2 Popular Psychology Myths Debunked
Discover why these two “fun facts” are nothing more than elaborate stories.
The human mind contains more wonders than we can imagine—so much so that we have spent centuries attempting to comprehend it. It’s in the name: “psyche” (mind or soul) and “ology” (study) combined to refer to the field we know, love, and are very interested in psychology.
Since our psychological forefathers, we have come a long way in understanding the essence of the human mind and brain. While we still don’t know, we may have gained an equal amount of knowledge. However, this pursuit of knowledge has resulted in the spread of mythological thought—ideas that, despite their prevalence, lack empirical support and mislead us about the mind.
You have probably heard these two myths before. Gaining actual psychological insight can reveal the truth behind them.
- People are either “left-brained” or “right-brained”
The notion that people are either “left- or right-brained” is longstanding. The left side of the brain is personified as the logical one, and the right side is the creative one, with the idea that our personalities and skills are shaped by which hemisphere we prefer. Are you a free-spirited, creative right-brainer or a logical, analytical left-brainer? It is an alluring dichotomy.
Although they are symmetrically located within the brain, it is well known that the left and right hemispheres develop and function differently. They share nearly 100 billion neurons—close to the number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy—clustered in identifiable regions and programmed to perform specific tasks. These two hemispheres work together, but not in the way we might expect.
According to research published in the International Journal of Innovation, Creativity, and Change, the left and right hemispheres work in opposite directions. For example, the brain processes incoming visual information from the eyes via the occipital lobes in the back of the brain. However, the left hemisphere processes data from the right visual field, and vice versa. Similarly, the left frontal lobe controls movement on the right side of the body and vice versa.
Despite these asymmetries, the authors argue that there is no evidence that normal cognitive functioning occurs exclusively in one hemisphere or the other. The corpus callosum, or bridge between the hemispheres, allows for extensive communication between them, ensuring that brain activity is coordinated on both sides.
While “left-versus-right-brained thinking” may appear to be a helpful framework, it ultimately fails to capture scientific reality. While some people excel at analytical thinking and others thrive in creative pursuits, these abilities cannot be reliably attributed to the dominance of one hemisphere over the other. Most of us have a wide range of abilities that cannot be neatly divided into left-brained or right-brained categories.
- Humans use only 10% of their brains
From the silver screen to casual conversations, the notion that humans only use 10% of their brains has spread throughout popular culture. In the film Lucy, Scarlett Johansson plays a woman who gains superhuman abilities after surpassing the “10% threshold.”. This idea, however, raises too many questions.
In psychology, humans are frequently referred to as “cognitive misers.”. According to renowned cognitive scientist Keith Stanovich, animals, including humans, have evolved to help their genes survive and reproduce rather than to make perfect decisions at all times. This means that being rational or making decisions that perfectly reflect reality is only sometimes the most important factor in survival. Sometimes, we should use less energy or resources, even if it means needing to be more accurate.
Simply put, we frequently take the path of least resistance when it comes to thinking—which may have given rise to the notion that we only use 10% of our brains. However, the theory of humans being cognitive misers does not imply that we are incapable of utilising our brains’ “full capacity”. If this were the case, our human reality would look very different.
To prove this,Canadian neuroscientist Barry Beyernstein presented six pieces of evidence to debunk the “10% myth”:
If we only use 10% of our brains, traumatic brain injuries to the remaining 90% will not affect how we function. Almost no part of the brain can be damaged without impairing our function.
Regardless of our actions, every area of a healthy, undamaged brain is constantly active. While some regions may participate less than others, they all contribute to our ability to function, even while we sleep.
The brain requires massive amounts of resources to function. If we didn’t need 90% of our brains, humans would have evolved to eliminate redundant areas to conserve energy and increase survival chances.
Research shows that distinct brain regions are responsible for different tasks, implying that the brain functions as a specialised network rather than a homogeneous mass. We have not discovered any parts of the brain that do not serve a purpose.