Science journalist Jesse Singal joins me on the show to talk about the dangers of fad psychology, including myths and misconceptions about positive psychology, the self-esteem movement, deceptive media coverage of popular behavioral science research, the replication crisis in academic psychology, and more.
You can listen to the episode in your podcast player of choice:
Show Notes
Here are some of the highlights from our conversation:
- Jonathan Haidt and moral foundations theory
- Misleading statistics and external validity
- The problems with self-esteem and the self-esteem movement
- Self-efficacy vs Self-esteem
- Carol Dweck and growth mindset
- Effect size in research
- Martin Seligman Positive Psychology
- Preventative mental health
- Opportunity cost in mental health
- Structural factors impacting mental health
- Grit
- Comprehensive Soldier Fitness
- The replication crisis in psychology
- The file drawer effect
- Falsification
- 10% Happier by Dan Harris
- Positive Thinking for People Who had Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman
You can learn more about Jesse and his work here:
- The Quick Fix: Why Fad Psychology Can’t Cure Our Social Ills (Book)
- JesseSingal.substack.com (Newsletter)
- Blocked and Reported (Podcast)
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