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Striving to Become Psychologically Literate Consumers: Understanding Science versus Pseudoscience Steve Charlton Douglas College Kwantlen Polytechnic University SOME AREAS THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED PSEUDOSCIENCE Witchcraft Homeopathy Touch Therapy Learning Styles Subliminal Tapes Scientology Astrology Magnetic Therapy Colonic Therapy Alien Abductions Urine Therapy Ghosts Astrology Clairvoyance ETs Haunted houses Telepathy Psychic healing ESP Deja Vu 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Percent 100 Believe Not Sure Don't Believe 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 television Dr. Oz Dr. Aman Dr. Phil Examples from the clinical literature and practice Colin Ross Dr. Braun and the Satanic Princess Facilitated Communication Scott 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 to Teach students to think more critically about complex social issues Allow students to see the importance of research methodology Motivate 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 Men causes flashbacks? 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 We cause Autism 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 knowledge Books Magazines Friends Radio Parents Newspaper Television Internet Medical Journal Doctors articles Documentaries Ads Power Bracelets & Q Ray Cognitive and Perceptual Limitations Misperception of Random Events Cluster Illusion Toronto Homicides Should we run from coconuts Fourteen Characteristics of Pseudoscience 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 Pseudoscience Social Contagion Witchcraft Great Tulip Mania Nuns Koro Disorder War of the Worlds Bad Buildings School Sickness Chemical Sensitivity 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/)