Church Psychology

I've found that going to church puts people in a different mindset. I'm not saying that they are better people or whatever, but when they are actually, physically, in church, they act much differently than when they do outside of church.

This is caused by several factors. In church, as long as you are in good standing, everyone is nice. usually.
Everyone is nice because being mean or hurtful is looked down upon. So far fairly simple, right?
If you go to a place where you know everyone is going to be nice, then you will likely lower your guard a bit, therefore being more willing to interact with more kinds of people. This is also why you have friends in seminary or institute that you wouldn't normally have.

Standard society is very segmented. groups, cliques, packs. They're all the same. However, when you go to church, you become, at least superficially, part of a larger pack, in which it is wrong to deny others from joining. So, in social situations run by the church, you are much more likely to get a positive reaction when approaching people to talk.

This is only partially because of how nice everyone tries to be. It also has to do with how nice they assume you are going to be. For example, If you walk up to a girl in a bar, she thinks you want to sleep with her, regardless of your actual intentions, and if you walk up to a girl at a church occasion, she will assume you dont want to sleep with her, and dont want to hurt her, and then act accordingly.

That being said, keep in mind that this is only at church occasions, everyone lives in the real world, everyone knows how most people react to them. So, if you have just left church, and are still in that mindset, you will likely say hi to someone about to enter the church building. They, however, have been outside in the 'real world' and are in that mindset, thinking you strange for reaching out.

-newman

Victim Psychology

If someone is attacked, raped, or otherwise victimized, they will often afterwards say that it was their fault.
This is a defense mechanism to regain control in their lives.
If the attack was their fault, then they can stop themselves from being attacked in the future.
Telling a victim the attack wasnt their fault, while a very good thing to do, also undermines their new sense of control over their previously traumatic life and experience

Psychology

I have decided to major in Psychology. Specifically Social Psychology if possible.
The way people decide to do the things they do and the things that influence them are very interesting to me.
I have also decided, as a way to organize my thoughts, if nothing else, to blog about my thoughts on people and their psychology. If any nobodies want to comment to agree or disagree with my observations and theories, please feel free to do so. Thank you.

-Newman