The Dangers of Fad Psychology with Jesse Singal

Show Notes

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.

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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Psychologist Nick Wignall interviews experts in the fields of psychology, mental health, and human potential to better understand how the mind works and how we can make it work for us to improve our lives in practical, meaningful ways.