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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insights INSIGHT
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.
insights INSIGHT
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.
insights INSIGHT
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.
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Published in 1952, 'The Power of Positive Thinking' is a classic self-help book that emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mindset to overcome life's challenges. Dr. Peale provides practical techniques such as affirmations, visualization, and faith to help readers build self-confidence, achieve their goals, and improve their personal and professional relationships. The book is rooted in Christian ethos and uses biblical teachings to guide readers towards a more fulfilling and joyful life.
The Secret
Rhonda Byrne
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne introduces the concept of the law of attraction, which suggests that positive thoughts can attract positive outcomes in life. The book outlines a three-step process: ask, believe, and receive. Byrne emphasizes the importance of gratitude, visualization, and maintaining a positive mindset to achieve one's desires. The book covers various areas such as prosperity, relationships, health, and happiness, and includes examples and quotes from historical and modern-day teachers who have allegedly used this principle to achieve their goals[2][3][5].
The quick fix
Jack D. Ferraiolo
Grit
The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela Duckworth
In this book, Angela Duckworth presents a compelling argument that success is driven more by grit, a fusion of relentless passion and perseverance, than by talent. She explains what grit is, how to identify and develop it, and how it can be grown through stages such as developing interests, consistent practice, finding a pro-social purpose, and cultivating optimism. The book is structured in three parts: explaining what grit is and why it matters, how to grow grit from the inside out, and how to grow grit from the outside in, targeting parents, coaches, teachers, and organizational leaders. Duckworth supports her arguments with personal stories, historical insights, and interviews with high achievers from various fields.
Bright-Sided
Barbara Ehrenreich
In *Bright-Sided*, Barbara Ehrenreich explores the origins and impact of positive thinking in America, from its roots in New Thought to its widespread adoption in business, medicine, and religion. She argues that this relentless optimism has led to self-blame and irrational decision-making, contributing to economic crises and personal suffering. Ehrenreich draws on personal experiences, such as her battle with breast cancer, to illustrate how enforced positivity can be damaging.
When it comes to proposed solutions to life's problems, whether on an individual or societal scale, the four most commonly used words these days are "According to a study . . . " This phrase is used by journalists and media outlets; we certainly use it a lot in AoM articles. And it's used in the rationales that are forwarded for implementing some new program in a school or other institution.
My guest, however, questions whether we really should be lending the research of social psychologists and behavioral scientists so much weight.
His name is Jesse Singal and he's the author of The Quick Fix: Why Fad Psychology Can't Cure Our Social Ills. Today on the show, Jesse explains how social psychology has come to such prominence in our culture, the role things like TED talks have played in its rise, and yet how the replication crisis calls into question the legitimacy of the field's growing influence. We discuss why the solutions sometimes offered by behavioral science are both seductive and flawed, and how this dynamic played out in the self-esteem movement of the 1990s. We then discuss if another fad of social science, power posing, actually works, before turning to how the problems of positive psychology are exemplified in a program the military adopted to help soldiers with PTSD. We end our conversation with whether the idea of grit is all it's cracked up to be, and how ultimately, there are no quick fixes to life's big problems.
The Art of Manliness 
