Self Psychology ~ Does it work?

[G.W.K]

A thought occured to me when talking to my cousin who is preparing himself for his school exams. He has always claimed he is rubbish at Mathematics and because he thinks this...he automatically makes himself rubbish. So if you really believe you are good at something you are not, can you improve in it?

Does Self Psychology work or is it a trick to earn money? Does other things like Feng Shui or Colour Psychology really work?

G.W.K

[berrt]

Some self-esteem does help - but it must stay somehow in a realistic frame. However strong i believe to be a better pianist than liszt himself, it does not make me any better.

feng-shui and colour psychology is complete nonsense (my opinion).

berrt

[G.W.K]

I was using Feng-Shui and Colour Psychology as examples...there are many more of these self-psychological techniques.

It does have to remain in a realistic frame but does it work if you try hard enough?

G.W.K

[pianistimo]

i made fair to terrible grades in highschool math and A's and B's in college math.  i think some of it depends upon how the math is explained, how much homework you actually do, and what use you plan to make of it later.  motivation is probably the issue more than 'can he do it?'

[G.W.K]

The mathematics part was just an example...I am discussing self psychology.

 

G.W.K

[pianolearner]

The mathematics part was just an example...I am discussing self psychology.

 

G.W.K

I think positive affirmations help. I bought a positive affirmations CD and listen to it regularly in the car and at home.

[mycrabface]

If you believe in yourself it helps you do things better. Its like this false hope you tell yourself you can fly, so you jump out the window, but because deep inside you don't believe you can fly, so you just fall to your death. Okay another scenario: You tell yourself you can beat up the guy in front of you (who is bigger-sized) so the fight starts and you actually win - because this hope allows you to.

[thalberg]

I don't think your friend's case is one of self-psychology.  My guess is he's genuinely bad at math.  It's a very common problem.  I'm a natural at math (I'm no genius though), so I always did really well.  When I neighbor of mine asked for tutoring, I was shocked at how inept she was at math.  She literally could not do it no matter what. 

If you have math ability, it's almost impossible to figure out how someone else can lack it.  As I get older, I'm really learning that other people's minds work in ways I could not imagine.  Good and bad.

[timothy42b]

It is part of a larger Self Improvement arena.

There are thousands of books, motivational tapes, and programs out there.

The one common factor appears to be that none of them work.  If they did, you wouldn't have to keep buying more books. 

[pianolearner]

It is part of a larger Self Improvement arena.

There are thousands of books, motivational tapes, and programs out there.

The one common factor appears to be that none of them work.  If they did, you wouldn't have to keep buying more books. 

You can apply that logic to Psychiatrists though... There are 1000's of them out there.

[rc]

Reading a book doesn't assure anything, you've still got to apply it.

I've read a few books on self-improvement, some were pretty hokey, some had genuinely helpful ideas.  A general rule I follow is to stick with the classics that have stood the test of time.  If a book has been around over a decade and people still talk about it, it's probably got some good in it.  The crap soon fades away.

Quick fix/magic bullet stuff is usually a scam.  Gimmicky stuff reeks of selling good feelings and nothing else.

A lot of the good ideas are pretty basic.  Thoughts can lead to mental habit which eventually will express outwardly in some behavior, so we can consciously entertain thoughts that will lead to desired outcomes rather than haphazardly accepting whatever ideas seem plausible.  Things like visualization and affirmation work by keeping your mind focused on what you want, so you'll be more likely to recognize random opportunity, bring the topic up in conversation and create your own opportunities.  Belief is by default useful, because you can't give an honest attempt unless you believe something's possible...

I've never heard of color psychology, it sounds gimmicky.  Feng Shui is about having harmony in your house right?  I admit I like having an organized environment, it's hard to get things done when you're tripping over junk and can't find anything, and a certain peace of mind when everything's in it's right place.

[timothy42b]

You can apply that logic to Psychiatrists though... There are 1000's of them out there.

Of course you are right, I didn't explain well.

People who buy self improvement books don't buy just one.  They buy many, year after year, each time convinced that THIS one will work. 

Perhaps they work, in a sense.  They apparently make these people feel good when they purchase, and possibly when they read them.  If they were then able to make any lasting change in their behaviors or personality, they wouldn't need to buy another book.  But fortunately for the writing and publishing industry, this doesne't appear to happen.  Ever. 

(They are kind of like golfers, reading the tips in the magazines.  Surely this drill will fix my swing, finally.  Of course it never does, and for a good reason.  But hope springs eternal.) 

[pianolearner]

Of course you are right, I didn't explain well.

People who buy self improvement books don't buy just one.  They buy many, year after year, each time convinced that THIS one will work. 

Perhaps they work, in a sense.  They apparently make these people feel good when they purchase, and possibly when they read them.  If they were then able to make any lasting change in their behaviors or personality, they wouldn't need to buy another book.  But fortunately for the writing and publishing industry, this doesne't appear to happen.  Ever. 

(They are kind of like golfers, reading the tips in the magazines.  Surely this drill will fix my swing, finally.  Of course it never does, and for a good reason.  But hope springs eternal.) 

Absolutely agree with you. There are 100' of 1000's of books which promise to make you rich in the Stock market. As a Trader, I can say that many aren't worth buying. Good for learning basics but don't think you will become rich just by reading a book.

[wotgoplunk]

A thought occured to me when talking to my cousin who is preparing himself for his school exams. He has always claimed he is rubbish at Mathematics and because he thinks this...he automatically makes himself rubbish. So if you really believe you are good at something you are not, can you improve in it?

Does Self Psychology work or is it a trick to earn money? Does other things like Feng Shui or Colour Psychology really work?

G.W.K

Try this little experiment. Attach a washer to a piece of thread, and suspend it from your arm with elbow on the table. Hold perfectly steady. Concentrate hard on moving it in some way or another, like side to side. With enough concentration, most people will find their muscles involuntarily move to make it swing, even though it's almost unnoticeable. Whether is applies on a larger scale is debatable.

[timothy42b]

I didn't have a washer.

Tried it with a dryer instead.

Broke my arm.

You'll be hearing from my lawyer. 

[G.W.K]

Try this little experiment. Attach a washer to a piece of thread, and suspend it from your arm with elbow on the table. Hold perfectly steady. Concentrate hard on moving it in some way or another, like side to side. With enough concentration, most people will find their muscles involuntarily move to make it swing, even though it's almost unnoticeable. Whether is applies on a larger scale is debatable.

I don't understand what Dousing has got to do with this topic...

G.W.K

[G.W.K]

Can you explain what you meant?

G.W.K