The Psychologist: "Does psychology face an exaggeration crisis?", article by Brian Hughes

Andy

Andy

Retired committee member
Not another article about the crisis in psychology, you might complain. Déjà vu all over again? You thought we reached peak crisis some time ago, didn’t you? We’re supposed to be all post-crisis now: obsessing about the consequences of fear-mongering, disturbed that terminal negativity will prove off-putting to wider audiences (including, worryingly, funding bodies).

Some people suggest that talk of crisis in psychology is overblown. However, my view is that the problem is not exaggerated at all. If anything, the exaggeration lies elsewhere – in psychologists’ proneness to accentuate the positive in their midst.

We overstate what we have achieved in our research. We overstate the impact, importance, and applicability of our findings. And we overstate our achievements with regard to the replication crisis itself: we congratulate ourselves for the occasional bout of self-flagellation, and exaggerate the extent to which we have successfully addressed our problems.

So, yes, at the risk of engendering reader habituation, here is yet another article about a crisis in psychology – the exaggeration crisis.
Click to expand...
https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-31/october-2018/does-psychology-face-exaggeration-crisis

Seems to me that many of the things he talks about aren't exclusive to the psychology world.
 
"Further inflation inflects from the interface of academia, public relations, media churnalism, and secondary reporting. When university press officers convert abstracts into press releases, the process frequently involves cherry-picking of results, non-specialist re-writing, and a sanguine tolerance of error. These processes of ‘sharpening’ afflict all kinds of news-reporting."

hmmm, sounds familiar
 
strategist said:
One could say that psychology is too positive :D.
Click to expand...
Indeed, it is an excellent example of one of the more destructive forms of positive feedback, where something goes into "runaway mode", recursively feeding on itself rather than on anything independently grounded.

Sasha said:
Very interesting article, @Brian Hughes - how is it going down with your colleagues in psychology?
Click to expand...
I would think like a lead balloon in some quarters ;)
 
Last edited:
Such clear and engaging writing - for me, it is not only @Brian Hughes content that makes his writing compelling, it is his disarming style: "Not another article about the crisis in psychology, you might complain..."

I think this is my favourite bit:

"So long as exaggeration in psychology is rewarded, it will continue to be prevalent. This just might include a tendency to exaggerate the degree to which our replication crisis is being successfully addressed, and to pat ourselves collectively on the back for all the good work we are doing."

I think @dave30th referred to this as a "circle jerk".
 
Sly Saint said:
"Further inflation inflects from the interface of academia, public relations, media churnalism, and secondary reporting. When university press officers convert abstracts into press releases, the process frequently involves cherry-picking of results, non-specialist re-writing, and a sanguine tolerance of error. These processes of ‘sharpening’ afflict all kinds of news-reporting."

hmmm, sounds familiar
Click to expand...

If it's not an intentional dig, it's still pretty good. That Independent article where Sharpe went too far and presented CBT/GET as a cure comes to mind as a perfect example of this type of dishonesty in research, hyping conclusions to a degree that is as far from the conclusion as the conclusion is from the underlying data.

Sharpening: to exaggerate the results of bad science, itself conducted with deceit and without concern for the patients it claims to help. Ah, to be a verb, a fitting legacy to hubris and unscientific thought.
 
Sasha said:
Very interesting article, @Brian Hughes - how is it going down with your colleagues in psychology?
Click to expand...

Good question. My immediate thought was to wonder how this was all being received. My guess is that some of his colleagues -- the ones who've noticed the same issues -- are effusive in their praise. And the rest are grumbling darkly into their respective beers.
 
Sly Saint said:
media churnalism
Click to expand...

That's a new one on me; I like it. :D

Mike VanElzakker recently posted this one:

phd051809s.gif
 
Last edited:
Andy said:
https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-31/october-2018/does-psychology-face-exaggeration-crisis
Click to expand...
I found this article on the same website: https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/...onic-fatigue-syndrome-suitable-case-treatment
Michael Mayne, a vice-president
of the ME Association who suffered for
some time from the illness, makes this
point: ‘Do you want to recover? Many
don’t.
Click to expand...
The article is from the 1990s, it's full of references to Wessely, Sharpe, White, Chalder, and even Elaine Showalter.
 
Were do they find them?

EDIT Perhaps there is an alternative hypothesis, that only those who don't really try very hard to get better do.

EDIT My mistake. I thought this must be the Peter Spencer associated with Afme, but it appears that the only similarity is the name.
 
Last edited:
Webdog said:
Kaiser Permanente says those practicing gratitude have better immune systems. I wish I were joking.

View attachment 5199
Click to expand...

I thnk you're quoting the new political holy grail.

If only all citizens would be grateful for the oppressive policies of government (in league with corporations). What a happy day that would be. The elite would throw an obscenely lavish celebration to mark the day. Oh, and we're not invited.

Gratitude is the ultimate placebo.

Edit for clarity
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom