Are TV Parapsychologists being irresponsible?

[Dr B]

There are many poor quality and misleading TV progs on at the moment which propagate nonsense in the public domain and do so repeatedly. Some of these recruit "Parapsychologists" (self-claimed or otherwise) as the so-called resident experts.

We are then treated to these 'experts' being part of the problem - in that they support and help propagate what is in fact, pseudo-scientific nonsense, but try to pass it off as 'science'

For the UK-based shows I have often wondered what the British Psychology Society would make of this (in terms of ethics and code of conduct).

Is it irresponsible of such 'experts' to contiue being involved in projects which are clearly nonsense? Why can all get caught out by TV promises once, maybe twice, but to be involved over a prolonged period is difficult to defend (from a scientific perspective)

It seems to me that in some cases, some of these 'experts' have been seduced by the celebrity and this remains a potent lure to do these projects. I am not sure however, that they are even helping themselves in the long run....

The UK and USA appear to be making lots of these progs at the moment...why dont all parapsychologists simple boycott them until standards improve?

[bindeweede]

There must be a certain appeal - "I'm a Celebrity Parapsychologist - keep me on here - keep giving me the publicity and the money". Just for my research, of course.

[Croydon Bob]

There seems little difference to me between the parapsychologists prepared to validate a ghost show and the psychologists who appear on reality TV shows and claim to be able to psychoanalyse someone based on viewing a couple of hours of video clips. Or all the ones who wrote articles for tabloid newspapers about Michael Jackson.

Psychology is a field full of attention-seeking phonies. Erm, in my humble and possibly wrong opinion, obviously exceptions amongst the skeptical community, etc.

Also: The trouble with the word "parapsychologist" is that it is used by believers to mean something different to what an educated understanding might suggest. Any idiot who has ever conducted a test, no matter how shoddy and without double-blinding, of anything paranormal can be a parapsychologist.

[Mulder]

I don't think even Most Haunted can save the reputation of parapsychologists ... They actually believe in a fictional thing called psi!

[dalriada]

Oooh so many things I could say about this thread....No time to say them now though, except YES TV parapsychologists are being incredibly irresponsible (in a lot of ways) and sometimes downright unethical.

Academic parapsychologists have a quite a grievance about not-being-taken-seriously by the rest of academia and while in very many cases this is an entirely justified assumption, there are still some exceptionally bright people, doing creative and thorough work and everytime some black-anoraked dork with a ghostometer, and a swelling ego pops up on his haunted-houses-of-everywhere-shire tour (near you) or on TV alongside the likes of Derek Acorah and Yvette "scream-queen" Fielding then the chances of any serious researcher into the anomalous being treated with respect slide further and further back...

On the other hand, parapsychology isn't brain surgery, it's not feeding the hungry, curing cancer, mopping up poo in a residential home or cleaning the streets, so how much respect does it deserve anyway?

(Para) Psychologists are not Rock Stars, Time to get over it.

[Nicky]

My doctor's advised me against getting into discussions about self-proclaimed parapsychologists with no academic credibility, so for the purpose of the below I'll consider seemingly academically legit parapsychologists ..

I think it can be a difficult position to be in ... If the show approaching you is established then you'll know what to expect from their edit and accept or decline appropriately and face the consequences ... If it's a new project, then it is quite a gamble and could be a fantastic platform to promote rational and scentific enquiry into phenomena, but could quite equally be catastrophic depending on the producer's true motivation and the way the edit's done ..

I guess the key is not to commit yourself beyond what's necessary to make an assessment of how you'll be portrayed, don't forget where you've come from and don't waiver from science and ethics forsake of cash or celebrity

In the media stuff I've done in recent times I've always talked in soundbites that can't really been edited to your detriment ...

[Smillsoid]

Psychology is a field full of attention-seeking phonies. Erm, in my humble and possibly wrong opinion, obviously exceptions amongst the skeptical community, etc.

Are you accusing psychologists in general of being phonies - or just certain people? What is your 'subject position'?

[Croydon Bob]

Are you accusing psychologists in general of being phonies - or just certain people?

I'm not an expert and I wouldn't presume to know all about a field I'm not a part of. I'm certainly suggesting that TV psychologists are generally "attention-seeking phonies". This gives me grounds to suspect that many others must also be so.

You only have to read two articles in two different tabloids by two different psychologists about, say, Katie Price, to see that there are pop-psychologists willing to say anything to get their own little bit of media attention.

What is your 'subject position'?

I always assume I'm objective.

But I did say "in my humble and possibly wrong opinion", so please don't think that I'm prepared to die in a ditch defending my position because I might change my mind in the face of evidence and a good argument.

[polomint38]

You only have to read two articles in two different tabloids by two different psychologists about, say, Katie Price, to see that there are pop-psychologists willing to say anything to get their own little bit of media attention.

You would say that, wouldn't you!

[bobdezon]

It's funny you should ask that particular question Jason. That was the subject of my very first post over on Badpsychics.

I do not concern myself with the self proclaimed parapsychologists banter, nor the bullshit spouted by those that purchase their "degree" from an online diploma mill. The only thing "real" parapsychologists seem to say in programs like MH is "interesting", or "that's interesting" or even "I find that interesting".

It's a bit noncommittal, and a complete waste of air time.

[Julia]

I find that comment very interesting, Bob.

[Dr B]

It's funny you should ask that particular question Jason. That was the subject of my very first post over on Badpsychics.

It was also the subject of a thread i did on the old ASSAP forum 3 to 4 years ago - I am unaware of your thread but i guess great minds think alike and all that. What did people on BP say about it?

The real shame is it is still relevant today as it was way back then when I originally asked it on that ASSAP forum - in some ways even more so.

I wonder if those TV para people are really aware of how the larger community real does view them - they seem blind to it in many ways.

[Nicky]

I wonder whether it is case of blindness, or more a case of not really caring due to all the kerching and celeb status that means they don't need their academic field anymore so are quite happy to sell out.

[bobdezon]

It was also the subject of a thread i did on the old ASSAP forum 3 to 4 years ago -

Unfortunately I am not a member of ASSAP, and have no access to the forum. I have been told though, that it is a bit dead postwise.

I am unaware of your thread but i guess great minds think alike and all that. What did people on BP say about it?

Well that is the weird thing. One of the admin's (at the time) was an alleged medium (which was very weird considering the nature of the website). He gave me quite a lot of crap about it. I simply stuck to my guns and he got quite angry, and seemingly lost the plot. Other forum members came to my aid because I was right "apparently". I knew then that I should stick around, because it was the first forum I had been on where right wins, and wrong can take a hike, and the admin couldn't ban you simply because they disagreed with you.

Not long afterwards, I became an admin myself, and a lot of people left in protest, using ridiculous reasons and unfounded accusations as a basis for their discontent. The forum used to be a series of cliques, but we reversed the "woo dominant" trend and opened up the avenues of rational discourse and promotion of critical thinking. I think maybe it is better now.

The real shame is it is still relevant today as it was way back then when I originally asked it on that ASSAP forum - in some ways even more so.

I know exactly what you mean, and certain ASSAP members agree with your assessment.

I wonder if those TV para people are really aware of how the larger community real does view them - they seem blind to it in many ways.

Oh, I think they know full well the consequences of their statements on these programs. Ethics are fine, but ethics do not pay the mortgage.

[Nicky]

I'd hope the ASSAP forum is a bit dead postwise as it's not existed for the past couple of years ... Unless it's ... shock horror! ... haunted ...