50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction: The Wide World of Psychomythology

1. Brain Power: Myths about the Brain and Perception

2. From Womb to Tomb: Myths about Development and Aging

3. A Remembrance of Things Past: Myths about Memory

4. Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks: Myths about Intelligence and
Learning

5. Altered States: Myths about Consciousness

6. I've Got a Feeling: Myths about Emotion and
Motivation

7. The Social Animal: Myths about Interpersonal Behavior

8. Know Thyself: Myths about Personality

9. Sad, Mad, and Bad: Myths about Mental Illness

10. Disorder in the Court: Myths about Psychology and Law

11. Skills and Pills: Myths about Psychological Treatment

Postscript: Truth is Stranger than Fiction

Appendix Recommended Websites for Exploring Psychomythology

References

Index

"Popular psychology is a prolific source of myths. A new book does an excellent job of mythbusting: 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology. Some myths I had swallowed whole and the book's carefully presented evidence made me change my mind. They cover 50 myths in depth, explaining their origins, why people believe them, and what the published research has to say about the claims. Everything is meticulously documented with sources listed. The authors have done us a great service by compiling all this information in a handy, accessible form, by showing how science trumps common knowledge and common sense, and by teaching us how to question and think about what we hear. I highly recommend it." (Dr. Harriet Hall for Skeptic Magazine, February 2010, and ScienceBasedMedicine.org, November 2009)

"50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology is written in an engaging style and is valuable for both professionals and the general public. I highly recommend it." (Skeptical Inquirer, February 2010)

"Delightful and important book ... .This is a fine tool for teaching critical thinking. 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology is much more than an entertaining put-down of popular misconceptions. Any psychologist can put [this book] to good use. Certainly teachers can use it as a supplement to aid in teaching critical thinking and to suggest ideas for research on other myths.We can give it to family members and friends who are curious about what psychology has to contribute and might themselves engage in some myth busting." (PsycCritiques, January 2010)

"If you are familiar with other books by the same authors, you know that the writing style is incredibly engaging and easy-to-read, making the book accessible to those with little knowledge of psychology and well as those with considerable education in the field. While we certainly won't stop combating clinical psychology myths here at PBB, it's always exciting to come across like-minded folks also providing valuable material!" (Psychotherapy Brown Bag, October 2009)

"50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology is a fascinating book, and while reading, I cheered the authors on. If you have questioned science as some of us have, this book will reassure you that your thinking was perfectly logical and correct. 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology clarifies things about which I have always wondered, but never challenged. Myths about aging, memory, learning, emotions and motivation, and mental illness are among the subjects covered. The reading is enlightening, refreshing and interesting.You don't have to be a Ph.D, or even a student of psychology to enjoy this book. It's is written in language all can understand and the information is easily digested." (Basil & Spice, October 2009)

"Scott Lilienfeld and his coauthors explore the gulf between what millions of people say is so and the truth. Some of these myths are just plain fascinating." (US News and World Report, October 2009)

Scott O. Lilienfeld is a Professor of Psychology at Emory
University. He is a recipient of the 1998 David Shakow Early Career
Award for Distinguished Contributions to Clinical Psychology from
Division 12 (Society for Clinical Psychology) of the APA, past
president of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology, and
a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. Dr.
Lilienfeld's principal areas of research are personality disorders,
psychiatric classification and diagnosis, pseudoscience in mental
health, and the teaching of psychology.

Steven Jay Lynn is a Professor of Psychology at the State
University of New York at Binghamton. He is past President of the
APA's Division of Psychological Hypnosis, and the recipient
of the Chancellor's Award of the SUNY for Scholarship and Creative
Activities. His major areas of research include hypnosis and
memory.

John Ruscio is an Associate Professor of Psychology at
The College of New Jersey. His scholarly interests include
quantitative methods for psychological research and the
characteristics of pseudoscience that distinguish subjects within
and beyond the fringes of psychological science.

Barry L. Beyerstein (the late) was Professor of
Psychology at Simon Fraser University and chair of the British
Columbia Skeptics Society. He was Associate Editor of the
Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, and he co-authored many
articles in the Skeptical Inquirer and professional journals.

S. O. Lilienfeld, Emory University, USA; S. J. Lynn, Binghamton University, USA; J. Ruscio, The College of New Jersey, USA; B. L. Beyerstein, (late of) Simon Fraser University, Canada