Debunking psychology myths and misconceptions, with Erin Smith, PhD
5/6/202634 min
From the idea that we only use 10% of our brains to the belief that each of us has an optimal learning style that helps us learn best, many popular “facts” about human behavior aren’t actually true. Yet they persist, even among students who have studied psychology. Erin Smith, PhD, explores why misconceptions about the mind are so widespread and how repetition and social influences reinforce false beliefs; discusses the role of psychology education in debunking myths and shaping critical thinking; and offers advice on how all of us can become more thoughtful consumers -- and sharers -- of psychological science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
Study And play Come together on a Windows 11 PC And for a limited time, college students get [explosion] The best Of both worlds Get the unreal college deal, everything you need to study and play with select Windows 11 PCs.
Speaker 10:14
Eligible students get a year of Microsoft 365 Premium and a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with a custom color Xbox wireless controller. Learn more at windows.com/studentoffer. While supplies last. Ends June 30th. Terms at aka.ms/collegepc Left-brained people are logical and analytical, while right-brained people are intuitive and creative.
Kim Mills· Host0:35
Hypnosis can help you retrieve forgotten childhood memories. Most people only use 10% of their brain capacity. Sugar makes kids hyper. Do these all sound familiar? They are all commonly held beliefs about human behavior, psychology, and the brain, but they're all wrong. One recent study found that even college students who had just finished taking an introductory psychology class still held many of these mistaken beliefs. So where do myths like these come from, and why are they so widespread? Should psychology educators be spending more time trying to debunk them in the classroom? And if so, what are the most effective ways to do so? What's the best way to correct a misconception for yourself or for others, and how do you get more accurate information out into the world? Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association