What area of science do you enjoy most?

[Hipster]

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You clearly haven't taken beyond a 100 level psych class if you think psychology is mainly subjective. And what theories are you talking about? Before you give me some bs quote from freudian psychologists you have to realize that most sciences evolve from speculation/philosophical questions, just like psychology had some unscientific beginnings, so did other "more" scientific fields like biology (people once thought we had things called "humors" controling our behavior), chemistry (alchemy) astronomy (geocentric universe) etc... so yes you could argue that psychology isn't a science based on a few famous (read: popular) theories from the late 1800's and early 1900's but that's not what modern psychology is about.

So what are some factual psychological theories (that don't involve neuroscience or chemistry)?

For example, the Rorschach inkblot tests. I see something in a picture, and based off what I see a psychologist can tell me something about my personality. But his interpretation of what I see is subjective. What if I was in a bad mood that day and saw something I don't normally see? And you can find holes like these in a LOT of psychology concepts.

I'm not saying that its not a science - I'm saying that no other "science" borders on pseudoscience as much as psychology.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

So what are some factual psychological theories (that don't involve neuroscience or chemistry)?

For example, the Rorschach inkblot tests. I see something in a picture, and based off what I see a psychologist can tell me something about my personality. But his interpretation of what I see is subjective. What if I was in a bad mood that day and saw something I don't normally see? And you can find holes like these in a LOT of psychology concepts.

I'm not saying that its not a science - I'm saying that no other "science" borders on pseudoscience as much as psychology.

There are plenty of theories in psychology that are statistically based. However the problem is that for any given situation or behavior there can be and likely are many contributing factors and reasons for why it occurs. I wouldn't say that psychology borders pseudoscience as much as psychology is a significantly more complex and murky science than biology or chemistry.
A Rorschach inkblot test really is a device/relic from a school of psychology that overall has been rejected as in majority more philosophic than statistics based, the school of psychodynamics. It is not representative of almost any of psychology today, which is a significantly more statistics based field than an observe and try to understand through one's logic.

 

[TodoLoPuedo]

Anatomy.

Specifically the musculoskeletal system

This. 👍

 

[Neurosis]

what are some factual psychological theories (that don't involve neuroscience or
chemistry)?

Um. what's wrong with psychology "borrowing" from other sciences? I'm pretty sure that bio borrows from chem a lot, likewise chemistry borrows from physics. Condering that the brain is considered to be the organ from which thought arises it only makes sense that neuroscience would be involved. A lot of people who don't consider psychology as a legitimate science are still clinging to the idea that their behavior can't be objectified/rationalized. They don't like the idea not being "unique". (note: not saying this is your reason, though, just an observation and listening to others)

 

[tenndoc]

ive really enjoyed abnormal psychology. i'd do that or clinical psychology. ive also really liked biochemical physiology

 

[CheA]

1) Artificial Intelligence/Mathematical Physics applied to medical research (my career)

Artificial intelligence and mathematical physics are very disparate fields...
If you manage to publish a research paper in that area, my hat is off to you. Do you have a research advisor? I cannot think of anyone doing this kind of study... unless if you mean mathematical physics in the sense of equations applicable to biological systems, e.g., Nernst equation and such...

 

[wazzumedguy]

Neurobiology or comparitive psychology!

 

[snap660]

organic chemistry

 

[McBatCommander]

Psychology/Biology/Chemistry of sex. Or evolutionary psychology.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Astronomy or astrophysics

 

[Buttafuoco]

Teratomas have always fascinated me. I am definitely interested in tissue and organ regeneration.

 

[Camy99]

Physical Chemistry. Also, AO and MO theory.

You are a mad man(/woman).

For me it'd be Organic Chemistry/Synthesis. I enjoy Physics and Math as well but I don't think I'd want to get super advanced in them--they can go a bit nutty.

 

[HipChick]

Biomechanics.

 

[dmf2682]

Aerodynamics, particularly subsonic viscous flows

 

[justtrying]

Organic chemistry as a whole cuz its so logical and excellent for building upon other subjects. But ochem is entirely dependent on your teacher or reading skillz

 

[kami333]

Molecular biology and molecular genetics, specifically phenotype/genotype correlation and post-transcriptional/translational modification and regulation. I've also been working with a lot of viral vector based gene therapy and exon skipping, pretty interesting stuff theoretically but very frustrating in practice.

 

[ineed2stpsmurfn]

physiology, hands down. It's the closest you get in undergrad to applying science knowledge to understand disease states in the body. Once you do that, you can figure out what needs to be done to fix them... i.e. what medicine is all about.😍

all of these other classes people are listing are just kinda... extraneous imho.

 

[ineed2stpsmurfn]

Psychology

lololol

Oh wait you said science...

agreed..

really?

yes, really lol.

Yes really...

Psychology is a pretty subjective area of study....


