On Sat, 02 Mar 2002 13:00:52 -0500 "Karl L. Wuensch"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
An introductory psychology student wrote:
> > �They call themselves the Monell Chemical Senses
Center I wondered off the bat if they could measure any sixth
senses. I click on the link perception and sensation link.
Unfort > unately it just talked about the regular 5 senses and
mostly about their ongoing research as to why we perceive things
and we do pertaining to our senses. It amazes me how everyone
has to figure out exactly how everything works and why, how come
people can�t just be satisfied with the way things are?� > >
>My, that certainly seems to indicate a disdain of curiosity.
I see similar reactions from students also but I don't see it as
a disdain of curiosity, per se. This student is curious about
some magical mythical "sixth sense," which gives its possessor
important powers like Superman, but regards the other five
senses as obvious and boring. The writer is ir
ritated that some
people are trying to muck up this easy dichotomy.
The problem is that unreflective students are led into this mode
of thinking by TV, magazines, airhead media stars, etc. One can
find lots of shows on the mystery of the sixth sense, but one
will look in vain for something on the mystery of color vision.
I see one function of our job is to break these preconceived
dichotomies apart. I would be tempted to write back to this
student and ask what it means that psychology la
bs are not busy
investigating the sixth sense? Why do psychogists think this
issue is not worth investigating? Send the student to several
perception textbooks to find out whether there are sections on
the sixth sense. Ask the student what it means that something
he has heard lots about on TV does not appear in books by people
who have dedicated their lives to studying such issues.
Perhaps you can generate some curiosity as to why psychologists
don't seem to be interested in what this st
udent thinks
psychology is all about.
Ken
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Karl L. Wuensch,
> Department of Psychology,
> East Carolina University, Greenville NC 27858-4353
----------------------
Kenneth M. Steele, Ph.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dept. of Psychology
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608
USA
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