The Art of Manliness Social Psychology Won't Save Us
Apr 5, 2021
Jesse Singal, author of 'The Quick Fix,' critiques the oversimplification of social psychology in tackling societal issues. He discusses how the rise of behavioral science, influenced by TED talks, has led to misguided solutions. Singal highlights the replication crisis that questions the legitimacy of popular psychological studies, such as the self-esteem movement and power posing. He exposes the shortcomings of positive psychology in military settings, particularly for PTSD, and ultimately contends that there are no shortcuts to solving life’s complex problems.
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Social Psychology's Rise
- Social psychology's prominence arises from effective self-promotion, including sending studies to journalists and utilizing platforms like TED Talks.
- Journalists, often lacking scientific training, readily amplify these findings, contributing to the field's widespread influence.
Prime World and Its Limitations
- "Prime world" suggests subtle environmental influences and unconscious biases significantly impact outcomes like racism or workplace inequality.
- Singal argues that these issues stem from more complex factors than simple biases or priming.
The Replication Crisis
- The replication crisis reveals only about half of published psychology studies can be reproduced reliably.
- This indicates many findings might be noise rather than true signals, undermining the field's credibility.