Chemistry... Math... Engineering... Biology...

Psychology:

What people major in when they don't know what the heck they want to do in life, and want an easy major. And besides, 90% of the people I have met in psychology are socially awkward and want to psychoanalyze people because they think its "cool".

there, fixed it for you. Btw, that 90% comment is soooo true.

Since entering college I've discovered that I actually hate science until the teacher relates to medicine (which doesn't happen very often). But I really do enjoy the brief time we talk about the nervous system, which is why I think neurology is my calling. (either that FM or EM)

congratulations, you've discovered why physiology is THE class to take in undergrad if you're premed.

You clearly haven't taken beyond a 100 level psych class if you think psychology is ...blah blah random useless fact blah...1800's and early 1900's but that's not what modern psychology is about.

so anyways, care to explain why psychology isn't included in the bcpm...?


and yes, again, 90% of the ppl in psychology are socially awkward. it's just the way it is.

 

[Neurosis]

so anyways, care to explain why psychology isn't included in the bcpm...?


and yes, again, 90% of the ppl in psychology are socially awkward. it's just the way it is.

, by that logic any science besides Biology, Chemistry, and Physics like...Environmental Science, Earth Science (Geology), and Astronomy/Cosmology are to be disregarded as non-science too, and in case your head is so stuck up your own ass that you missed this, I believe with the change to the MCAT it is very likely schools will add psychology/sociology to the premedical curriculum. Will it be added into the sGPA? Maybe, maybe not. But saying something isn't a science by virtue of your ignorance is just not flattering.

I dunno about the socially awkward part...that maybe true after all...😳

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I don't know about those numbers but there are 3 types of people in psych majors , losers who didn't want to do a business major (50+%), people trying to understand themselves better: socially awkward, and then the crazies ( me) who are trying to get a foundation that will be practical in real medicine.
But anyway, I digress, if you're not crazy and a psych major then you need a different major.

 

[psychgirrrl]

lololol


agreed..


yes, really lol.


there, fixed it for you. Btw, that 90% comment is soooo true.


congratulations, you've discovered why physiology is THE class to take in undergrad if you're premed.


so anyways, care to explain why psychology isn't included in the bcpm...?


and yes, again, 90% of the ppl in psychology are socially awkward. it's just the way it is.

It may not be included in the bcpm but it sure will be included on the MCAT beginning 2015. I feel bad for those who feel the need to bash other people's passions to make themselves feel special. Who cares if Psychology majors are awkward? Albert Einstein couldn't count the change in his pocket to take the trolley home, does that mean he was a shame to the field of physics?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

In regard to psychology not being a science well, it has some parts that are less scientific than others. No one is going to deny that strict social psychological studies are hard science. However that is a single dimension of psychology, many others will be interested in the underlying neural systems, endocrinology, and genetics which are relevant to behaviors, including social behaviors.
Likewise there are plenty of concentrations in psychology that not just use biological methods of analysis, but actually reference biological theory to explain the psychology, such as developmental psychology, which could easily spend time in regard to certain genetic expressions and neural developments which produce distinct stages of development.
So yah, psychology is really thanks to developments in technology flourishing as methods are becoming a lot more objective and parsimonious.

 

[octupus]

prion diseases. definitely.

 

[psychgirrrl]

I don't know about those numbers but there are 3 types of people in psych majors , losers who didn't want to do a business major (50+%), people trying to understand themselves better: socially awkward, and then the crazies ( me) who are trying to get a foundation that will be practical in real medicine.
But anyway, I digress, if you're not crazy and a psych major then you need a different major.

Pretty much agree.
I consider myself to be on the quirky side, although I am pretty good at hiding it, and I specifically chose Psychology because I wanted to understand where my patients are coming from and find ways to listen without being a judgmental, pompous, a hole of a physician. The people in my major are the most fun, genuine humans I have met in a long time. They may be socially awkward but they always have a kind word and a hand to offer to help. They don't get my pre-med problems but they make me feel better when they just listen and diagnose me as OCD and a masochist. I truly appreciate their diagnosis...at least I fit into the DSM

 

[DinoSaysRawr]

Physics. Actually thinking about changing my major to it when I transfer schools, but then again, that's probably a bad idea GPA wise. 🙁

 

[Amba]

Loving parasitology at the moment.

 

[phonyreal98]

lololol


agreed..


yes, really lol.


there, fixed it for you. Btw, that 90% comment is soooo true.


congratulations, you've discovered why physiology is THE class to take in undergrad if you're premed.


so anyways, care to explain why psychology isn't included in the bcpm...?


and yes, again, 90% of the ppl in psychology are socially awkward. it's just the way it is.

For the OP: cognitive/behavioral neuroscience

 

[Life Eternal]

Bioorganometallic chemistry

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Neurobiology, Astrophysics, and Microbiology.
Orgo is prob my favorite out of the pre-reqs.