Think Twice Podcast

28: Which Self-Help Books are Actually Backed by Neuroscience?

Think Twice Podcast

Show Notes

Did you know that reading isn't only for fun, but it can also have several health benefits like improving sleep quality, cognitive function, and stress relief? Self-help is a genre that is quickly rising in popularity but, unfortunately, a lot of self-help content is not actually backed by neuroscience. So, which ones should you read and which ones should you avoid? In this episode, professor and psychologist Dr. Joanna Pozzulo shares her top 4 picks for evidence-based self-help books and how to identify pseudoscience in the media.

Dr. Joanna Pozzulo is a Chancellor's Professor in the Department of Psychology, Director of the Laboratory for Child Forensic Psychology, and Director of the Mental Health and Well-Being Research and Training Hub (MeWeRTH) at Carleton University. Dr. Pozzulo’s primary research aims to understand how memory in the context of witnessing crime differs across the lifespan with a focus on the young eyewitness. By using evidence-based approaches her goal is to reduce wrongful conviction. Relatedly, she is interested in non-judicial factors that influence juror decision-making. Dr. Pozzulo is passionate about teaching and research in the area of mental health and well-being having created undergraduate and graduate level capstone courses for students that include experiential learning opportunities. Relatedly, her goal is to use evidence-based work to promote well-being to a general audience.

Authors: Elena Koning

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Disclaimer: Think Twice is a podcast for general information and entertainment purposes only. The content discussed in the episodes does not reflect the views of the podcast committee members or any institution they are affiliated with. The use of the information presented in this podcast is at the user’s own risk and is not intended to replace professional healthcare services.

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