EP 177: Why You Hate Psychology – Media Bias and Misunderstandings about How Science Works

In this follow-up to episode 176 I discuss two more reasons why I believe some people either don’t like or just distrust psychology: 1) the belief that it is not a science, and 2) the belief – created by the media – that psychologists make a lot of money for giving out common sense advice. I hope you’ll see that psychology is not unlike other sciences in that we study something extremely complex and yes, sometimes our findings are contradictory and they change over time. Also, the media focuses – as usual – on only the most unlikely behavior of psychologists (like having sex with patients) or portraying them as having messed up personal lives. Let’s find out the truth (well, at least from one psychologist’s perspective).

Reason 3: Why You hate Psychology: “Psychology Isn’t A Science”

If you believe that for a discipline to be a science then there must be consistent irrefutable truths, then you’re going to find psychology difficult to accept. In fact, you’ll find a lot of sciences difficult to accept because this is not what defines something as a science.

Science is a process – a careful way of investigating a topic that includes careful safeguards against our human tendencies to see meaning where there isn’t any. Psychological scientists have found many results that are replicatable. The ones mention in this episode are:

• • the causes of “bystander apathy” – the more people who are around when you are attack, the more likely it is that you will not get help

• • the evidence that romantic couples tend to be more alike than they are different (“birds of a feather flock together” has more support than “opposites attract”)

• • the phases of the moon do not cause increases in crime or admissions to mental health facilities

• • Applied Behavioral Analysis is a very effective treatment technique of children with Autism

• • Systematic desensitization is a well established and effective treatment for phobias

• • Mnemonics are a very effective way to memorize things

• Spaced practice and frequent self testing are effective ways to learn

Reason 4: Why You hate Psychology: The Way Psychology is Portrayed in the Media

Here are some examples from film and TV of the poor way that psychology is portrayed:

• • The movie “The Natural” – the psychiatrist is brought in to help them team when they are on a losing streak. His advice? “Losing is a disease”

• • The TV show Frazier – Frazier often gives out common sense advice while his own life is a mess

• • The movie “Freaky Friday” – the psychologist (Jamie Lee Curtis) makes $150/hour for apparently saying little more than “How do you feel about that?”. Also, her patients are portrayed as helpless, nerdy and weak and that the solutions to their problems is simple

• • The TV show “Bob Newhart” – not a bad portrayal of a psychologist, but again his advice is little more than common sense