I am a psychology student. And I am NOT a psychic.

This one, this subsequent hate message that you are about to be subjected to, is for all the aunties, uncles, highly educated academicians, under educated students and all those out there who think that I can,
a. read their mind
b. see the future
c. tell their personality/psychology/or any other variant.

This is also for those people who want to stay away from me because they think I am secretly psychoanalyzing them. So, before I begin, I just want to say, that psychology, psychiatry or any other field of behavioral science does not make psychics, palm readers, lie detectors. My bachelors degree in psychology will not give me any superpowers. ( although, I hope it gives me the power to ignore) 

Psychology is a science.

It is not a perfect science. ( thank you for pointing that out, mom and dad)

As a science, it tries to objectively measure, analyze, study, observe behavior and mental processes. Yes, I said objectively. And this is where the problem lies. Psychology gets misunderstood as a field because what it studies, that is behavior and thoughts and feelings, is something we ALL study and understand on a daily basis. And we need to be our own shrink because we need to function and survive with all these people around us. 

Therefore, since everyone is a shrink, the value of the real shrink is pretty much shrunk.  

This would have remained the case had there not been so many conflicting views on life in folk psychology. 

( yes, you common folk, we like to give you your due; 

  turns out philosophers have argued over you.

  and ceteris paribus, you cannot be true,

 there is only so much you can construe.) 

So, which one is it? Absence make the heart go fonder. or out of sight out of mind? Opposites attract or birds of a feather flock together? Do I only live once or better be safe than sorry? If you want to read more on how these proverbs measure up in psychology, go here; http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199711/folk-wisdom-was-grandma-right

Another problem that I have is that the under reliance, yet over usage, of psychology principles in economics, political science, public policy or any thing else that involves human beings and their behavior. The consumer's equilibrium, Keynesian theory, rights and citizenship are all based on assumptions that are psychological in nature. The applications of such principles then becomes dicey because we are relying on well, assumptions.  The onus here lies primarily on psychologists, but is awesome to see fields like political psychology and neuroeconomics( go away red squiggly line, it really is a field of study) burgeon. 

So, the next time you ask me to read your mind or hand or body language or anything else, I will say to you what     Shakespeare so succinctly wrote: 

" Give me your hand.
  I can tell your fortune.
  You are a fool." 
 ( Two Noble Kinsmen, Act 3, Scene 5)

Proof: You don't need a fancy camera to take fancy photos.

All of these were taken from a 2 megapixel camera from my ex phone, LG GB230, which is perhaps the silliest, crappiest phone ever. In fact, I only ever knew 1 other person who had it. She got a new phone recently. 

It's the view that counts.

I still want a Canon DSLR. 

This was just an attempt to dissuade myself to ask for one.

It's not really working. 

Daaaaddddd!

Beast of burden

:)




Tie my hands. 

Tie my feet.

Cover my mouth.

Don't let me speak.

Render me obsolete

I'm at your mercy.

Useless.

Powerless.

Invincible.

I can be.

No, you don't get me.

No, we don't talk about it.

No, I don't need you.

You come to me.

Overcome me.

I hear my voice,

once yours leaves me.

I obey your thoughts,

once, you free me.

And all you ever 

want to do is

'make love to me'

When you are in me, I feel alive. I won't get out. I won't be free.

Useless.

Powerless.

Invincible.

I can be.

What you learn when the Indian education system allows you shit loads of time

I learnt about the forces that govern the subtle rules of decision making. Once the boards results, and CATE results, and CLAT results came out, I had to make a choice. Between law and psychology. Between the best law college and the best arts college. Between a pay cheque and a passion. 

It dawned upon me that all my cumulative attitudes, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, ideas...all boiled down to one decision. It was a scary prospect involving tears, arguments, concerned relatives, and hysterical prospects. 

My dad often tells his students, " Be the best whatever you can be. You want to be a chai wallah? Have the best tea stall there is." 

( I learnt to selectively listen to my parents, and to myself.) 

I learnt that I am an idealist. I thrive in theory. And that practicalities elude me. I also learnt that the world doesn't work the same way. 

During this period, I also undertook an internship at an MNC. A 9 to 5 job. I am not cut out for a 9 to 5 job. I can't suddenly switch on at 9 am and care about what I'm doing and stop at 5. 

Hence, I learnt about the kind of life I want to live. A life that involves creativity, action and intellectual pursuit ( I mentioned I'm an idealist, right?) 

Besides these massive life changing epiphanies, I've learnt to cook. When your Mom leaves for work at 9 and you wake up 11, breakfast is the next great adventure. In hindsight, not the tastiest adventure.

And I learnt the value of riyaaz. Holding down three keys and screaming your guts out, hoping to get your 'paa' correct does have certain musical advantages. 

I guess that is all that I have learnt. I need to leave some learning for college. 

Random spurts of Art.