Popular psychology, or pop psychology is defined as “in which more scientific theories are translated and digested, making them more available for popular consumption” (Social Science, pg. 130). Pop psychology can include a number of different forms of media such as self-help therapy books, television programs, lectures, websites, and magazine articles. Pop psychology is psychology that is broken down and somewhat shortened in order to be understood and appeal to the masses. Televised pop psychology is often criticized for giving redundant, generic, and often times unhelpful advice and diagnoses. Since these programs and books are meant to be sold, the advice given is often one size fits all. Issues that arise from self help media and pop psychology occur when a person with no psychological training begin to diagnose themselves incorrectly or obsessively.
