A Guide to Pop Psych

What Is Popular Psychology?

Also known as pop psych, popular psychology refers to psychological ideologies or techniques that achieve mass popularity through books, television, documentaries, magazines, and blogs. In recent years, social media has been added to that list.

Pop psychology offers quick, do-it-yourself fixes to what can be very complex and deeply embedded problems. Many ideas that permeate pop psychology are partially rooted in scientifically-backed and well-researched therapies. However, leaders in pop psych are often accused of taking liberties when disseminating information.

Pop psych has been steadily gaining momentum since the 1970s, and there’s a simple explanation for why the public so easily embraces it. When researchers from the University of Central Oklahoma studied the phenomenon behind pop psych outpacing scientific psychology, they found that it comes down to a combination of how our minds process information and how social forces influence us.

This means that our brains find it hard to resist a good story told by a person we view as an authority when it involves a simple explanation for a psychological issue. We simply remember pop psych principles far better than we can recall complex scientific explanations that are subject to change as new findings emerge.

What’s the Difference Between Pop Psychology and Scientific Psychology?

The difference between pop psychology and scientific psychology is a matter of research.

Pop psychology leans heavily on speculation, assumed correlation, anecdotes, and inference. Meanwhile, scientific psychology is backed up by research that tests claims. It gets tricky because many pop psych proponents quote research or studies that support some of their claims. However, they are often using scientific research to draw parallels or connections that aren’t fully supported by the research they’re citing.

The Pros and Cons of Pop Psych

Not all therapists are against all aspects of pop psychology. The biggest benefit of pop psych is that it can make complex psychological principles accessible to the general public. When done properly, pop psych creates digestible, actionable insights that people can use to improve their lives and mental health.

Pop psych can also inspire people to become more curious and engaged in mental health, self-improvement, and self-actualization topics. It can bring specific terms or themes, like mindfulness, to the surface of popular culture.

At its worst, pop psych convinces people of things that are simply untrue. Aside from preventing people from growing and healing, some forms of pop psych can be harmful. Misinformation is the biggest downside to pop psych. Have you ever been told that the simple act of smiling can boost your mood? The idea that smiling can make you happier is part of something called the facial feedback hypothesis. The only problem is that it’s probably not true.

The idea that facial expressions impact mood has been oversold with help from pop psychology. A study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology in 2019 even found that service workers who felt forced to wear fake smiles all day for customers had a higher risk of heavy drinking after work. The idea that smiling or frowning can impact our mood, which has been pushed for at least 30 years, is mostly based on a well-known 1988 study. However, studies conducted since haven’t been able to replicate those results. A meta-analysis published in Psychological Bulletin more recently could only find the effects of facial feedback on emotional experience to be small and variable.

Pop psychology also poses a risk of oversimplification. For example, we may think that smiling more or maintaining a positive mindset should be enough to keep us feeling our best. When these little tricks don’t work, we blame ourselves or think something is wrong with us. Additionally, pop psychology can make us self-focused to the point of being cold to others or losing empathy.

Researchers at Queensland University published a study in 2023 that found that people who rely on manifestation (the process of “thinking” a goal into a personal future reality) to achieve financial success were more likely to be drawn to risky investments based on unfounded confidence. The study concluded that operating using the idea of manifestation is linked with a higher risk for bankruptcy.

Concepts Often Used in Pop Psych

When it comes to pop pysch, there are some consistent overarching themes. Telltale signs that you’re dealing with pop psychology instead of scientific psychology include:

• An emphasis on positive thinking or visualization. While there is evidence that positive affirmations can help improve self-perceptions, positive thinking in pop psychology often veers toward rigidity and superstition.
• An emphasis on personal feelings.
• Alignment with current trends in popular culture.
• A single authoritative figure who “invented” or “discovered” a concept.

What makes pop psychology tricky is that some of the ideas used are rooted in science. Therapists often use techniques like positive affirmations and visualization to help clients manage anxiety or optimize performance. The difference comes down to using science-backed techniques in scenarios where progress can be measured versus focusing on quick fixes.

Social Media and Pop Psych

It’s not a bad thing to seek out insights on mental health on social media. However, the trend of finding quick-fixes from 30-second TikTok clips is worrisome. Many people giving advice don’t have the credentials or experience to speak from an authoritative place.

Even licensed psychologists and therapists on social media may not have the background required to speak on specific subjects. Of course, these “experts” also aren’t ethically able to treat and diagnose people who aren’t their patients. The best way to view social media is to see it as a springboard for initiating real conversations with trained, licensed therapists.

What Is a Pop Psychologist?

There is no clear definition of a pop psychologist. A pop psychologist is any author, entertainment, social media personality, consultant, or speaker giving psychological or self-help advice. People might point to everyone from major stars like Oprah to TikTok wellness influencers when talking about pop psychologists. A common thread is that they don’t necessarily have the credentials to give the detailed advice they share on a public platform.

Is Pop Psych Dangerous?

While pop psychology can be dangerous, it doesn’t have to be. There’s nothing wrong with gathering information from “popular” sources. The danger comes in when we lean on quick fixes and oversimplified concepts to heal our wounds or address mental health concerns instead of seeing a licensed healthcare provider.

Be Informed on Pop Psychology

Many therapists and mental health experts share great information online, on television, and in books. We’re lucky to live in a time when mental health is talked about so freely.

However, it’s important to know the telltale signs of oversimplification, quick fixes, and an emphasis on fixing yourself that could land you in trouble. Always seek out licensed providers operating on science-backed, ethical methods when you’re ready to take steps toward improving your mental health.