Thursday, April 23, 2009

my other life as a Psychology teacher

Most of you know I am a Psychology Instructor, but just in case you don't, let me explain: I am a Psychology Instructor.
Seriously, I began my career (that sounds soooo grown-up and non-applicable to me, but it is what it is, I guess) as a Counselor, which I absolutely loved, but the lure of Academia (i.e., Summers OFF!) got the best of me after Jax was born and I transfered to full-time faculty in August of 2007. Last summer was my very first one to be off, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time at home with Jax.
Anywho, back to the Psychology part. I really enjoy teaching Psychology, although I find my students don't have anywhere close to the amount of enthusiasm, love and adoration for Psychology as I do.
That gets on my nerves.
Idk how ppl cant like Psy! (Let me decipher: "I don't know how people can't like Psychology!" For those of you that don't know, that's what I call Text Language, usually used when text messaging others, but it is also the kind of stuff I often get when I assign a formal paper, ha. I mean, this IS college!! ugh, kiz these dayz!)I can really feel a Soap Box coming on, so I better hurry and get to the point before this post becomes a novel.
So, ANYWAY, in Psychology, we have been discussing Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory. Now, I can usually get a few students to jump on the psychology bandwagon when we get to the Freud discussions because... well, because he's just plain weird and for some reason that makes his ideas really really memorable. We've also been discussing Freud's unique ideas regarding what he called the Oedipus Complex. Ah-ha! See? You do know a little about Psychology!!! - You remember that, don't you? It's also called the Electra Complex in girls. See, I told you, weird=remembered.
I have been trying to describe how the Oedipus Complex may have been described in an eccentric and extreme form by Freud himself (and in textbooks) but in actuality, some of his ideas can be recognized in everyday occurances in small scale. I found this video on YouTube, and I just thought it was sooooo cute! I didn't share it with my classes, but I just had to share it with someone... so here ya go! Check it out! It's too cute, and probably true. It's a great example of Freud's Oedipus Complex in action.
(Sorry, I don't know how to embed videos from You Tube right here on my site; I'd be super happy if anyone out there knows how and would like to share that little bit of info with me! For now, just click the words "this video" and you will be taken directly to the video. I hope you have speakers so you can hear the narration!)

2 comments:

Beth said...

omg, pls tell me no...

you mean the heathens try to turn in stuff like that to y'all, too???? LOL!! I thought it was a jr. high thing that they would grow out of-- I may cry! :(

I have cracked up reading your recent posts girl, the turkey story is a hoot! And loved Jax and Jill! :)

Hope y'all are doing well!

Dolly Paolucci said...

There are indeed a great number of Psychology topics that'll really engage the students into conversation or even debate. Be it the likes of as you've mentioned, Sigmund Freud, to the more philosophical Socrates, they are the thinkers students would like to discuss in the class. As a teacher, what's that single topic that you really like?