". . . problems of persons who are detached, unrelated, lacking in affect, tending toward depersonalization, and covering up their problems by means of intellectualization and technical formulations." -- Rollo May
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Stranger Things Have Happened . . .
You may have noticed that the Stranger is not interested in disclosing much personal information about himself. Aha! If you answered this question in the affirmative than you have been paying waaay too much attention. I'll let it pass, though. Especially since I'm going to make an exception to that practice today by telling you that I've gone back to school.
Now, this disclosure does have a purpose. It's to warn you about what's coming. The Stranger, you see, has decided to study psychology. In fact, he's pursuing a master's in psychology. This means that he will soon be a master OF psychology. Think of psychology as a tall-masted whaling boat on the high seas. Now think of me as the bearded captain in a rain slicker and short-brimmed cap puffing a pipe in the quarterdeck.
Now, think of yourselves as mutineers. That shouldn't be too difficult. You're armed only with table legs, pewter knives, and scrub brushes, since your farsighted captain has locked everything else away. You're planning to sieze the ship and change our course for someplace more interesting -- like Hawaii or the Caribbean, perhaps? Forget it.
That metallic scraping noise is the sound of the key in the lock outside your door. Heheh. You're going to sit there and whittle a backscratcher out of the table leg with a butter knife while I read aloud from The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud. What's so terrible about that? It's only 471 pages. Now, where was I . . .
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I really like this metaphor for being a master of psychology. It is--dare I say it--psychologically interesting. :D
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your studies, Eric! I am still trying to determine if I can cram a psych minor in with my history and English majors. Something tells me that would not be wise, but I really do enjoy psychology.
*sits down and awaits Freud reading* Can we have some Carl Jung next? ^^
Wow, Eric, that's a big decision! I'm really excited for you. I hope the college you go to is good and gives you what you need.
ReplyDeleteAnd I would never commit mutiny on one of your ships, aharr. :D You're much too awesome for that.
Ha ha, Zella, did I mention that my middle name is Ahab? What is your interest in Jung? I have just ordered his 1910 article on the psychic lives of children, and next week we are to look at the Red Book in class.
ReplyDeleteScotty, thank you, I believe I'm in the right place. And I'm quite sure you're not the mutinous type. So you can forget about the backscratcher . . . for now. :)
I have not read much of Jung's other work, but I find his theories on literary archetypes fascinating. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I can believe that . . . ^.-
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