The Issue of Psychology
or
“I don't play sports.”
April 23, 2016
G.D.O'Bradovich III
1
If an observation is based upon a sufficient number of subjects, then we can be reasonably confident in the findings or the accuracy of the observation. The observation of children biting people is universal; hence, that behavior is said to be acceptable, while adults biting either people or animals is unacceptable behavior, not because of any claimed superior insights provided by the vocation of psychology, but since this behavior is not observed in the vast majority of adults, therefore, it not considered acceptable behavior.
An aspect of psychology is the recognition of behavior displayed by the majority of people. “Hoarding” is an example of atypical behavior seen only in a minority of people, but hoarding by itself is not a problem, hoarding is regarded as a problem only if it affects certain criteria, such as employment or relationships. Of course, the behavior of hoarding indicates the presence of a mental issue. Therefore, psychology has two standards to judge behavior: numbers, or the percentage of people in a given population who display a specific behavior; and reason, if the specific behavior results in not living a fulfilling life. Psychology can utilize either an objective standard or a subjective standard to diagnosis a problem or an issue. We understand if the Gentle Reader has difficulty with the standards that are the province of the modern science of psychology.
We are completely confident that psychology can understand normal behavior, for the ability to recognize normal behavior, no advanced degree or special training is required. However, normalcy does not interest us, we people of taste, only the exceptional. What can psychology discover about the extraordinary? No much, for psychology is only concerned with what is displayed by the majority and is accepted as normal behavior. Psychology can offer no insights into why certain children find languages and words exciting, only that this is aberrant behavior.
Our childhood lacked any significant experiences with languages: some Arabic once a week at church, some Italian and Serbian, both once a year; and once a year at Easter, where multiple languages would be used for the phrase “Christ is risen." and the response, "Truly he is risen”. We recall that in elementary school the classroom dictionaries would depict the various forms of the letters in different languages. At what point in my childhood that we decided, realized, or remembered that we must be familiar with French, German, Italian, Latin, Greek and Hebrew, we cannot remember. Psychology can neither explain our preference for the Egyptian glyphs over, for example, the Phoenician glyphs nor can it explain our lack of interest in Asiatic or Slavic languages.
Throughout the years of primary schooling, we were enthralled with World War II and this fascination was almost exclusively with the European theatre- Aircraft, tanks, strategies, troop strength, personalities, and dates ad nauseum. Psychology cannot explain why our interest wanes after the the battle of Stalingrad.
Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, the Enlightened, the Roaring 1920s are eras that have always held a sense of wonderment for Yours Truly. Psychology cannot explain why we have no interest in the Middle Ages, the American Revolution, the American Civil War, or World War I.
We have long believed that if we were to live long enough, we would understand everything; it is clear to even the causal reader that this is the reasoning of few life experiences, yet, through subjective personal experiences, the faith that “I would understand what I need to understand” has been reinforced over the ensuing years through numerous epiphanies.
“I don't play sports” is a phrase that we remember repeating during our formative years. For the full effect, the Gentle Reader should envision these words of disdain in a long lived and world weary Capricorn issuing from a child. While “I don't play sports” was not true then, anymore than “I don't play games” is true now, it was, and is, enough to stop more than one person from attempting any additional personal inquiries. We recall playing “Horse” and shooting a BB gun; both of these involve a projectile moving away from us. We suspect that we engaged in these pursuits enough times to form a vague memory, as we don't recall any specific event for either activity. As an adult, we thought that perhaps our lack of interest in sports that it would involve balls being thrown at us and the accompanying expectation for us to catch them, was due to poor hand and eye coordination. There may some truth to this belief, as we were a very poor participant in often school sanctioned game of Dodge Ball. However, our adult ability to catch and throw footballs betrays my earlier and erroneous rationalization of lacking coordination.
An aspect of psychology is the recognition of behavior displayed by the majority of people. “Hoarding” is an example of atypical behavior seen only in a minority of people, but hoarding by itself is not a problem, hoarding is regarded as a problem only if it affects certain criteria, such as employment or relationships. Of course, the behavior of hoarding indicates the presence of a mental issue. Therefore, psychology has two standards to judge behavior: numbers, or the percentage of people in a given population who display a specific behavior; and reason, if the specific behavior results in not living a fulfilling life. Psychology can utilize either an objective standard or a subjective standard to diagnosis a problem or an issue. We understand if the Gentle Reader has difficulty with the standards that are the province of the modern science of psychology.
We are completely confident that psychology can understand normal behavior, for the ability to recognize normal behavior, no advanced degree or special training is required. However, normalcy does not interest us, we people of taste, only the exceptional. What can psychology discover about the extraordinary? No much, for psychology is only concerned with what is displayed by the majority and is accepted as normal behavior. Psychology can offer no insights into why certain children find languages and words exciting, only that this is aberrant behavior.
Our childhood lacked any significant experiences with languages: some Arabic once a week at church, some Italian and Serbian, both once a year; and once a year at Easter, where multiple languages would be used for the phrase “Christ is risen." and the response, "Truly he is risen”. We recall that in elementary school the classroom dictionaries would depict the various forms of the letters in different languages. At what point in my childhood that we decided, realized, or remembered that we must be familiar with French, German, Italian, Latin, Greek and Hebrew, we cannot remember. Psychology can neither explain our preference for the Egyptian glyphs over, for example, the Phoenician glyphs nor can it explain our lack of interest in Asiatic or Slavic languages.
