pop psychology

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What is pop psychology?

-- george (lizhonghu@aol.com), November 30, 2003

Answers

"Pop" is short for "popular." Pop psych is psychology written for non-psychologists, usually by non-psychologists. Everything from "inner child" junk to the "men are from mars, women are from venus" schlock. There was a very interesting book on the foibles and failures of pop psychology written by Wendy Kaminer a nubmer of years ago called _I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional_. Pop psychology often borrows terminology from academic psychology, usually attempting to cash in on its supposed "authority" while twisting the meaning to suit its own needs.

-- Christopher Green (christo@yorku.ca), November 30, 2003.

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