Personal Reflection on the Intersection of Lived Experiences and Psychology

Posted: April 4th, 2019

PSY 120. After reading your textbook and listening to the podcast Links to an external site. on whether psychology is a science, please answer the following questions:

How have your lived experiences- such as where you grew up and with whom and your cultural values shaped your views of psychology? Please provide specific personal examples and elaborate on how these experiences have influenced your understanding of psychology.
Post an image, giph, or meme that comes to mind when you hear the word “psychology.”Explain the significance of the chosen image and how it relates to your understanding of psychology.Make sure to embedLinks to an external site. the image/giph/meme (not attach or else you will not receive credit for this assignment)
What makes psychology a science? Provide at least two specific examples from the podcast to form your argument and critically analyze how they support psychology’s status as a scientific discipline. If you do not provide examples from the podcast you will not receive credit.
Now, Please visit this APA websiteLinks to an external site. and explore the various subfields in psychology. Pick one subfield that was particularly interesting to you. Summarize the types of careers in this subfield and why you were drawn to this subfield. Remember to use your own words (don’t directly copy and paste as this is plagiarism).
What question(s) do you have after to the podcast that you hope to explore in this course? Be sure to include references to specific parts of the podcast in your response. Please note: “I don’t have any questions”, or any variation of this statement, is not an acceptable response and you will not receive credit.
EXAMPLE OF A RESPONSE THAT RECEIVED CREDIT:
Thinking back to where I grew up, the way I grew up, and who has shaped my views of psychology by making me realize that I am brought up in a family that is tough, we never give up even if something is hard. For example just because I don’t want to run because I know it’s going to be hard doesn’t stop me from pushing myself to go do that run and prove to the other side of doubt that i can do it if I just tried and pushed myself. As this also leads down to things not being as hard anymore and me thinking of them as easy because I have done harder things in my past which helps me look at it in the way that it will be easy. In other words, my mindset has changed because of the past experiences I’ve had.
2.That’s Psych!: Welcome to That’s Psych!
After listening to the podcast I do believe that psychology is a science because it could be used as a way to come down to a conclusion about what may be wrong with the patient. Whether it’s depression, ADHD, etc. One of the reasons from the podcast that proved this for me was that even if you put someone’s head in a CAT scan you still won’t know how they are feeling or if they are depressed. You have to ask so just like depression is treated as part of science so may psychology. And another reason that proved it to me from the podcast is the way it is explained that there have been multiple other tests but it still won’t give those people clear answers rather than what the psychologist gets after going through their attitude of skepticism and making a judgment off that.
The subfield I chose was Understanding Climate and Environmental Psychology. The main types of careers in this subfield are studying the fact of what and how will motivate people to change their behavior in certain times and places. As the goal is to let people live a more continuous life. I was drawn to this subfield because I have noticed that certain places will put me in a bad mood, and most of the time it’s because of past experiences I have had there making it where I don’t want to be there again but I have to so it changes my mood.
A question I had from the podcast “Psychology in 10 Minutes” stated that opposites don’t attract. But after seeing and hearing about certain situations where the people are opposite and do get along, also the way he stated that every time this is brought up someone mentions that they and their partner are opposites but they get along. So why can’t opposites attract?

Personal Reflection on the Intersection of Lived Experiences and Psychology

Introduction:
The field of psychology is a complex tapestry interwoven with personal experiences, cultural values, and scientific rigor. This article delves into the intimate connection between one’s lived experiences and their understanding of psychology. Drawing from personal anecdotes, the significance of psychology as a science, exploration of subfields, and lingering questions from a podcast, this article seeks to provide insights into the dynamic relationship between personal history and psychological perspectives.

Lived Experiences and Shaping Views of Psychology:
Personal experiences play a pivotal role in shaping one’s views of psychology. For instance, growing up in a family that values perseverance has led to a mindset that embraces challenges as opportunities for growth. Pushing oneself beyond perceived limitations, such as running despite initial reluctance, illustrates how past experiences influence current beliefs. This transformation in mindset underscores the impact of lived experiences in shaping attitudes toward psychology.

Image Representation: [Embed image/meme/giph here]
The chosen image of a person lifting a heavy weight symbolizes the challenges individuals face and conquer through the lens of psychology. Just as lifting weights leads to physical strength, psychological tools and understanding empower individuals to overcome mental barriers. This resonates with the idea that psychology equips us to handle life’s challenges through better understanding our minds.

Psychology as a Science:
Psychology’s status as a science is affirmed through its systematic approach and empirical basis. From the podcast, two compelling examples highlight psychology’s scientific nature. First, the challenge of understanding a person’s feelings through a CAT scan illustrates that psychological states cannot be deduced solely from physical measurements. This emphasizes the need for direct inquiry, mirroring the scientific method’s emphasis on observation and hypothesis testing. Second, the podcast’s explanation of the skepticism and judgment exercised by psychologists underscores the scientific rigor in forming conclusions based on evidence rather than assumptions. Such practices differentiate psychology as a systematic discipline rooted in empirical investigation.

Exploration of Subfields – Environmental Psychology:
Among the diverse subfields within psychology, Understanding Climate and Environmental Psychology stands out. This subfield examines the motivational factors that drive behavioral change in response to environmental issues. The focus on improving people’s lives resonates with personal experiences of certain environments affecting mood. This subfield’s emphasis on understanding and enhancing well-being aligns with the idea that our surroundings can deeply impact our mental state.

Unanswered Questions and Podcast Reflections:
The podcast “Psychology in 10 Minutes” stimulates thought-provoking questions. The assertion that opposites don’t attract prompts curiosity, given the many instances of opposite personalities harmonizing. This contradiction between theory and reality highlights the complexity of human interactions, urging further exploration. It encourages a deeper dive into the intricacies of interpersonal dynamics and compatibility, demonstrating psychology’s continuous evolution in understanding human behavior.

Conclusion:
Personal experiences, cultural values, and empirical inquiry are threads intricately woven into the fabric of psychology. As this article has explored, psychology’s scientific foundation, subfields like Environmental Psychology, and lingering questions from podcasts collectively illuminate the interdisciplinary nature of psychology. The dynamic interplay between individual histories and psychological insights underscores the field’s richness and ongoing exploration into the depths of human behavior.

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