MJP - ch. 2

it's been a little while since i've written these, but they're a part of the "book" i have to write for my 2950 class. they're the next installments. and remember, these all have some somewhat arbitrary requirements, so if the subtopics seem out of nowhere, well... that's why. oh, and one last thing - these are in order from newest to oldest.

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My Journey in Psychology, Ch. 2

Logan Brown

Utah State University

In my (future) profession, values are everything. I guess that’s why my class was required to take an assessment called the Work Values Survey. According to the Work Values Survey I was given for class, I scored highly in Security and Altruism. I also scored equally high in Way of Life, Associates, Economic Return, Intellectual Stimulation, Variety, and Achievement. While this test is somewhat insightful, I feel like I must elaborate upon the context that caused these values to be so prominent on the test. While Job Security and Economic Return may be no-brainers, I don’t agree with altruism as a philosophy on face. I may want to create a better world, but mostly for my family, friends, and myself. And because it makes me feel good. It’s not for others, although they are a means to an end, they are not the end. Even if it sounds bad, I don’t believe in altruism. Though Philosophy may be my minor, this is neither the time nor the place. I digress.

I value hard work, determination, and the ability to complete tasks in faster, easier ways. In High School Lacrosse I learned a mantra that has stuck with me to this day, “Work smarter, not harder!” Some people ask why in the world I would advocate not working hard; the answer is that I do believe in working hard, but so do most people. If I use my head, it will set me a step above those who don’t… and miles ahead of those who don’t choose to work hard. That – showing one’s true worth – is something I value as well.

Along with showing one’s worth comes an innate desire to work with others who are of somewhat comparable value on any relevant scale. This is true in theory as well as in practice. In the short term, I want to be one of the best – a U.S. Navy SEAL. That means working in a close-knit group of people you trust implicitly. I want to continually prove to myself and to my future colleagues that I deserve to watch their backs, and to have them watch mine. I may have been reading into the question on the survey more than most, but I think that just shows that I truly value my perceived relationships with my associates. In short, I want to be able to be a part the working force behind the achievements of my country, with or without the accolades.

Although I do value others, there are innately individual aspects of work that are important to me, such as having a varied, intellectually stimulating work environment. I don’t necessarily need to be doing something different every day; if, for example, I were a tool, I would want to be something that has multiple applications and is an integral part of the “tool box.” To sum it up, I want to be useful.

I previously stated that my short-term goal was to become a SEAL; in the long term, I want to either be a SEAL trainer with the application of a B.S. in Behavioral Psychology or a military councilor for either marriage, family, or divorce counseling. This is going to require me to be a capable and ethically sound psychologist. At the very least, I will need to adhere to the five basic ethical principles of psychology; those being the principles of Beneficence and Nonmaleficence, Fidelity and responsibility, integrity, justice, and respect for people’s rights and dignity.

My personal work values that I found on the Work Values Survey would hold me to a high standard, but even they are not quite at the level of dedication that a Psychologist’s basic ethical principles are set at. In effect, the only one that measures up is Altruism. Setting aside my philosophical dislike for it, altruism is at the heart of the field of Psychology. I admit that helping others with no other reason that enjoying it (and possibly profiting from it as a psychologist) is valuable to me. While it may not be the purest of intentions, I believe it is in line with most ethical principles. To be specific, it agrees with the principle of beneficence and nonmaleficence because we strive to do no harm even if it were to benefit from it. It agrees with fidelity and responsibility directly, because it encompasses the striving to contribute a portion of the psychologist’s time for little or no compensation or personal advantage. Other values also stand to match with these principles, though not as much as Altruism. The value of intellectual stimulation is inherent in the keeping of beneficence and nonmaleficence because psychologists strive to be on guard to protect the best interests of those they help, which can be tricky at times. It also deals with fidelity and responsibility in the psychologist’s continued awareness of their professional and scientific responsibilities to society and to the specific communities in which they work, in the furthering of the discipline. Valuing associates is also a dedication to fidelity and responsibility, through the establishing of relationships of trust with those whom they work… as well as many other ways.

Considering one’s values is an extremely strong tool in verifying to one’s self that they are in the right occupation. It connects one’s beliefs and morals to their work, where they may initially have a disconnect, and therefore discontent in their lives.