Debunking psychology myths and misconceptions, with Erin Smith, PhD

In this episode of Speaking of Psychology, host Kim Mills interviews Dr. Erin Smith, a developmental psychologist and professor at California Baptist University, about the persistence of common psychology myths despite formal education. The discussion centers on a large-scale study involving nearly 900 college students who had completed an introductory psychology course, revealing that many widely held misconceptions—such as the idea that people only use 10% of their brains, that sugar makes children hyper, or that learning styles determine effective teaching—persist even after exposure to scientific evidence. Dr. Smith explains that these myths are sticky due to psychological factors like repeated exposure, emotional desire for them to be true, and the influence of echo chambers on social media. She emphasizes that debunking misconceptions requires active student engagement, intellectual humility, and teaching the scientific process rather than just memorizing facts. The episode also explores how higher-performing students are more likely to reject myths due to stronger critical thinking skills, and how misconceptions can have real-world consequences, from poor educational practices to risky health behaviors. Dr. Smith offers practical advice for lifelong learners, including using the CRAP test to evaluate information sources and reflecting on one’s emotional reactions to claims. The research team is now investigating how multiple psychology courses affect misconception reduction, the transfer of critical thinking to other domains, and the behavioral impacts of holding false beliefs about memory and learning. Key takeaways include: 1) Misconceptions persist because of cognitive biases and repeated exposure, not lack of education; 2) Active learning strategies—like having students evaluate AI-generated content—are more effective than passive lectures for debunking myths; 3) Intellectual humility is essential: we should be open to changing our minds as new evidence emerges; 4) The CRAP test (Credibility, Relevance, Accuracy, Purpose) is a practical tool for evaluating information in the digital age; 5) Exposure to psychology courses—even non-majors—helps reduce misconceptions over time; 6) Emotional desire for a myth to be true can override rational judgment; 7) Educators should prioritize teaching scientific reasoning over content coverage; 8) Belief revision is a sign of cognitive maturity, not failure.