We Are Chasing Psychological Misconceptions!

Widespread psychological misconceptions (psychological myths; e.g., “We only use 10% of our brains” or “The best psychotherapy method is the one that delves into the individual’s childhood”), which lack a scientific basis, can negatively affect individuals’ daily lives and even the quality of psychology education and practice. These pervasive misconceptions constitute a significant problem for both professionals and the general public. Through our TÜBİTAK-1001 project titled “The Investigation of Psychological Misconceptions and Their Possible Sources,” we closely examine these psychological misconceptions.

What Is the Aim of Our Project?
In our country, where psychology has been gaining increasing popularity, we aim to examine how widespread and strongly endorsed these psychological misconceptions are. Specifically, we seek to identify which misconceptions are prevalent among psychology students, other university students, and members of the general public.

Beyond identifying their prevalence, we also aim to understand why individuals hold these misconceptions. In doing so, we examine potential contributing factors such as limited knowledge about psychological science, lack of awareness regarding psychology’s scientific foundations, particular thinking styles, or a general predisposition toward holding certain types of beliefs.

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