Psychology Gone Wrong: The Dark Sides of Science and Therapy - Softcover

Witkowski, Tomasz; Zatonski, Maciej

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1627345280 ISBN 13: 9781627345286

Publisher: Universal Publishers, 2015

Synopsis

Psychology Gone Wrong explores the dark sides of psychology, the science that penetrates almost every area of our lives. It must be read by everyone who has an interest in psychology, by all those who are studying or intend to study psychology, and by present and potential clients of psychotherapists. This book will tell you which parts of psychology are supported by scientific evidence, and which parts are simply castles built on sand. This is the first book which comprehensively covers all mistakes, frauds and abuses of academic psychology, psychotherapy, and psycho-business.

About this title

From the Author:

Rouven Schäfer, SkeptikerThe authors are hard on various developments in psychology. It is their concern to clean the 'science house' of psychology. Thus, the book can also be understood as a declaration of their love to science.Prof. Michael Heap,  Association for Skeptical Enquiry, LondonFor professional psychologists, students and anyone who needs a working knowledge of academic and applied psychology (which includes all skeptics) this is an important book and I thoroughly recommend it. Cleaningthe Augean Stables
The fact ofnaming and pointing out the pseudoscientific nonsense, exposing the sterilityof many theories and psychological practices, weighing the rationale forexistence of conceptions that led to creation of cultural and academic demons,showing the mechanisms of psychobusiness and its impact on gullible peopledesperately seeking help - all those things must expose Witkowski to jointcontempt of the powerful caste of priests of pseudoscientific religion thatemerged among more than a few areas of psychology.
Auhtor'sundertaking and his passionate work reaches far above the simple classificationand description of the current state of affairs. He does not only look at thecurrent psychological resources but also throws away everything that stronglysmells of scientific nonsense or intellectual baloney. -- Dr Roman Zawadzki, psychologist

From the Inside Flap:

"Are you convinced by the latest claims for brain power, hypnosis, memory decline or the dangerous effects of video games? Are you tempted to waste money on a fancy new therapy and convinced that at least it can do no harm? Then read this book first and you may change your mind."
Prof. Susan Blackmore

"This book is well worth reading by all those who appreciate the skeptical attitude and want to develop critical thinking skills - such important in today's world flooded with informational noise and bombarding our brains from all sides. The book describes detailed analysis of abuses, dishonesties and frauds in some areas of psychology and related areas. This is not a book for psychologists only, it is a book for everybody who wants to progress their scientific thinking. There can never be enough skepticism and criticism."
prof. Czesław S. Nosal, psychologist

"The author had a simple goal that required enormous knowledge and determination: to reveal the areas of psychology and psychotherapy that promise results that can never be delivered. Witkowski wants to dismantle false claims and show that despite the abundance of pseudoscientific theories, increasing numbers of tinhorns and constant challenges to science - psychology remains a sound knowledge on human's behavior. (...) Such books are rare - publications that help to distinguish fraudsters from genuine therapists. It's reassuring that Tomasz Witkowski does not stop in his crusade against superstitions and stands for those who consider psychotherapy and for the good name of psychology as a science."
Jakub Winiarski, Wiedza i życie

"You might choose to agree of disagree with Tomasz Witkowski, but you cannot choose to ignore him. This book is definitely worth reading carefully! Enfant terrible of Polish social sciences devoted this entire volume to contemplate the miserable condition of psychology."
prof. Dariusz Doliński, social psychologist

"Psychology Gone Wrong" sketches a dark picture of intellectual abuse, scientific misconduct that harms - sometimes irreversibly - those who are seeking help. Civilizational changes in recent years brought an increase of scientific swindles not only in social sciences. We celebrate the anniversary of the cold fusion scandal, while renowned journals (like Science and Nature) recently were force to retract several publications on miraculous microelectronic findings. All those scientific sins, hidden in the shadows, must be brought to daylight.
prof. Łukasz Turski, physicist

About this edition

• Publisher: Universal Publishers
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1627345280
• ISBN 13: 9781627345286
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304