To Go?

Overwhelmingly, everybody advises me to follow my heart. I don't know whether it's because i am working on a lower level construal than they are, or because of the inevitable anxiety associatd with anticipation of change, i just feel reluctant to make the decision.

If i follow my heart, i should go for an environment where i can realize my beliefs and interests in research.

During the past few years in marketing, there were many times i asked myself "what's the point?" when i think of my research. Learning about how people think and act is my motivation to research. If my research should have any practical implications, i want them to be something for human well-being rather than enhancing marketing practice. Honestly, I felt uneasy when i put down "improve marketing practice" at the "research significance" item on the IRB form, even though nobody really cares about that item.

I could be making an unfair judgment about the marketing (esp. consumer behavior) discipline. I aware of that. But i was very frustrated when my performence evaluation reads "Recognizing your interest (in) social pyschological approaches to research, you should insure that you do not lose the marketing perspective and relevance to your research." Apparently i do not agree with that person on what CB research should be.

Then, what is holding me back? The uncertainty about a completely different discipline is the #1 fear. Although i know many psychologists and i have been working with a number of them, i am still a stranger to the discipline. I just took an undergrad level introduction to social psychology class! There are practical issues too. I need to deal with the separation and the money matter. Perhaps, these are the costs of following the heart.