What about the "big name" positive psychologists? It implies they were involved or consulting on this program? Do they make a few bucks for having their names and pictures used? However, I am not sure such issues are new or peculiar to Positive psychology, or that over-generalizing and making causal claims for correlational research is rare in our field.
G.L. (Gary) Peterson,Ph.D Psychology@SVSU > On Nov 9, 2015, at 12:39 AM, Annette Taylor <tay...@sandiego.edu> wrote: > > > A colleague sent me this link about a new program that will make you happy > and that it is "supported by science." > > http://my.happify.com/o/lp32/?fl=1&tmp=&trid=&srid=HRX4AZRF65&c1=RON&c2=300x250&c3=SadBrain > > I decided to look up some of the books on which the website is based, on > Amazon, and peruse the reviews. I was flabbergasted when I saw that the book > Hardwiring Happiness had such high reviews: 66% of 279 reviews were for 5 > stars! So I thought Wow, let me read the 1 star reviews, must be some unhappy > few people out there: and there I found what I expected to find. The book > HUGELY oversells the power of imaging studies to promote conclusions that > cannot possibly be reached with such studies. We just covered Brainwashed in > my critical thinking seminar and it seems that most of what I could access in > this book for free on Amazon fell into exactly all the traps that Brainwashed > mentions. > > So how can they find so very many people to write such high praise for this > book? I'm flabbergasted. > > To quote from the Amazon cite: "Hardwiring Happiness lays out a simple method > that uses the hidden power of everyday experiences to build new neural > structures full of happiness, love, confidence, and peace." > > BTW no review in psycritiques > > Then we have this guy: Shawn Achor received a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard > University and a Master of Arts in Christian and Buddhist Ethics from Harvard > Divinity School to promote this website based on his best-selling and highly > (over???) rated book, Before Happiness. This is also not reviewed in > psycritiques but his previous book is, The Happiness Advantage, and it is > royally slammed for what it is: sham. Here are a few quotes: "Surely someone > the New York Times describes as “A big star . . . a world-famous expert” > (back cover blurb) would not mistake a largely correlational and unreplicated > body of research for causal mechanisms of critical business outcomes!" and > "Positive psychology is often criticized for rushing flimsy correlational > research to market and peddling it as causal truth (e.g., Lazarus, 2003). > Critics will find the apotheosis of their foil in this book...If Salvador > Dali had partnered with P. T. Barnum, they could hardly have produced a more > ludicrous, fantastical overstatement of what “more than a decade” of positive > psychology research has discovered." > > HOW DO WE COMBAT THIS????? People are flocking to this junk and loving it and > spending lots of $$ on it. > > I am going to write a book...I am going to put in it every single bit of > "Influence" (see Ciadini's work) that I can. I will retire, finally.... > > Annette > > The rest of the positive psychology coaches promoting this website don't > deserve mention--all of these magic bullet, quick fix authors! Penn & Teller > have a fabulous bullshit! episode on self-helplessness. > > > > > > > > > > Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. > Visiting Professor, > Ashoka University, Delhi, India > annette.tay...@ashoka.edu.in > Professor, Psychological Sciences > University of San Diego > tay...@sandiego.edu > > ________________________________________ > From: Annette Taylor > Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2015 3:53 AM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: RE: illusion > > Thanks to Miguel Roig who sent me the picture that immediately showed itself > to be a razor blade! I don't know if the image I am attaching here will show > up but turn it around by 90 degrees. Then imagine a bit of foreshortening and > a bit of converging lines at the distance so that the lower part seems to > have a larger end than the farther end. > > Annette > > > Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. > Visiting Professor, > Ashoka University, Delhi, India > annette.tay...@ashoka.edu.in > Professor, Psychological Sciences > University of San Diego > tay...@sandiego.edu > > ________________________________________ > From: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) digest > [tips@fsulist.frostburg.edu] > Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2015 10:00 PM > To: tips digest recipients > Subject: tips digest: November 07, 2015 > > TIPS Digest for Saturday, November 07, 2015. > > 1. Illusion? > 2. Re: Illusion? > 3. Re: Illusion? > 4. Re: Illusion? > 5. RE: Illusion? > 6. RE: Illusion? > 7. Re: Illusion? > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Illusion? > From: Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com> > Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 18:39:14 -0600 > X-Message-Number: 1 > > Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an > example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone > see the figure-ground illusion? > > I have attached the picture > > > > JIm > retired from FGCU > > Jim Matiya > > Too often we underestimate > the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest > compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the > potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia > > > :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Re: Illusion? > From: Beth <beth.ben...