Striving to Become Psychologically Literate Consumers: Understanding Science versus Pseudoscience

Steve Charlton Douglas College Kwantlen Polytechnic University

SOME AREAS THAT MIGHT BE SOME AREAS THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED PSEUDOSCIENCECONSIDERED PSEUDOSCIENCE

Witchcraft AstrologyHomeopathy Magnetic TherapyTouch Therapy Colonic TherapyLearning Styles Alien AbductionsSubliminal Tapes Urine TherapyScientology

10

0

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Deja Vu

ESP

Psychic healing

Telepathy

Haunted houses

ETs

Clairvoyance

Astrology

Ghosts

BelieveNot SureDon't Believe

Percent

In a recent study of approximately 10,000 undergraduate students beliefs in pseudoscience (Sugarman et al 2011)

78 percent stated that astrology was “very” or “sort of” scientific

48 percent of the science major students stated that astrology has at least some scientific base

When we research or discuss concepts such as psychological literacy, critical thinking or beliefs in pseudoscience we are often referring to the undergraduate population

Most courses on critical thinking or pseudoscience are designed for undergraduate students

Does graduate school make us critical thinkers?

Does being smart make someone a critical thinker?

Glowing examples of this on televisionDr. OzDr. AmanDr. Phil

Examples from the clinical literature and practice

Colin RossDr. Braun and the Satanic PrincessFacilitated CommunicationScott Lilienfeld: Argues that we need to

develop therapies that are both effective and not harmful

Gerd Gigerenzer ◦Statistical and numerical literacy◦Medical Doctors, Politicians and Journalists

Politicians◦Prince Charles and the Foundation for Integrated Health

◦David Tredinnick and integration of horoscopes with health care

Although many of my examples have been clinical, critical thinking and the ability to distinguish science from pseudoscience applies to many areas

Health Psychology: Homeopathy Vaccinations and Autism Therapeutic touch Herbs

Social Issues: Which drugs are dangerous? Does the war on drugs work? Should the government support needle exchange programs?

Purpose of the Course Teach students to think more critically about

information they are exposed toTeach students to think more critically about

complex social issuesAllow students to see the importance of

research methodologyMotivate students through the types of

topics you use( eg. Talking to the dead) (speak to the student’s interests)

Are silicone breast implants dangerous?

Sugar makes children hyperactive?

LSD causes flashbacks?

Men think about sex every 7 seconds?

Should we drink 8 glasses of water per day?

Reading in low light causes damage to the eyes

Vaccinations cause Autism

We only use 10 percent of our brains

If you die in your dreams, you die!

Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus!

Organizing the course Sources of knowledge

Cognitive/Perceptual limitations

History of pseudoscience

Characteristics of pseudoscience

Types of pseudoscience

Sources of knowledgeSources of knowledgeBooks

Friends Parents

Television

Medical Doctors

Magazines

Radio

Newspaper

Internet

Journal articles

Documentaries

Ads

Power Bracelets & Q Ray

Cognitive and Perceptual Cognitive and Perceptual LimitationsLimitations

Misperception of Random Events

Cluster Illusion

Toronto Homicides

Should we run from coconuts

Fourteen Characteristics of Fourteen Characteristics of PseudosciencePseudoscience  

1) Outward Appearance of Science

2) Absence of Skeptical Review  3) Reliance on Personal Experience 

4) Evasion of Risky Tests

5) Retreats to the Supernatural  6) Holism  7) Tolerance of Inconsistencies 

8) Appeals to Authority  9) Promising the Impossible  10) Stagnation

  11) Credentials

12) References

13) Correlations, Causation and Third Variables 

Cognitive, Perceptual and Social Biases

Top Down Processing

Confirmation Bias

Heuristics

Potential Exercises Use a large list of potential areas of pseudoscience and have students indicate their beliefs Then have your students write an an essay or engage in a debate where they have to argue against their belief

History of PseudoscienceHistory of Pseudoscience

Social Contagion Witchcraft Great Tulip Mania  Nuns

Koro Disorder

June bug outbreak

Glass armonica

Saskatoon berry

Tomatoes

Tarantism

 

Rumours and Urban Legends  Bubonic Plague

Chesterfield Cigarettes

Microwave & Dog

New Orleans-Katrina

                                         

World War 2 Posters

Proctor & Gamble

Types of Psychological Treatment Trephining (Trepanning)

Phrenology

Mesmerism

Exorcism

Modern examples:

Mental Inertia Prolonged Narcosis (sleep therapy)

Robert Carol (1935)

Focal Infection Theory

Lobotomies

Scam Inventions Dr. Scotts Electric Devices

Galvanic Glasses

Q Ray Bracelet (http://www.ionic-health.com/)