Throughout the years of primary schooling, we were enthralled with World War II and this fascination was almost exclusively with the European theatre- Aircraft, tanks, strategies, troop strength, personalities, and dates ad nauseum. Psychology cannot explain why our interest wanes after the the battle of Stalingrad.
Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, the Enlightened, the Roaring 1920s are eras that have always held a sense of wonderment for Yours Truly. Psychology cannot explain why we have no interest in the Middle Ages, the American Revolution, the American Civil War, or World War I.
We have long believed that if we were to live long enough, we would understand everything; it is clear to even the causal reader that this is the reasoning of few life experiences, yet, through subjective personal experiences, the faith that “I would understand what I need to understand” has been reinforced over the ensuing years through numerous epiphanies.
“I don't play sports” is a phrase that we remember repeating during our formative years. For the full effect, the Gentle Reader should envision these words of disdain in a long lived and world weary Capricorn issuing from a child. While “I don't play sports” was not true then, anymore than “I don't play games” is true now, it was, and is, enough to stop more than one person from attempting any additional personal inquiries. We recall playing “Horse” and shooting a BB gun; both of these involve a projectile moving away from us. We suspect that we engaged in these pursuits enough times to form a vague memory, as we don't recall any specific event for either activity. As an adult, we thought that perhaps our lack of interest in sports that it would involve balls being thrown at us and the accompanying expectation for us to catch them, was due to poor hand and eye coordination. There may some truth to this belief, as we were a very poor participant in often school sanctioned game of Dodge Ball. However, our adult ability to catch and throw footballs betrays my earlier and erroneous rationalization of lacking coordination.
2
Saint Paul wrote that some people wrongly accuse Christians of doing evil so that good may follow. Let us say that Saint Paul did not have the fortune of meeting Adam, a Gemini youth - enough of a description for an initiate to appreciate the antagonism between an exuberant teenager and an introspective Great Occultist . Yesterday, after completing my paper on Post 420 Ramblings, I left the office when Adam asked me to approach him and, after placing my laptop in the car, I walked over to him and his entourage. This group is described as an “entourage”, firstly, as our original word, “gaggle”, did not seem to convey the nuance of our intent and, secondly, if an outsider where to judge the hierarchy of the group, Adam would inevitability be selected as their instigator and, perhaps, ultimately, their scapegoat. We carried our drink, for it is a true saying that an Occultist without a prop is not much of an Occultist. Adam was sitting in the trunk and was shooting select members of his group with a toy gun whose bullets were a soft and porous material.
Intellectually, we know these toy bullets can neither hurt us or kill us. This knowledge is similar to intellectually knowing that bats are aware of exactly where we are standing and know exactly where the mosquito is; yet by the time we realized what was swooping a few feet overhead, we were startled, notwithstanding knowing the bat's capability. When Adam aimed and fired at us, this event was foreseeable and expected, even without consulting our Tarot deck, yet we became anxious and this anxiety cannot be rational. Although we have long ago conceded that the nature of the universe is irrational, we cannot conclude that all of our reactions over the preceding decades are irrational. However, we must reasonably conclude that our reaction to being shot by Adam with a toy bullet must be wholly irrational. And although the vaunted science of Psychology cannot explain why we have an irrational fear of approaching projectiles, the Astute Reader will reach their own reasoned conclusion.
While there is no evidence that Adam has shown any interest in the Occult or the esoteric or the subjective, however, that lack of evidence certainly should not be a barrier to his enjoyment of the privileges of conferring and learning from a Master of the Occult Arts and Sciences.
Therefore, in the Modern spirit of conferring benefits and dignity without historical precedent, with the full authority of my recognized Occult powers [and those yet to be discovered], by the rights and privileges conferred to me by the Ancient Hermetic Order of Hierophants, I duly proclaim upon Adam the highly esteemed and sought after title of “Potential Apprentice”.
Intellectually, we know these toy bullets can neither hurt us or kill us. This knowledge is similar to intellectually knowing that bats are aware of exactly where we are standing and know exactly where the mosquito is; yet by the time we realized what was swooping a few feet overhead, we were startled, notwithstanding knowing the bat's capability. When Adam aimed and fired at us, this event was foreseeable and expected, even without consulting our Tarot deck, yet we became anxious and this anxiety cannot be rational. Although we have long ago conceded that the nature of the universe is irrational, we cannot conclude that all of our reactions over the preceding decades are irrational. However, we must reasonably conclude that our reaction to being shot by Adam with a toy bullet must be wholly irrational. And although the vaunted science of Psychology cannot explain why we have an irrational fear of approaching projectiles, the Astute Reader will reach their own reasoned conclusion.
While there is no evidence that Adam has shown any interest in the Occult or the esoteric or the subjective, however, that lack of evidence certainly should not be a barrier to his enjoyment of the privileges of conferring and learning from a Master of the Occult Arts and Sciences.
Therefore, in the Modern spirit of conferring benefits and dignity without historical precedent, with the full authority of my recognized Occult powers [and those yet to be discovered], by the rights and privileges conferred to me by the Ancient Hermetic Order of Hierophants, I duly proclaim upon Adam the highly esteemed and sought after title of “Potential Apprentice”.