The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology

The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

The Power and the Peril of Pop Psychology

Curt and Katie chat about pop psychology. We look at what it is, how it influences society, the dangers of leaving it unchecked, and how therapists can support their clients in navigating through all the different self-help content. We also challenge the use of Enneagram and Myers Briggs as “identity” and talk about using pop psychology as a starting point for conversation rather than taking it all at face value.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about the dangers of pop psychology

Curt has had a bee in his bonnet about pop psychology and the potential harms of watering down psychology for the public. We decided we’d take a critical look at what’s out there, including self-help, business, and news content that may be harming the public.

What is pop psychology?

· Researchers sharing their findings through popular media using lay language

· Applied psychology – practical self-help created by psychology practitioners geared toward improving your life

· Targeting people with mental health concerns to decrease suffering – may be created by people with lived experience and is self-help in the place of therapy

· Applying psychology to other realms (like business or sales, spirituality)

What are concerns with pop psychology?

· Overemphasizing the importance of specific pop psychology principles and claiming these things as identity

· Not going back to the evidence base or looking at who the authors are (is it their research or is it a good storyteller who is extrapolating)

· The impact of the audience on which stories or psychological findings are shared

How does Malcolm Gladwell fit into this conversation about the dangers of pop psychology?

· He was enamored with the “Broken Windows” theory of policing and his writings influenced the use type of policing in New York (including Stop and Frisk)

· He ignored the criticism of these policies, like the racial bias that was seen

· He chose not to write about policies that were working to decrease the over prescribing opioids

· He has not recognized the influence on those who read his work

What role can therapists play in supporting our clients around pop psychology?

· Talk with our clients about what they are reading and use it as a starting point

· Bring the evidence-based science into the conversation

· Help them to create a unique, tailored plan for your client to use what works for them

· Correcting misinformation (e.g., the stages of grief)

· Putting out content that is accurate

· Staying current on what is being talked about in popular media

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/