@gmail.com> > Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 20:15:56 -0500 > X-Message-Number: 2 > > Are we all too embarrassed? Okay, I'll try to overcome pluralistic > ignorance. Don't see a figure-ground illusion. > Beth Benoit > Plymouth State University > New Hampshire > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On 7 Nov 2015, at 7:39 pm, Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an > > example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone > > see the figure-ground illusion? > > > > I have attached the picture > > > > > > > > JIm > > retired from FGCU > > > > Jim Matiya > > > > Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a > > listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of > > which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia > > > > > > :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) > > --- > > > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: beth.ben...@gmail.com. > > > > To unsubscribe click here: > > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13105.b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aaf72&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 > > > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > > > or send a blank email to > > leave-47290-13105.b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aa...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > > > <illusion.docx> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Re: Illusion? > From: Christopher Green <chri...@yorku.ca> > Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 20:34:39 -0500 > X-Message-Number: 3 > > By "figure ground illusion" I take it you mean an "ambiguous" or multi stable > figure, like the duck-rabbit? No, I do not see anything recognizable when I > try to force the white into figure here. > > Chris > ....... > Christopher D Green > Department of Psychology > York University > Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 > 43.773759, -79.503722 > > chri...@yorku.ca > http://www.yorku.ca/christo > > > On Nov 7, 2015, at 7:39 PM, Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an > > example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone > > see the figure-ground illusion? > > > > I have attached the picture > > > > > > > > JIm > > retired from FGCU > > > > Jim Matiya > > > > Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a > > listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of > > which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia > > > > > > :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) > > --- > > > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: chri...@yorku.ca. > > > > To unsubscribe click here: > > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62bd92&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 > > > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > > > or send a blank email to > > leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > > > <illusion.docx> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Re: Illusion? > From: Carol <devoldercar...@gmail.com> > Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 19:35:44 -0600 > X-Message-Number: 4 > > Me neither. I tried squinting, turning it upside down, and blurring my > vision. I need at least a hint. > > > On Nov 7, 2015, at 7:15 PM, Beth <beth.ben...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > Are we all too embarrassed? Okay, I'll try to overcome pluralistic > > ignorance. Don't see a figure-ground illusion. > > Beth Benoit > > Plymouth State University > > New Hampshire > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > >> On 7 Nov 2015, at 7:39 pm, Jim Matiya <jmat...@hotmail.com> wrote: > >> > >> > >> > >> Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a > >> an example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can > >> anyone see the figure-ground illusion? > >> > >> I have attached the picture > >> > >> > >> > >> JIm > >> retired from FGCU > >> > >> Jim Matiya > >> > >> Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a > >> listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of > >> which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia > >> > >> > >> :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) > >> --- > >> > >> You are currently subscribed to tips as: beth.ben...@gmail.com. > >> > >> To unsubscribe click here: > >> http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13105.b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aaf72&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 > >> > >> (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > >> > >> or send a blank email to > >> leave-47290-13105.b9b37cdd198e940b73969ea6ba7aa...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > >> > >> <illusion.docx> > > --- > > > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: devoldercar...@gmail.com. > > > > To unsubscribe click here: > > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443341&n=T&l=tips&o=47291 > > > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > > > or send a blank email to > > leave-47291-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: RE: Illusion? > From: Stuart McKelvie <smcke...@ubishops.ca> > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 02:47:48 +0000 > X-Message-Number: 5 > > I, too, do not see an ambiguous figure with two interpretations. > > Why does Jim not ask his student what is supposed to be there? > > Stuart > > From: Christopher Green [mailto:chri...@yorku.ca] > Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2015 8:35 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: Re: [tips] Illusion? > > > > By "figure ground illusion" I take it you mean an "ambiguous" or multi stable > figure, like the duck-rabbit? No, I do not see anything recognizable when I > try to force the white into figure here. > > Chris > ....... > Christopher D Green > Department of Psychology > York University > Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 > 43.773759, -79.503722 > > chri...@yorku.ca<mailto:chri...@yorku.ca> > http://www.yorku.ca/christo > > On Nov 7, 2015, at 7:39 PM, Jim Matiya > <jmat...@hotmail.com<mailto:jmat...