8 popular psychological myths that now have scientific explanation

The 8 main popular psychological myths that already have a scientific explanation.

Every discipline of knowledge encompasses data that are curious to the eyes of the general public. The Psychology is, perhaps, one of those disciplines where curiosities abound, since there are countless legends about our behavior.

Psychological myths: putting black on white based on scientific data

Today we will review eight of them, eight psychological myths.

1. Detecting lies

There is a popular belief according to which there are a number of people with a superior ability to detect when they are in front of someone who is lying to them. Although the myth is not a myth, it is worth mentioning that a research carried out in the United States in 1999 discovered that those people more capable of detecting the lies of others had severe brain damage in the frontal lobe, in the left hemisphere.

These lesions cause a decrease in their linguistic abilities, a handicap that they compensate with a superior ability to scrutinize the non-verbal language of others, and thanks to this compensation they are better able to detect lies.

2. Subliminal messages: do they work?

It is popularly believed that that subliminal messages (which we perceive unconsciously) can actually can actually generate changes in our behavior, without even being aware that such changes have occurred; without control over them.

In 1957, the publicist James Vicary claimed to have demonstrated that if certain subliminal messages such as "Eat candy" or "Drink Coca-Cola" were projected on a screen, a greater demand for these products was generated, and therefore an increase in sales. However, no one no one has been able to corroborate these results since then.In 1962, James Vicary admitted to having manipulated the research.

3. Counting sheep against insomnia

The recommendation of counting sheep as a remedy for insomnia was discredited in a 2002 research conducted at the University of Oxford, UK. It was concluded that that this technique was in no way effective. To reach this conclusion, the time it took two groups of subjects suffering from insomnia to fall asleep was compared. One group had to count sheep, the other did not.

No differences between groups were reported. Members of the sheep-counting group did complain of being more bored, but that did not make them fall asleep earlier. One thing that does help sleep, according to this study, is to think of a scene that generates tranquility.

4. Cancer caused by bad mood

Certain diseases, such as cancer, have been linked to certain negative personal attitudes.. Without going any further, it has been said on numerous occasions that those who tend to repress their emotions more may be more vulnerable to falling ill.

However, although it is true that showing a positive attitude towards an illness can help to get over it, it has not been proven that maintaining a negative attitude can cause the illness. In fact, what has been extensively studied is that there is a certain relationship in the opposite direction: some research reveals that among working women who report a light or moderate level of stress, the probability of getting breast cancer is lower than among women who do not have stress.

5. Classical music and intelligence

Have you ever heard that listening to classical music can increase increase intelligence? Or that having unborn babies listen to classical music helps them develop their intelligence?

This popular idea was born from an American study in 1993, which seemed to be confirmed by another study from the University of California ten years later. Despite this research, a more detailed and systematic study of the phenomenon was recently carried out by the University of Vienna, without having reported any increase in the intelligence of those listening to classical music..

6. We only use 10% of our brain

Perhaps one of the most recurrent myths is that we only use 10% of our brain. we only use 10% of our brain. How the myth was born is not easily explained, but it is possible that it occurred in the 19th century, when a well-known American psychologist expressed some doubts about people reaching more than 10% of their intellectual potential. It probably arose as a misinterpretation of the neurological knowledge of the early twentieth century, when science still believed that only 10% of neurons can be activated simultaneously.

Another possible explanation for the genesis of the myth is the idea that neurons only constitute 10% of the total number of brain cells, since the rest are glial cells, which, although necessary, their basic function is to provide energy support to the neurons. In any case, the myth is totally false. The idea that large brain regions remain inactive is not based on any scientific, logical or evolutionary premise.logical or evolutionary premise.

Brain tissue has a high cost in terms of energy consumption, consuming more than 20% of the oxygen we breathe, despite accounting for no more than 3% of body weight, and it is far-fetched to think that the energy system and evolution maintain an organ whose efficiency is 10%. If the myth were true, a brain lesion in a certain area would not affect the operability of the person's mental processes, which is totally uncertain.

If you want to delve deeper into this myth, we recommend the article, "We only use 10% of the brain: myth or reality?"

7. Infallible memory?

As far as memory is concerned, it is popularly believed that memories are a true reflection of what we experienced in the past.. We are not very capable of taking into account that our memory can distort the facts, not even unconsciously.

But the reality is that memory does not work as an audiovisual recording machine (reproductive mode), but operates in a reconstructive mode: that is, the final product (the memory) is a mixture of some specific details and others that we have actually reconstructed based on our expectations, needs, beliefs and emotions.

To go deeper into this issue, we recommend the article: "Gordon H. Bower: memories are mediated by emotions".

8. Women talk more than men

Finally, it is necessary to clarify another widespread myth that refers to a difference between men and women. Specifically, the myth is about which of the two sexes speaks more. If we ask a man the question, he is likely to answer that women talk much more than men. But the truth is that several studies have revealed that, on average, both sexes use a similar number of words per day: about 16,000.

It is true, however, that women tend to express their emotions and thoughts more openly, as well as being able to perceive nonverbal communication more accurately. It seems that there is also an explanation for the fact that the male sex considers that women talk more: apparently, the female voice has a longer intonation, a higher pitch and more complex inflections, factors that can cause irritation to men if they are exposed for a long time to female speech.