A Critique Of Popular Psychologies

Abstract

Within the last few decades, there has been a steady flow of books of practical psychology on the book-racks of American drug stores, depots, and book stores. Their promise is the same - no more worry, peace of mind, financial security, etc. Being meant for consumption by the average person, these are sold largely in cheap editions. Most are easily read and feature attractive covers, eye-arresting titles, and good format. They are purchased in prodigious numbers. In their wake has come an equally ponderous shower of magazine articles proclaiming the formulae for successful living. There are several possible reactions to the present emphasis on these everyman’s psychologies. Some would actually hail them as contributing greatly to an increased knowledge of man. Others would view with alarm their presence as an indication of a possible need, a possible lack of sound moral fibre in Americans. Each reaction has some foundation in the psychologies themselves. Together, these reactions make an analysis of these psychologies warranted. Within the last few decades, there has been a steady flow of books of practical psychology on the book-racks of American drug stores, depots, and book stores. Their promise is the same - no more worry, peace of mind, financial security, etc. Being meant for consumption by the average person, these are sold largely in cheap editions. Most are easily read and feature attractive covers, eye-arresting titles, and good format. They are purchased in prodigious numbers. In their wake has come an equally ponderous shower of magazine articles proclaiming the formulae for successful living. There are several possible reactions to the present emphasis on these everyman’s psychologies. Some would actually hail them as contributing greatly to an increased knowledge of man. Others would view with alarm their presence as an indication of a possible need, a possible lack of sound moral fibre in Americans. Each reaction has some foundation in the psychologies themselves. Together, these reactions make an analysis of these psychologies warranted. Within the last few decades, there has been a steady flow of books of practical psychology on the book-racks of American drug stores, depots, and book stores. Their promise is the same - no more worry, peace of mind, financial security, etc. Being meant for consumption by the average person, these are sold largely in cheap editions. Most are easily read and feature attractive covers, eye-arresting titles, and good format. They are purchased in prodigious numbers. In their wake has come an equally ponderous shower of magazine articles proclaiming the formulae for successful living. There are several possible reactions to the present emphasis on these everyman’s psychologies. Some would actually hail them as contributing greatly to an increased knowledge of man. Others would view with alarm their presence as an indication of a possible need, a possible lack of sound moral fibre in Americans. Each reaction has some foundation in the psychologies themselves. Together, these reactions make an analysis of these psychologies warranted.