Identifying the Basic Components of Increasing Public Tendency Toward Pseudo-Psychologicy: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Purpose: pseudo-psychologicy refers to a way of presenting false, improper or misleading psychological information that lacks scientific and professional evidence or credibility and often includes misinterpretations of behavior, baseless ideas, and seductive and simplistic explanations of complex psychological phenomena and harms and injuries. It creates risk in emotional, financial, moral levels, unprincipled intervention and stigma for clients. The current study sought to answer the question, why is pseudo-psychology and pseudo-psychologists trusted? In other words, efforts have been made to investigate the factors related to people's tendency towards pseudo-psychology, to achieve a deep understanding of this phenomenon and to prevent the occurrence and severity of the consequences.   Method: In this study, the phenomenological redearch method was employed. Semi-structured, interviews were conducted with 24 participants selected purposively based on their direct experience with pseduo-psychology and The data were analyzed using the Colaizzi (1978) analysis method.   Findings: Through data analysis, 132 significant statements were identified, which were categorized into 21 sub-themes. These sub-themes were further classified into three main themes: "Attractiveness of psuedo-Psychological Services," "Accessibility," and "Weak Performance of the Psychology Community and Related Organizations." These themes were revealed as basic components contributing to the growing public preference for psuedo-psychology.   Conclusion: The result of this study shows that when the psychology community and related organizations are weak in providing scientific and effective psychological services, as well as dealing with and preventing the spread and increasing influence of pseudo-psychology, people fall into the trap of pseudo-psychology in order to meet their need for psychological services. And pseudo-psychologists fall. The consequences of this lack of attention to accurate and comprehensive information to the people and insufficient supervision and laws and non-deterrent actions have created the basis for the emergence and escalation of risks for the society and damage to the clients and the culture of referring to specialists