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- Jan 16, 2006
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destinydell said:When you've spent so many hours looking at the websites of various professors at grad schools you want to apply to that you open some random article on MSN, see a name, and say, 'oh, I know him...he's a psychologist at Yale who researches eating disorders. He got his PhD in 1979 and his favorite color is chartreuse.'
Seriously though, it's happened like three times that I've come across some vaguely psych related article and recognized the name of a professor of some college psych department. I don't know if that's impressive or very sad...
destinydell said:When you've spent so many hours looking at the websites of various professors at grad schools you want to apply to that you open some random article on MSN, see a name, and say, 'oh, I know him...he's a psychologist at Yale who researches eating disorders. He got his PhD in 1979 and his favorite color is chartreuse.'
Seriously though, it's happened like three times that I've come across some vaguely psych related article and recognized the name of a professor of some college psych department. I don't know if that's impressive or very sad...
PublicHealth said:Who is Kelly Brownell? [in my best Jeopardy! tone]
PsyDGrrrl said:I'm always embarrassed when I see a psychologist appearing on a talk show or being quoted in an article in something like Cosmo or some other trash rag. And I'm also embarrassed that Dr. Phil exists and that's what a lot of the population think that's what all psychologists are like.
docjohng said:Umm, why would you be embarrassed by these folks?
These folks are what give a public face to psychology and in fact, many of them are legitimate professionals with deep backgrounds and experience in the areas they discuss. Even though Dr. Phil isn't an ideal figure, he's the modern-day equivalent of Albert Ellis in many ways, calling BS on people in a format that many people relate to.
Don't think a doctorate gives you some special insight or ability that others should just respect you for. People respect you for who you are and the good work you do. Just because some of these people work more in the public eye shouldn't tell you they haven't worked hard to get to that point in their lives... and since that's what the public sees, that's how most people will judge you.
-John
PsyDGrrrl said:Yes, but Dr. Phil's work is not going to help these people in the long run and he makes it sound like all you need to do is listen to his one hour of advice and all your problems are solved. That's the American way - the quick fix - and it really doesn't work. Nor do people really learn anything about themselves, or the tools to solve the problems themselves.
And I should clarify, not all psychologists on talk shows embarrass me. It's those who stoop to the level of Jerry Springer and the trash talk shows, not shows like Oprah.
psisci said:NOT shows like Oprah? There will always be charlatans, and it is our job to educate our patients on what a real licensed psychologist should be...don't you think? Sorry I am not an Oprah fan, I feel she panders to the PC/ touchy-feely type mindset that gets many of my patients into Tx in the first place. 1st lesson= life is not fair.