. That doesn't mean they are smarter. All it is really an accumulation of knowledge. Facts that may come in handy if the appear on jeopardy and making cocktail conversation. Smart trumps educated most of the time. It actually n sounds as if you would like donor were considering further education so don't let interpersonal issues drag you down.

[IslaTheWitch]

depression is one of those illnesses that leaves us with a higher possibility of the next episode.

that's why very often we say it stays forever. Because it depends on the perspective, if the chance of a depressive episode is much higher, it can also mean that the illness is in remission... until the next time.

so perspective matters and both ways of wording it mean the same.