Which subject do you enjoy learning more about?
Psychology vs Sociology
Discussion Topics
1.
The most interesting?
(7 posts)
2.
Which one do you like best?
(8 posts)
Which topic do you enjoy learning more about? (if you're in college)
12/12/2011
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I think they're both interesting and useful, depending on how they're applied.
For me, the social sciences in general is a love hate sort of thing. As described in a previous thread I made about an assignment I had in a Soc class that basically wanted us to disregard any research done in other fields as "pseudo-science" and the result of social corruption to support a conclusion that mental illness isn't, in any way shape or form, "real." That sort of shit can happen a lot in both fields. People get all high on themselves and their "work" and write self aggrandizing theories about whatever.
But the fields can also be infinitely useful and telling. As far as psychology goes and the workings of the individual mind, I really really enjoy keeping up with various advancements in neuroscience. I think that field of research has a huge amount of promise and I find it endlessly fascinating, even though a lot of the research being done today is still in its infancy and they're just getting down the basics of things like "it looks like this when this part of the brain does that" and so on.
As far as sociology, my heart really belongs to the more interdisciplinary realm of demography. I absolutely adore how population studies work. It's much more statistics based than many areas of social research and it ties to basically every issue you could think of. The environment, health, poverty, sexual practices, economic and governmental organization, etc.
For me, the social sciences in general is a love hate sort of thing. As described in a previous thread I made about an assignment I had in a Soc class that basically wanted us to disregard any research done in other fields as "pseudo-science" and the result of social corruption to support a conclusion that mental illness isn't, in any way shape or form, "real." That sort of shit can happen a lot in both fields. People get all high on themselves and their "work" and write self aggrandizing theories about whatever.
But the fields can also be infinitely useful and telling. As far as psychology goes and the workings of the individual mind, I really really enjoy keeping up with various advancements in neuroscience. I think that field of research has a huge amount of promise and I find it endlessly fascinating, even though a lot of the research being done today is still in its infancy and they're just getting down the basics of things like "it looks like this when this part of the brain does that" and so on.
As far as sociology, my heart really belongs to the more interdisciplinary realm of demography. I absolutely adore how population studies work. It's much more statistics based than many areas of social research and it ties to basically every issue you could think of. The environment, health, poverty, sexual practices, economic and governmental organization, etc.
12/12/2011
Well I started off with a minor in psych and dropped that for a major in soc. I have a bachelors in soc and working on a master's. Sociology is much more interesting.
12/17/2011
Psychology, for sure.
12/17/2011
Psychology for me. I have taken quite a few courses on Psych and I've never lost interest yet!
12/17/2011
I really find them both interesting
12/17/2011
I find both interesting, but I am a psych major for a reason.
12/20/2011
Total posts: 7
Unique posters: 7
Which subject do you find more appealing to learn about?
12/12/2011
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I'm a Soc major, so there's that.
But as my comment in the first question said, there are elements of both fields that I like and find interesting, and others that I really hate quite a lot lol.
Demography is something I'm really passionate about so I'd say it's probably my overall favorite.
After that though, as mentioned, absolutely love reading up on neuroscience research and certain areas of psych research. I really think neuroscience is the future of psych and it will basically take over the more our knowledge and technology within the area is developed, seeing as it's really still just in its infancy.
That said, although I really love the subject, I don't have quite as much natural talent for it. Analyzing various abstract facets of social functioning is something I've always excelled at and that teachers had commented on starting in the sixth and seventh grade. Although I absolutely love the "hard" sciences like bio and chem and physics, it's much harder for me to learn them in the way that's necessary in school (lots of textbook reading). Very good with labs, not so hot on textbooks. Soooo basically I decided to take the path of least resistance and do whatever it took to make a career in sociology work rather than slave myself to do something else.
Here's lookin forward to plenty more years of grad and post grad!
But as my comment in the first question said, there are elements of both fields that I like and find interesting, and others that I really hate quite a lot lol.
Demography is something I'm really passionate about so I'd say it's probably my overall favorite.
After that though, as mentioned, absolutely love reading up on neuroscience research and certain areas of psych research. I really think neuroscience is the future of psych and it will basically take over the more our knowledge and technology within the area is developed, seeing as it's really still just in its infancy.
That said, although I really love the subject, I don't have quite as much natural talent for it. Analyzing various abstract facets of social functioning is something I've always excelled at and that teachers had commented on starting in the sixth and seventh grade. Although I absolutely love the "hard" sciences like bio and chem and physics, it's much harder for me to learn them in the way that's necessary in school (lots of textbook reading). Very good with labs, not so hot on textbooks. Soooo basically I decided to take the path of least resistance and do whatever it took to make a career in sociology work rather than slave myself to do something else.
Here's lookin forward to plenty more years of grad and post grad!
12/12/2011
I'm majoring in Sociology, as well.
12/13/2011
When I was in college, I preferred sociology.
12/13/2011
Sociology is boring to me. I prefer psychology.
12/17/2011
I've taken both intro classes and I preferred psychology because it focuses on individual behaviour, rather than group behaviour.
12/17/2011
I prefer psych because a lot if it deals with a biological basis for the differences they look at. Though I am most interested is where the bio, psych, and social factors meet to create differences in people in stressful situations.
12/20/2011
I think both are interesting, but sociology seems to interest me a bit more.
12/21/2011
Total posts: 8
Unique posters: 8