Hi Michael et al. - We do not imply that self-esteem is a myth, nor that many people don't have unrealized intellectual potential. The myths to which I was referring bear on both self-esteem and unrealized intellectual potential, but certainly don't imply that the concepts themselves don't exist, which would indeed be a rather silly claim. The former myth more specifically deals with the notion that self-esteem is essential/necessary for healthy psychological adjustment; the latter myth more specifically deals with the notion that each of us harbors vast reservoirs of untapped mental potential that can be harnessed by brain boosters, stimulators, and the like. And as we maintain, each myth may well have given birth to various "mythlets," or specific misconceptions, such as the view that we all use 10% of our brain power (in the case of the latter myth).
Cheers...Scott Scott O. Lilienfeld, Ph.D. Professor Editor, Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice Department of Psychology, Room 473 Psychology and Interdisciplinary Sciences (PAIS) Emory University 36 Eagle Row Atlanta, Georgia 30322 [email protected] (404) 727-1125 Psychology Today Blog: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-skeptical-psychologist 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-140513111X.html Scientific American Mind: Facts and Fictions in Mental Health Column: http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciammind/ The Master in the Art of Living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his intellectual passions. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him - he is always doing both. - Zen Buddhist text (slightly modified) From: michael sylvester [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 1:29 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Fundamental concepts and inspiration I personally think that the attacks on those so called myths do not measure up to the reality and inspiration needed for some people to see a bright future. To say that "the unrealized intellectual potential" is a myth is not an idea that I would carry around if trying to motivate people or even to imply that self-esteem is a myth.We should not discount that these so called fundamental myths have inspired many minorities,underprivileged folks,special olympicians,and countless others who depend on common sense to guide thier everyday lives.In this sense I am a functionalist "if it ain't broke,don't fix it." Michael "omnicentric" Sylvester,PhD Daytona Beach,Florida --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13509.d0999cebc8f4ed4eb54d5317367e9b2f&n=T&l=tips&o=1063 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-1063-13509.d0999cebc8f4ed4eb54d5317367e9...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-1063-13509.d0999cebc8f4ed4eb54d5317367e9...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> ________________________________ This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments). --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=1064 or send a blank email to leave-1064-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
