Popping the Problem with Pop Psychology

Okay, let's dive into this pop psychology mess. 

But before we do, let me tell you a story, that's pretty a much weekly occurrence for me:

I constantly hear people saying babies are "manipulative" little geniuses who cry to get us to pick them up.

My millennial self wants to facepalm here. But I don't. I smile a trying-to-be-empathetic-but-actually-looking-creepy smile and challenge this. I'm then often met with the response, "No, you don't understand, babies are super smart, I have read about it".

Yes, you are right, they are smart, but the context that pop psychology failed to provide you is that crying is like talking for babies - their only form of communication, NOT manipulation. It has somehow turned this natural behaviour into something sinister.

What's really happening is that babies are expressing their needs – hunger, discomfort, or simply a desire for closeness and safety – through the only means they have: crying. It's a basic form of communication.

It's like saying a 15 year old is manipulating you into cooking when they ask for food.

Babies are dependent on caregivers. Their cries are a call for help, not a ploy for control. As a new parent, your focus should be on responding to your baby's needs, not on judging their behaviour.

This is the depth and context that pop psychology has failed to provide.

But it is not just context that it fails at.

I'm passionate about making psychology accessible and empowering. I want people to understand their minds and feel in control.

But here’s the thing: I hate pop psychology. And I mean hate it. It’s not just a dislike; it’s a deep-seated belief that it does more harm than good.

I’ve spent years studying this stuff, so I feel it’s my duty to call it out. I want people to be smart consumers of information, to know what’s real and what’s just noise. So let's break this down.

Pop psychology is that shiny, sparkly crap you see everywhere. Those short videos promising life-changing secrets, the clickbait articles telling you how to fix everything in five minutes, and those self-help books written by people who clearly haven’t spent a day in a psych lab. It's the oversimplified, one-size-fits-all approach to human behaviour that’s as helpful as a chocolate teapot.

Why is this so bad? Well, for starters, it oversimplifies everything. Life is complex, people are complex, and reducing it to a catchy soundbite is just plain wrong. It gives people a false sense of expertise, making them think they are experts after watching a short ‘reel’. And when people are genuinely struggling, relying on this nonsense instead of seeing a professional can be downright dangerous.

But even if you’re not in crisis, pop psychology is still a problem. It’s like trying to learn surgery by watching YouTube. Sure, you might pick up a few things, but you’re not going to be stitching anyone, or yourself, up anytime soon. You need the real deal, the nitty-gritty details that pop psychology completely ignores.

And you need to be able to distinguish fad from fact. But the truth is that unless you have some advanced level of tertiary education in the wider field you may not be able to do that.

For instance, did you know that the field of Psychology, Behavioural Sciences, Wellbeing Sciences, and Therapeutic or Counselling Sciences are all different things.

People often confuse these fields. They consume information about behavioural sciences but draw personal and therapeutic conclusions from it for action.

You might read about a behavioural science study, like how rewards influence behaviour, and then draw an out of context application to apply it directly to your own life. While understanding behavioural science is helpful, it doesn't provide the necessary tools or expertise to address personal struggles effectively.

Take the whole “generational trauma” thing. It’s a real concept, but pop psychology twists it into this idea that you need to cut off your family or have a dramatic confrontation. It’s ridiculous. It’s about understanding the patterns, not creating drama. Pop psychology is basically a shiny distraction, designed to keep you scrolling.

Ultimately, while the desire for self-improvement is admirable, pop psychology often falls short in providing substantial, evidence-based solutions. Its primary focus tends to be on entertainment and profit, rather than offering genuine support or fostering long-term personal growth.

My advice? We need to become critical consumers. Empowered consumers. It's essential to approach self-help information with a critical eye and prioritize evidence-based resources for lasting change.

So do yourself a favour: be sceptical. Question everything. And when you need real help, seek out a qualified professional.

And I will continue to reiterate, that to actually learn you need to have a book, a pen, and a teacher – symbolic for, content, an expert to guide you, and critical reflection of learning.

Knowledge is powerful, but it's worth its weight in gold. Don't let someone sell you short-changed wisdom for cheap.