Michael Mitchell: Archive

Dear Dr. Peterson,

Can I think of psychology as the style in which someone thinks? Or is it, as a subject of study for the sake of thinking correctly, more concerned with how?

For instance: I think there's something wrong with me. My dog died, but I'm not sad. Why?

See? There's a personal evaluation there that I don't think one person can make for another person, even if it's requested, and that's beyond the scope of the field of psychology, unless somehow science can show that sadness caused by one's dog's death is universal, in which case it would be a physiological problem beyond one's mind's direct control and still beyond the scope of the field of psychology -- to me.

I would say (to myself 😂) that I'm just being over-dramatic or illogical, because there could many reasons I'm not sad that my dog died, but if someone is really confused by their own emotions or their own expectations of themself, then finding (or even discovering, in extreme cases), one's personal method of thinking and staying consistently whoever they are is exactly what psychology is for. You can't just read that shit in a brainscan. There are too many extenuating circumstances. In order to help someone with such a problem, you really have to know almost as much about their life as they do.

I'm not sure "style" is the right word, but I think a course on logic from my psychologist is like expecting my gardener to teach me botany. I hired a professional so I wouldn't have to learn it. 🤣

Yours Truly,

Anonymous Writer With (Potentially) Millions Of Readers

XOXO