>From the student's point of view (as to the point of evolution and various
other psychological phenomenon such as child raising, homosexuality, etc.),
you are competing against God. How many students are told throughout their
lives that this is what to believe and if you don't believe this, you are
Evil and will be Punished in the afterlife. That's a pretty powerful
motivator. Your class lasts a semester while Hell is an eternity (I see
Kohlberg's levels of morality showing up somewhere here).
Another point that was raised in my Honors Intro Class was that they don't
know WHAT to depend on (this discussion arose as part of my critical
thinking lecture). As instructors, we tell them research, but results vary
as a function of operational definitions, the type of study being done,
replications, etc.
>To the extent that my students have this attitude, I have a very
>difficult time teaching the scientific approach to them. If my students
>can dismiss a belief for which there is a preponderance of evidence
>(such as human evolution, or even atoms and molecules to use the example
>in my original post) by stating that they do not "BELIEVE IN" the
>explanation or phenomenon under discussion, they are using a faith-based
>approach to belief development and retention. I do not know how to
>communicate with them at this point.
>
>I have more to say but I have to go to class.
>
>Jeff
>
>
>
>--
>Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
>9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
>Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Scottsdale Community College
>Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
>
>"The truth is rare and never simple."
> Oscar Wilde
>
>"No one can accept the fundamental hypotheses of scientific psychology
>and be in the least mystical."
> Knight Dunlap
>
>
>
>
Deb
Deborah S. Briihl There are as many
Dept. of Psychology and Counseling ways to live as
Valdosta State University there are people in
Valdosta, GA 31698-0100 this world and each
[EMAIL PROTECTED] deserve a closer
Now in new Assoc. size! look..
http://chiron.valdosta.edu/dbriihl
You got so many dreams you don't know where to put them, so you better turn
a few of them loose... Fire
