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Essay Subject:
Critiques Carol Tavris' book on using psychology to think critically about issues in the news.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Critiques Tarvis' book on " using psychology to think critically about issues in the news. " Selection of essays and book reviews by the author includes topics of science versus pseudoscience. Difference between social science and social science fiction. Controversies in child development; influence of mother and parents. Gender research. Applying psychology to social issues. Treatment of mental disorders.
Paper Introduction:
CRITICAL REVIEW/REACTION PAPER
"Psychobabble and Biobunk. Using Psychology to Think Critically About Issues in the News" by Tavris (2001). The following presentation will include a critical review and reaction to each of the book's sections.
Science Versus Pseudoscience
With this beginning section, Chapters 1-8, the author helps the reader become aware of the differences between science and pseudoscience. The example of using a daily horoscope points out the appeal of pseudoscience. Although predictions tend not to have improved over time, they remain appealing since they sound reassuring and they include notions of intuition and faith and experience. Unfortunately, although predictions may be in the spirit of fun, they become serious when they are relied on to make important
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The abused child becomes a killer and itis unclear if the solution is simply to wait until this point occurs andthen kill them. It also brings relief to the adult regarding fears that thebrain is on an ever descending path to destruction with eminent age. Mental Disorder and Treatment Chapters 27-3 bring up the issues found in the treatment of mentaldisorders. The Politics and Science of Gender Research Chapters 13-17 assist in disarming the war between the genders, asexemplified in the bestseller regarding men being from Mars and women beingfrom Venus. In addition, surveys tell thepublic what is normal, which is dangerous since people tend to want to benormal. Controversies in Child Development Chapter's 9-12 discuss the influence of the mother and parents on thechild's development and the first years of life. Another example of mis-describing genderdifferences is neglect for changing times and cultural events; for example,women's voting habits, while perceived as based on feminine traits mayactually be reflective of their concerns for health, education, and jobstability for their family. Can there actually be aworld without moods and chronic complaints and would we want one? This leadsto the concerns regarding psychotherapy and when it is appropriate andwhether it is effective, and the fact that many presumptions ofpsychotherapy are based on falsities, such as the belief that abusedchildren tend to be come abusers when most of them do not. For example the issue of increased use of medications to treatpsychological problems may be resulting in social consequences of decisionsto improve the personality with modern chemistry. An alternative approach is offered next, which is to define thingsdifferently for men and women, rather than to focus on gender differences.For example while both may aspire to have intimacy, it may mean differentthings to a man or a woman. Issues pointed outinclude: the worn-out working mother debate which is better changed to howcan mothers make sure that working does not harm their children; the worrythat a mother cannot provide a perfect life and yet studies show that nokey moment or stage determines a child's destiny forever and there is noone right way to be a good mother; a challenge for the nature versusnurture assumption or the only thing wrong with nurture is nature or thefact that parents are not all that matters and a parent can not perfect orruin a child; and the lack of criticalness of the first three years of lifesince children have demonstrated that rough starts can be made up for, thebrain develops through out life, and while the synapses may be moreprevalent in early years this does not mean more brain power. For example,proponents of alternative medicine ignore the fact that traditionalmedicine has resulted in a decrease in disease and illness. The essay on drugs points out that a campaign calling forsaying no to drugs may actually result in saying yes, with the drug userremaining ignorant of the consequences. The death penalty remains an issue even more since psychologyexplains the origins of violence. Another provocative issueis how the symptoms of PMS have become a psychiatric illness. Inaddition there are limits to medication and its effects. Ironically, theauthor again points out the tendency for narrow-minded thinking.Alternatively, rather than simply pointing out the negative consequences ofeach, critical thinking would include the advantages and the disadvantagesof chemical and psychotherapeutic treatments and determine theirappropriate use. In fact science has pointed out that men and women have brainsthat are more similar than different, both men and women are sexuallypromiscuous, and both sexes can be aggressive and loving. For example, while there may be many stories regarding the issueof abortion, the statistical fact is that every 2 minutes, every day, inthe world, there is a woman dying of an illegal abortion. While it ishelpful to become aware of this problem it is harmful to the falselyaccused. The following presentation willinclude a critical review and reaction to each of the book's sections. Short-term curesdo not solve long-term problems, the risks may not be worth the benefits,and there may be more appropriate alternatives. The tendenciesfor polarities implies that one end of the spectrum is better than theother. Next the difference between social science and social science fictionis pointed out, with illustrations of the misuse of scientific concepts.One example offered is Hite's book regarding women and love. Criticalthinking is needed to become informed about an issue. The findingsof this section bring a welcome relief to the constant pressure of being aperfect parent and getting the job down pat before the child reaches theage of three. Applying Psychology to Social Issues Chapters 18-26 point out several examples of issues for review. Opinion polls are also popular and misused.Surveys only determine opinions, do not discriminate between informedpeople, and do not tell of actual behavior. Correlation doesnot imply causality and this fact is frequently overlooked. For examplefacilitated communication (FC) is used to explain involuntary musclemovements as being representative of misunderstood phenomenon. The tendency to diffuse responsibility in bystanderapathy is explained, sources of happiness such as mindful challenge arepointed out, the overuse of the term "self-esteem," and views regardingcauses of heterosexuality are also discussed in this section. It is pointed out that children do lie at times and assessmenttools can be inaccurate, such as the use of anatomically detailed dolls,which at times results in no differences between abused and nonabusedchildren. There is a difference between statistics andstories. Tavrisaccurately pointed out that since FC is not the first and will not be thelast of the hoaxes to come along and people will remain vulnerableregarding their need for pseudoscience, it is important to recognize thepractices mentioned in this section of the book and become aware of how touse reason to overcome human vulnerability. Unfortunately, although predictionsmay be in the spirit of fun, they become serious when they are relied on tomake important decisions. Using Psychology to Think Critically AboutIssues in the News" by Tavris (2 1). It seems there are many findings used to offervarious explanations of gender differences, social and biological.Regardless of the findings of scientific research, however, it is moreimportant to understand how to best use knowledge about gender differencesrather than to facilitate the war between men and women. This sectionillicits thought provoking responses to each issue, which debunkconclusions arrived at after much research and deliberation from others.However, it would be just as harmful to cast aside these conclusions, withno alternate suggestions in sight! Although predictions tend not to have improved over time,they remain appealing since they sound reassuring and they include notionsof intuition and faith and experience. Criticalthinking is also needed regarding mystical messages. Science Versus Pseudoscience With this beginning section, Chapters 1-8, the author helps thereader become aware of the differences between science and pseudoscience.The example of using a daily horoscope points out the appeal ofpseudoscience. Typically,while Hite defends the book's truths as being based on subjective findings,the author also tries to imply that findings are objective andscientifically accurate. However, while it ishelpful to become aware of this phenomenon, it is detrimental to believethat all symptoms are psychological or caused by hysterical components.Another issue to surface is the day-care sex-abuse scandal. Adolescent violence prevention mayneed to address issues of despair, anger, and insecurity, with skills forcoping with this pain. CRITICAL REVIEW/REACTION PAPER "Psychobabble and Biobunk. It isinitially pointed out that hysterical epidemics are a normal tendency, theyare contagious, and are promoted by the media.
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