@hotmail.com>> wrote: > > > Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an > example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone > see the figure-ground illusion? > > I have attached the picture > > > > JIm > retired from FGCU > > Jim Matiya > > Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a > listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of > which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia > > > :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: > chri...@yorku.ca<mailto:chri...@yorku.ca>. > > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62bd92&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > or send a blank email to > leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > <illusion.docx> > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: > smcke...@ubishops.ca<mailto:smcke...@ubishops.ca>. > > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb72e3&n=T&l=tips&o=47292 > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > or send a blank email to > leave-47292-13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb7...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47292-13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb7...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: RE: Illusion? > From: Jim Clark <j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca> > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 02:49:23 +0000 > X-Message-Number: 6 > > Add me to those who do not see a reverse figure! > > Jim > > Jim Clark > Professor & Chair of Psychology > University of Winnipeg > 204-786-9757 > Room 4L41A (4th Floor Lockhart) > www.uwinnipeg.ca/~clark<http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/~clark> > > > From: Stuart McKelvie [mailto:smcke...@ubishops.ca] > Sent: November-07-15 8:48 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: RE: [tips] Illusion? > > > > I, too, do not see an ambiguous figure with two interpretations. > > Why does Jim not ask his student what is supposed to be there? > > Stuart > > From: Christopher Green [mailto:chri...@yorku.ca] > Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2015 8:35 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: Re: [tips] Illusion? > > > > By "figure ground illusion" I take it you mean an "ambiguous" or multi stable > figure, like the duck-rabbit? No, I do not see anything recognizable when I > try to force the white into figure here. > > Chris > ....... > Christopher D Green > Department of Psychology > York University > Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 > 43.773759, -79.503722 > > chri...@yorku.ca<mailto:chri...@yorku.ca> > http://www.yorku.ca/christo > > On Nov 7, 2015, at 7:39 PM, Jim Matiya > <jmat...@hotmail.com<mailto:jmat...@hotmail.com>> wrote: > > > Has anyone on the list ever seen this illusion. A student submitted as a an > example...but I have never seen it before. I am a little slow, can anyone > see the figure-ground illusion? > > I have attached the picture > > > > JIm > retired from FGCU > > Jim Matiya > > Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a > listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of > which have the potential to turn a life around...Leo Buscaglia > > > :) I was addicted to the Hokey-Pokey, but I turned myself around.... :) > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: > chri...@yorku.ca<mailto:chri...@yorku.ca>. > > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62bd92&n=T&l=tips&o=47290 > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > or send a blank email to > leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47290-430248.781165b5ef80a3cd2b14721caf62b...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > <illusion.docx> > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: > smcke...@ubishops.ca<mailto:smcke...@ubishops.ca>. > > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb72e3&n=T&l=tips&o=47292 > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > or send a blank email to > leave-47292-13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb7...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47292-13510.2cc18398df2e6692fffc29a610cb7...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: > j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca<mailto:j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca>. > > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a891720c9&n=T&l=tips&o=47294 > > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > > or send a blank email to > leave-47294-13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a89172...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-47294-13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a89172...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Re: Illusion? > From: Steven Hall <mrstev...@gmail.com> > Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2015 18:56:24 -0800 > X-Message-Number: 7 > > More like an example of closure to me. But if I try hard I can see an "A." > (I blacked out the other stuff.) The head still lingers in my "top down" > mind. > > Steven Hall > Butte College > CSU-Chico > mrsteve2u2gmail.com > > > ​ > > > > --- > > END OF DIGEST > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: tay...@sandiego.edu > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a21b0&n=T&l=tips&o=47299 > or send a blank email to > leave-47299-13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a2...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: peter...@svsu.edu. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13445.e3edca0f6e68bfb76eaf26a8eb6dd94b&n=T&l=tips&o=47313 > (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) > or send a blank email to > leave-47313-13445.e3edca0f6e68bfb76eaf26a8eb6dd...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@mail-archive.com. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=47322 or send a blank email to leave-47322-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu