In social networks, we often stumble upon elementary tips on how to improve our lives, short tests that allow us to diagnose mental disorders … We are so eager to get some simple answer to our question that we are ready to believe everything without evidence. But how true are these facts?
US psychology professor Inna Kanevsky is tired of looking at pseudoscientific theories that are becoming popular on social networks. And I decided to teach subscribers critical thinking and debunk myths about psychology.
Initially, she started a TikTok account to help students understand psychology, but her work turned out to be of interest not only to them. Kanevski now has nearly one million followers.
pseudoscientific psychological facts from TikTok
1. “People who cheat on partners have a lower level of intelligence”
The author of the video did not provide any evidence for his words, but instead used the wording “psychology speaks.”
Professor Kanevsky urged to share a link to at least one scientific article that would prove this fact. “I couldn’t find a single study that found a link between cheating and IQ. Because it’s a lie,” she stressed.
2. “Positive thinking can reprogram the brain”
The blogger who made this video simplified the concept of neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to change under the influence of experience. In her opinion, you can become a better person if you regularly talk and remind yourself of what you want to achieve.
“I would like it to work like that, but it’s more like magic, not neuroplasticity,” Kanevsky explained her mistake.
3. “Imitate until you are who you want to be”
The creator of this video claimed that if you convince yourself of your own superiority, then you will become someone great, because the placebo effect will work.
The psychologist explained that the blogger misunderstood the idea of the placebo effect. Thus, improvement can actually occur if a person believes that something is effective in influencing him, which in fact does not affect him. However, this requires a stimulus that will influence – for example, a medicine, a ritual, some kind of action.
In any case, the placebo effect does not work for everyone and not always.
So positive thinking has nothing to do with the placebo effect. In fact, we are simply engaged in self-deception and do not help ourselves achieve our goals in any way.
4. “Attention Deficit Disorder Test”
The blogger suggested a way to test yourself for the presence of attention deficit disorder. So, if you can blink to the beat of certain music, then this may indicate a disorder.
Kanevsky called his theory absurd and asked to stop diagnosing attention disorder in this way. “That’s not how it works at all. This is not a test for Attention Deficit Disorder,” she assured.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a mental disorder that manifests itself in childhood. Its main symptoms are difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Adults with this syndrome may be characterized by reduced intelligence and difficulty with the perception of information.
5. “People only use 10 percent of their brains”
Those who believe this misconception think they have the potential to become 10 times smarter.
In reality, people use the entire brain in the process of thinking, just not all of its parts are responsible for “higher functions.”
How to stop believing everything?
First of all, do not trust unverified facts. Users should be wary of phrases such as “psychologists have proven”, “it is considered in psychology”, without reference to research.
However, not every source can be considered authoritative. Trustworthy, says Kanevski, the American Psychological Association, peer-reviewed scientific journals, university research, and a number of psychology-related media and blogs that cite sources.