What comes to mind when you hear the word, psychology? When I tell people I study psychology they usually ask if I can read their minds or if I am psychoanalyzing them. Often it seems that many Christians are scared of psychology. I think the fear is because there is a lack of understanding of what defines psychology.
Psychology is derived from Greek meaning the study of the soul, mind, or breath.
The study of the soul and mind. That seems like something we as Christians should be interested in, right? We know that we must take our thoughts captive, renew our minds, and use discernment.
But somewhere along the way the study of the soul got hijacked.
There's debate amongst science nerds of whether or not psychology is really a science. Psychology didn't used to be too scientific; however, the newer study has shifted and grown just like the other sciences (Think early astronomy: the earth is flat and the center of the Universe-- quite a change, yes?!)
Usually people think of Sigmund Freud: the father of psychoanalysis and some pretty bizarre theories. He wrote a plethora of books trying to define his theories. That is NOT science. Sigmund Freud had many theories with little evidence. Case Studies do not mean science. Today, psychology is moving away from Sigmund Freud and his madness.
Science is precise, concise, and clear. Science seeks to remove variability because variability disguises the root of the problem.
In order to remove variability lab research is done. Psychology is not just hocus pocus and thinking happier thoughts about yourself. True psychology means studying the brain & mind: regions of the brain, neurotransmitters, cognition, memory, perception, social influences, motivation, and yes, abnormalities.
What about psychiatry?
Psychiatry is more hardware (physical brain) based. What happens when your body is deficient of iron or Vitamin C? Problems occur. When our brain is not transmitting enough serotonin, dopamine, and GABA problems also occur such as Alzheimer's and Bipolar.
Psychology is moving forward, away from Freud and Jung and onto actual science that involves experiments and research: neurophysiology, social psychology, and cognition. All of these are completely compatible with the Bible but just like anything can be misguided. With this, I ask my brothers and sisters to guide psychology and psychiatry. There is much headway being made that can affect our culture today.
An example: despite the promotion of self-esteem, research has shown that promoting intrinsic self-esteem with no strings attached is actually no good. Before research was actually done they saw a correlation between those who were high achievers and those who had high self-esteem. So, they figured that high self-esteem must make children high achievers.
Correlation does not equate causation.
No, those who have high self-esteem do not have high self-esteem for simply existing (this is called narcism...) high self-esteem and confidence stem from achievement!
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-fallible-mind/201201/the-key-self-esteem-accomplishment
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/smores-and-more/201112/the-gift-failure
Unfortunately, there is a delay between the research and the application. So, I encourage you, don't be scared of psychology! Read the facts and research and see how it could change the world around us. All truth is God's truth and can be used to glorify Him and help those around us. Plus, we can always point out that the principle came from God first ;)
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