Does Steve Pavlina fall under Popular Psychology

[bamfblog]

I've seemed to notice he writes a lot about personal development, which is a part of the self help movement, which would fall under popular psychology. I didn't realize what I've been interested it for so long was like almost all Popular Psychology. Now, it slightly worries me, because a lot of this stuff doesn't have much evidence, just peoples opinions being throw out left and right and others swearing by them as the truth.

[The David]

Originally Posted by bamfblog

I've seemed to notice he writes a lot about personal development

No!

Steve Pavlina does not write about personal development!

I don't believe it! I shan't, I can't, and I won't!

[bamfblog]

But like, there's no evidence to support all these theroies people have, and it's been so unsettling lately.

[The David]

Don't mind that, I was just feeling randomly sarcastic.

Which theories are you talking about? The LoA and SR, or just that life has a purpose? Steve gets a little woo-woo sometimes, but there are plenty of practical articles on his site.

[bamfblog]

Just all the general adivce given out in the popular psychology world. A lot of it isn't varified, and it's hard to seperate the bs from the stuff that works. Even when you get the stuff that works, it's hard to see any type of study or survey done, except for the people who've said it's worked for them. This realization has been unsettling recently. "The only way to get rich from a self-help book is to write one."

[Freelancer]

Most Personal development is exactly that Personal so you'll obviously get personal experiences. Your job as the reader is to find the golden nuggets that apply to you, in other words common sense.

[Zukin]

If you want more empirical personal development information, Google Scholar is a good place to search:
Google Scholar

You can also go through the archives of a journal like the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and read the abstracts of articles published in that journal. I find the abstracts alone provide some great information even without having to read the articles themselves.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | APA Journals

[Mags]

I'd like to add to Zukin's suggestion - have a look at the field of Positive Psychology. Or even the field of Transpersonal Psychology, for some empirical work on consciousness and self-actualisation.

[Zaulche]

Of course it is personal opinion, which is more or less all we can give as individuals. Even if you have "proof," not everyone agrees on it. What may be hard evidence to someone may be fantasy opinion to another. Opinion is really all we have in this world. Even science bases its measurements for facts on assumptions about how the universe exists, which is itself improvable.

Take Newton for example. He had a personal opinion about physics. He wanted to “prove” that opinion so he made up some calculus that supported his opinion about physics. Now most people accept it as fact, when in reality it is just a socially accepted opinion.

Therefore, I would not worry so much about it. If Steve’s opinion resonates with you and you agree, then assimilate it. If his opinion does not resonate with you, then reject it. Who cares if someone else says that all of Steve’s work is just opinions? That is just an opinion itself. What makes that person’s opinion more valid than Steve’s? Only the worth we give opinions as individuals.

Best Regards,
John