Pop psychology, popularized by self-help books and media, can provide understanding and preparation for life transitions but can also be harmful if used as a substitute for medical treatment. It can remove stigma and increase research but can also lead to self-diagnosis and oversold treatments.
Popular psychology, often referred to as pop psychology, is defined as any psychological idea popularized by the general public via self-help books, the media, or by psychologists who spend a significant amount of time conducting seminars or public interviews. It is believed to be especially helpful for those going through a life transition and can provide audiences with a better understanding of what friends, family and even strangers face on a daily basis. However, it can also be harmful, especially when a person aims to use it to heal themselves instead of working with a doctor. It is also common for pop psychology to overestimate the effects of the techniques and ideas on offer.
Bookstores around the world are filled with self-help books. They are believed to be more effective for people going through life changes, such as a divorce, adding a child to a family, or changing jobs, than for those facing more serious problems. While many of these books offer a myriad of ideas for self-treatment, they also often provide readers with a general idea and understanding of what they are going through and what they can expect during that stage of their lives. This can be helpful in preparing a person for what lies ahead and help them process what happened in the past.
Because folk psychology brings fairly common mental health issues into the public spotlight, it may allow for a better understanding of those facing different issues from the people around them. This can lead to increased research into certain mental health issues, as well as remove much of the stigma often associated with ailments or illnesses. As information about mental health issues becomes public, it may also lead to more people facing these issues seeking treatment or encouraging their family members or loved ones to suggest treatment.
While there are several benefits to folk psychology, it can also have detrimental effects on individuals. A person with severe depression who thinks that a self-help book or seminar from a high-profile psychologist will make them feel better will typically be disappointed, and delaying treatment could potentially make the problem worse. At the opposite end of the spectrum, pop psychology can often lead people to believe they have a problem when, in fact, they most likely don’t. Self-diagnosis and self-treatment is one of the most damaging effects of popular psychology and is often the main reason why mainstream psychologists view this subsection of psychology in a bad light.
In many cases, popular psychology, through print or media, can provide valuable self-help tools for people facing common or unique problems. However, due to marketing, some of these tools are often oversold. In general, any kind of pop psychology that provides a specific timeline for the proposed “treatment” or the tools to work it can do more harm than good.
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