Recap

The Downside of Self-Help

Neuropsychologist and cancer survivor Dr. Paul Pearsall presented a critique of self-help and self-empowerment movements, which he believes do more harm than good. "McMorals" such as 'you must first love yourself before you can love somebody else' are simply wrong, and like many of the platitudes in the self-help field, are too focused on the idea of the self, he argued.

In fact, a study of verbal expressions showed that the more a person used "I" and "me" words, the more likely they were to have health problems, he reported. Pearsall also shared that there is no data to support the idea that the venting of one's anger is healthy. To the contrary, the expression of anger actually causes negative physical responses. It is healthier to suppress anger, he said, suggesting a technique that involved sitting down, lowering your shoulders, and placing your tongue on the bony part below your teeth.

"I've had my fill of Dr. Phil," Pearsall declared. We've mistaken celebrity for credibility, and these "gurus" of the self-help movement tend not be held scientifically accountable for their advice, he commented. Instead of constantly working on self-improvement, people would be happier and healthier by recapturing a sense of awe and humor in their lives, and relating more to others, he offered.

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