(no subject)

[tinsoldier.livejournal.com]

I've been a part of this communtity for about a year now, and for the most part I'm usually rather quiet, but for a moment I'm going to speak up about a couple of things I've noticed in the past and recently.

I'd like to make a couple of disclaimers so that each you has an idea of where I'm coming from.

I'm currently studying to get a PhD in clinical psychology, so I think that some of you view me--and those from my discipline--as the enemy. However, I'd also mention that I'm also the survivor of sexual trauma deep in my childhood, which I should point out that most people drawn to this field have experienced something in their past that gives them reason to find their interest.

It's that moniker of "enemy," that I wast to try to address. The things I'm putting in quotes aren't necessarily direct quotations and will more than likely be paraphrasings of comments I've seen.


"Psychology isn't a science; it's a philosopy, with little or no scientific backing."

If one looks to the beginnings of psychology only, I'd agree with this, but it's changed a lot, and now it's very much a very critical, empirical science. I'd ask anyone who believes this to find a couple of peer-reviewed psychological journals and glance through them. While psychology has roots in a philosophy, in every top tier journal, you'll find very little in the way of philosophical discussion and much more in the way of statistical analyses and empirical evidence. Further, if one looks to the roots of any science, you'll find philosophy. Just take a look at early theories on why planets moved as they did and how the spheres were moved by "intelligences" as they passed their way around the earth.

"Psychologists are all out to get us, and if you're not careful, they'll have you committed and work on reintegration."

I'm going to work on this a bit backwards. A large number of studies I've read about DID (aka MPD) state that there are usually a large number of malingerers (fakers), and that the actual prevalence rate of DID is rather low (I don't have the literature in front of me, so I can't quote a number). However, while we're trained to be skeptical until we can verify anything empirically, we're also cautioned against just labelling anyone without proof in one direction or the other. It can be likened to the legal concept of "innocent until proven guilty." That ideal is something that I've really taken to heart. So, I treat anyone presenting with a problem the same, until I'm given something that can sway my belief in one direction or the other. That's the tack I'd ask everyone to take with me, and those in my discipline. Feel free to have a healthy dose of skepticism, but in the same breath, don't paint me with a wide brush that I don't deserve.

A lot of psychological thought is based around looking for new ways to think about things, and finding new and better solutions. Think about something that was taken out of the DSM with it's last revision. In the not to recent past, homosexuality was a diagnosable mental illness. Because of the work of a lot of people, it no longer is. A lot of psychologists believe highly in "Criterion B," which is the idea that just because a person has what could be termed abnormal behaviors or beliefs, they can't be diagnosed with a disorder, if it's not causing a significant level of discomfort or disturbance to those around them. The example that one of my professors used is that of a person who believes that that space aliens are beaming signals into his brain that cause him to have to go out and help people. If the people he's helping and he himself aren't disturbed, then he can't be diagnosed as psychotic, just eccentric.

Lastly, I'd point out that on several ocassions I've personally come to the defense of people from this community on other communities to correct others or clarify misconceptions. I'm not here to bother anyone; I'm just here to observe and try to bring light to darkness.


I apologize for being so long-winded, but this subject is something I feel very passionate about. I'm working towards my degrees not because I've a desire to make a lot of money; I'm working as hard as I am in order to help others. I look upon my personal path as that of a caregiver, with little regard for how much money I can make doing it. ...and from what I've seen, the vast majority of psychologists have much the same driving force behind them. Most have spent a lot of money getting to where they are, deal with the stress of their jobs constantly, but wouldn't trade what they're doing for anything.

As I've said to others in my personal journal, I constantly fight the monster in my basement. Most of the time I win, other times I don't fare so well, but on a philosophic and metaphoric level if I can take others who are losing more than winning and help them learn how defeat the monsters in their basements, then I'll be a happy human being at the end of my life.