Question for anyone into Psychology

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When I was learning Psychology I LOVED it but later got kicked out of College. My mom says I was too into it (which I explained was Special Interest/AS etc.) but she hated me analyzing everything they did. I feel bad since my mom's ultimatium is IF YOU ARE DOING PSYCHOLOGY COURSES YOU AREN'T LIVING UNDER THIS ROOF! I was happiest learning Psychology but feel bad my mom's against me getting back into it. (It was too the point where they'd put me down and I'd go cry into a pillow!) Any life tips? IMO mom should support me I AM her daughter and I suppose I could try to change that behavior but any tips TO change the analyzing behavior? I LOVED PSYCHOLOGY!! !! ! (I also sadly can't think of any other field sure I play videogames but can't see myself making them) With Psychology there ARE SO MANY TOPICS I could write a paper within a DAY! and A Psychologist who did a podcast said my idea I asked him about there was no research and asked if I was looking into doing a Master's Thesis I DON'T EVEN HAVE AN AA DEGREE YET!! !! !! !! !!

Why don't you tell her that you're taking the course as it's what you are interested in and that you feel that as a parent she should be supportive. It's ok to analyse if that's what you like to do, but don't talk to her so much about it so that she doesn't find it irratating. just because it absoloutly facinates you does not mean that she is remotely interested in it. I personaly love psychology, I take neroscience so i understand your facination with the brain

Im sorry to hear that your mum was so against you doing a degree which is related to your special interest.

When you say that you were thrown out of college, was that by the college or by your mother ? If you do not want to say openly about what happened then PM me.

I have a passing interest in the workings of the mind, but my passion in life has to be chemistry. I work at a university as a lecturer in chemistry, so I am proof that a person with AS can do something useful with their special topic.

I might be a native speaker of some areas chemistry while I am fluent in most chemistry, so I can not offer any advice about the Psychology department of an university.

I know that some people who have a personal problem or a quirk in their life can do very well in an accademic subject which relates to their issue. I heard of one woman who had a nasty blood disease who when she did a biology degree who was a very great expert in all things associated with blood.

I notice that you are in the US, I know that in some parts of the world it is possible to take a degree in the comfort of your home with the open university. Does a similar thing exist in the US, also did you get any credits which you could use towards a degree while you were at college ?

One thing which I worry about university psychology is this, some time ago at some university it was a requirement that the students should be willing to be experimental subjects in research studies.

Read the following for more detail

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/s ... ode=179113

Sounds like the problem is what you do with the psychology you learn. Do you comment on what people in your family do and tell them what their motives are? I think people generally don't like that when you're wrong, because it makes them feel you're a smartass. They like it even less when you're right, because then they worry they will lose all privacy when you're around.

Gromit I believe this was the case with me learning Psychology. I analyzed everything they did and how they were treating my little sisters. Although IMO an ACTUAL Psychologist would have issue with behaviors I saw in them at the time I asked my teacher about if I commented on her parenting what she'd do she said she'd say thanks and move on. (She was very polite) while mom blew her top over it LOL!

I'd think negative things about your mother, in all likelihood. In any case, yes, even if people are doing hurtful things, it is often better to leave it be simply because people are jerks.

In any case, if you love psychology so much, then it may be in your best interest to try to find a way back into college, and at least study any sort of social science(many social sciences can overlap with psychology to some extent) or philosophy(philosophy of mind has an overlap with psychology) or perhaps biology(claim that there is some other motive other than your love of psychology). If you don't explicitly study psychology, then you might have enough freedom in your studies such that if you can get into grad school, you can forge your own path. I would recommend that you keep your thoughts and ideas on these issues secret though, because obviously your parents are against the matter. In any case, I would argue that you should attempt to further your interest in psychology, all behind your parent's backs and if you can get back to a college campus, try to find psychology people or professors to talk to about your interests. The reason being that you lose too much if you just hold yourself subservient to their interests. You do have to learn to be somewhat secretive if you do this, and be willing to take conflicts as necessary.

My advice would be to get back into college and get that psychology degree otherwise you will spend the rest of your life regreting it. Then get a masters and get acredited as a psychologist or phychartrist so you can get paid for those kind of comments. Until then if you plan to still be around your mother keep your mouth shut about your family's behaviour until you are fully accredited, employed and self sufficient so what she has to say doesn't matter.

Study psychology, but don't try to analyze your family's behavior.

Some things which seem to me important and relevant to what you have said are as follows. You've clearly thought deeply about your own situation already, so some or all may have already occurred to you.

* Analyse the possible causes for her aversion to being analysed--what are the things she likely finds so unpleasant about it (for example being portrayed in a negative unflattering way)?

* Rather than trying to completely stop talking about psychology with her, maybe just strictly avoid saying the sorts of things which may be unpleasant to her, which may increase her dislike of your study of psychology. If you do speak about psychology, increase the proportion of things you say which are pleasant for her to hear (thus increasing the amount of positive reinforcement she gets for hearing you speak on psychology, and avoiding negative reinforcement which may have caused/increase/maintain her aversion (see 'Behaviour Modification: What it is and how to do it' (8th edition or later), by Martin et al -- p. 175: "Making Words Unpleasant" for example)).

* Although some things are better left unsaid, often it's possible to say the same thing, making the essentially same point, in a different way, which doesn't upset or offend the other person. This is surely an important skill for anyone, especially if interested in psychology.

* Remember that in analyzing others or trying to explain the causes of anything, we are very often likely to be more or less wrong. The history of science shows this over and over again. We can only claim that our explanations for things are possibilities, more or less seeming to be supported by evidence, but always ultimately uncertain. It's better academically to keep this clear when sharing ideas with others--whether speaking with family or writing papers for university (especially scientific speculation).

I hope you continue pursuing an education in psychology. Good luck.