"From introversion to imposter syndrome, Myers-Briggs and love languages to empaths, lizard brains and affirmations. "
From introversion to imposter syndrome, Myers-Briggs and love languages to empaths, lizard brains and affirmations. Discover the origins of 89 popular psychology ideas, and see if you’re using them correctly. This is a clear, structured breakdown of well-used terms and ideas with an apparent origin in psychology, whether they actually have merit, and how they can more accurately be used. I liked the very clear layout of this book. Beginning with an introduction to how each concept will be laid out: a brief explanation, one of four very clear verdicts, and an expansion on if, how or when the term could be accurately applied. To help navigate the book more easily it might be valuable to include a glossary that lists each of the terms and concepts and their relevant pages. The contents show how each of the terms are grouped together and the way the book takes us through each section feels like a logical progression. However, it would be nice to have somewhere to refer to if I was wanting to quickly look up the exploration of a specific term. In a media-rich world where terms can very quickly become a diluted short-hand that catches on and spreads rapidly, When Studies Become Stories encourages you to take a step back, provides an insight into where a concept first came from and whether it has merit regardless of its popular adoption. Like the story of L. David Mech who first proposed the idea of the Alpha wolves only to recant and teach against it, I’m not sure how easy it will be to get the genie back in the bottle in relation to these concepts. However this book is ideally placed for readers who are interested in popular psychology, providing education and the space to think more critically about the language we’re using. A truly insightful and interesting read.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Popular Science |
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Psychology has become the language many of us use to understand ourselves. But many of the ideas now treated as common knowledge have travelled a long way from the research that inspired them. Findings get simplified. Caveats disappear. Studies conducted in narrow conditions are applied universally. What begins as a provisional observation can, through repetition, become accepted truth. When Studies Become Stories examines 89 widely repeated psychological claims, drawing on research from psychology, behavioural science, and related fields. Each idea is explored in plain language: what popular culture has made of it, what the studies actually show, and where the evidence currently stands. Every entry receives one of four verdicts: Has Evidence, Overstated, Oversimplified, or No Evidence, followed by guidance on how to apply the idea accurately, or whether to set it aside. It helps readers separate research from repetition and understand how psychological ideas evolve as they move from the laboratory into everyday life.
When Studies Become Stories: 89 Popular Psychology Ideas Examined and Explained features in the following genres: Indie Author Books, Indie Books We Love, Popular Science, Self Help and Personal Development
When Studies Become Stories: 89 Popular Psychology Ideas Examined and Explained is available in Paperback
When Studies Become Stories: 89 Popular Psychology Ideas Examined and Explained was written by Nina Mack and published by Whiteleaf Editions
