Don Advocates For Psychology As A Choice Course In University

Professor Olapegba

IBADAN - Professor Peter Olapegba of the Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, UI, has emphasised the importance of Psychology as a course of choice in the University, stressing that knowledge of it is good and pleasant and if diligently sought and wisely applied.

The don, who is a social Psychologist and Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences, stated this while delivering the institution’s 447th Inaugural Lecture, titled “That I may know.”

He pointed out that if not unusual grace he enjoyed from God, he might have ended up as an ordinary provision seller in the popular Oke-Arin Market on Lagos Island.

In attendance were the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka and other principal officers, the Chairman of Oyo State Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Barrister Mutiu Agboke; Assistant Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs. Funmilayo Akinfenwa, traditional rulers, family, friends and well-wishers.

According to him, one basic feature of man that showed up right from creation and which clearly sets him apart from other creatures was the quest for knowledge

“My quest for knowledge is so that I may know. Knowledge is about knowing, knowing the truth to be free from the power of ignorance. This University has in the last 70 years provided that platform to generations before me, my generation and we have the moral responsibility to preserve the platform and enlarge the coast for nations to troop in and drink from the fount, for a mind that knows is a mind that is free,” he said.

Olapegba’s lecture was the 4th in the forty-three years of existence of the Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan and the third from the Social Psychology unit of the department.

In the lecture, the psychologist stated that one major thing he wanted to achieve with the lecture was to ‘deconstruct the construct of psychology,’ saying that a good way to do was not by first explaining what psychology was but by what psychology was not.

“This approach is important because even in this age and time, people are still largely ignorant of what psychology is, and everybody feels he or she is not only knowledgeable about psychology but that are psychologists,” he said.

According to him, Psychology is not about mind reading, manipulation, magic, hypnotism or voodooism, pointing out that there were a number of myths and misconceptions fueling the ignorance about psychology.

He said, “One misconception is that Psychology is easy. A lot of people believe psychology is such an easy subject that does not deserve special attention; they believe everybody is a psychologist. 

"This is particularly so with students from other discipline who take psychology courses as electives, they only come to recognize the technical and complex nature of psychology after failing or getting poor grades. Another misconception is that Psychology is just common sense. Many people erroneously hold the opinion that psychology is just common sense.

“They wonder why people would go to school to study such a course when even the market woman, the roadside mechanic and the likes use “psychology” on their customers and in their daily interactions. This kind of opinion is nothing but crass ignorance of the scientific nature and methodological rigour that the discipline requires”.