What is “Pop Psychology” and Why Are We Drawn to it?
We love to organize and analyze what we don’t understand, and this is what makes psychology so interesting! Mental health has always been a popular topic of conversation, and now we see it in posts almost every time we scroll.
“Pop psychology” is a term that refers to psychological concepts and techniques that have been popularized through the media. Mental health messages we see on TV, read in books or in social media posts are widely accepted and shared, but are not always accurate. We’ve all seen those posts that make psychology feel almost too easy to understand, the ones that make us believe we can be our own therapists! However, it is important to try and find the difference between what is quick and catchy, and what is reliable. The problem isn’t that pop psychology exists, it’s that we sometimes treat it as the full story.
Ever scrolled past a post that made you question your relationship, or even yourself?
Pop psychology often uses buzz words or clickbait-style phrases to grab our attention, such as “gaslighting” or “toxic”. These words may be used in real psychology, but can also be misleading when over-used or exaggerated in situations that are untrue. For example, “gaslighting” is an abuse tactic where one is manipulated to question their memory and reality, not just a disagreement over what may have happened. Unfortunately, pop psychology has turned these terms into hooks for the media and have misguided us on the weight of the issue. You may now scroll past a post that says ‘If they do this, they’re gaslighting you,’ and suddenly, a normal disagreement feels like something much bigger. It is important to popularize and promote knowledge around these terms, however it is also crucial to understand what they actually mean.
Pop psychology loves quick labels and dramatics, whereas real psychology is slower and a little messier at times. Psychology has to include our stories - context, background, and all possibilities!
Pop Psychology
➔ Catchy labels that are used widely and often (“toxic”, “trauma bonding”)
➔ Quick transformations and absolutes - either under a label or not
➔ Uses personal stories to gain validity
Real Psychology
➔ Emphasizes probabilities, not guarantees
➔ Mental health on a spectrum, including context in the diagnosis process
➔ Uses definitions and evidence-based psychology
When pop psychology is used in public spaces, it improves accessibility and self-help focus by making complex psychology terms easier to understand. It is all about how we are using our platforms to share support and information that is most important. It is important to take breaks from social media, especially when you feel it is affecting your mental health.
Pop psychology is great for finding mindfulness techniques and reducing stigma around mental health, but also can encourage frenzies around self-diagnosis. Mental health research and support works best when it is based on patterns of thoughts and behaviours and is focused on the person themself. Real psychology teaches us that we should be curious and not always accept what we see and hear in the media. Online platforms are great tools when it comes to asking questions and learning how to take care of ourselves, but we have to remember that not everyone fits into the same box.
Stay curious and question what you read!
The way psychology is portrayed online is not always the truth. Pop psychology says one behaviour equals a diagnosis, and this just isn’t true. Pop psychology and media may start the conversation around mental health, but doesn’t always include the lived experience of a person that must be understood over time. Next time you scroll past a post on a popular mental health topic, ask yourself if it covers the whole story!