Written by Modenie
The Value of Critical Thinking in the Field of Psychology
One of the psychology myths that I’ve heard while in college was that psychologists can read the mind. During my freshman year in college, some college friends often asked about my major and I usually replied “psychology” and they immediately said, “So, you can read my mind, right?” I did not understand their way of thinking but to them, when someone chooses to study human behavior, he or she probably possesses some extra power. However, it is just an opinion. I think people believe in this myth since they know that psychology is the study of how the mind functions. What some people failed to realize is that psychologists study the mind and behavior, but they can’t predict the future. Psychology allows one to experience the whole human experience and it is a fascinating field, but psychologists do not read people’s minds.
Psychology is not about reading the mind, but it is a fact that it can help us understand the human mind. Keen (2012) stated that “psych is taken to the brain” and that psychology should not be viewed as abstracts but as a platform to observe things or people. Therefore, if psychologists must observe human behavior and use psychology as a scientific study to bring out the facts, it is not just mind reading. I think people get confused with the word psych and automatically think that it pertains to mind reading. When differentiating this myth, psychology deals more of the mind, and a person’s action can be predictable after an observation, but it is not mindreading. Therefore, observing someone’s behavior is the key component for psychologists to not be viewed as “mind readers.”
For a reader to know if this myth described above is an opinion or a fact is to exercise good and logic in order to stay away from our own biases (Kurland, 2000). Most people already have prejudgment on how things should be in life. The reader must have an open mind to know what’s factual and what’s an opinion. Sometimes, facts must be proven whereas opinion is sometimes based on other’s viewpoints (Kurland, 2000). People in general will realize that someone’s point of view can be turned into facts if it can be proven.
Keen, A. (2012). Keeping the Psych in Psychology. The Humanistic Psychologist, 40, 224-231.
htpps://doi.org.10.1080/08873267.2012.642218
Kurland, D. J. (2000). How the language really works: The fundamentals of critical
reading and effective writing. Retrieved from http://www.criticalreading.com/criticalreadingthinkingtoc.htm
It’s fascinating how myths like “mind-reading psychologists” persist, even among college students! Psychology is often misunderstood, likely because of its intricate study of the mind and behavior. The crucial point is that: psychology is about understanding, observing, and interpreting human behavior, not possessing supernatural powers. There’s a major distinction between observing behavioral patterns and mind reading. Keen’s emphasis on psychology as a scientific and observational discipline is important to read. By observing behavior, psychologists can predict actions based on past patterns, but this is far from reading minds. It’s more about understanding the nuances of human behavior and using evidence-based practices to help individuals. As for distinguishing facts from opinions, Kurland’s point about critical thinking and avoiding biases is essential. It’s about being open-minded and discerning, which helps us separate myths from reality.