Do self help books really work?
Do self help books really work? Researchers in the Netherlands investigated whether books on personal growth indeed brought positive changes in people's lives. The point of the research was to investigate if and how popular "positive psychology" books were effective in enhancing self esteem. The result is perhaps not surprising: self help books are most effective if they are problem-focused. [1]
Scientifically, self help books and programs were found to be effective in treatment of certain disorders, some books were even able to produce positive outcomes that were comparable to therapist-administered treatments [2] Researches found that self help books and programs are most effective for anxiety, depression, mild alcohol abuse, insomnia and sexual dysfunction. However, due to the sheer volume of self help books published every week, some have not gone through rigorous reviews, and their recommended methodologies are often untested and may be scientifically unsound. Individuals who need help and insight into their behavior and problems may be doing themselves a disservice if they believe in every word they see on these books.
The current study quoted scientific evidences against certain self help myths. For example, positive self affirmation alone was not enough in building self esteem, in order to experience true happiness, one also needed positive feedback from others. Goal visualization also required concrete actions to make one's dream a reality. These findings come as little surprise, as no self help books can promise any drastic changes if the readers do not apply what they have learned and take actions to better their lives, the same ways that no fitness program can promise a fitter body if the person who bought the membership choose not to use the gym. Some effort and perhaps uncomfortable changes are required for any self improvement programs.
Imposed optimism is a major psychological trap in our society. Individuals in need of help and guidance are coached into forcing themselves to think positive. Psychologists have found that personality traits are both determined by nature and nurture. Ignoring the fact that who we are and how we think are partly determined biologically, we may find ourselves in situations which we put in a great deal of effort to try to be positive all the time when our instinct tells us not too look through rosy glasses. Such blind faith and false hope may lead us to nowhere. A healthy dose of pessimism, a realistic look of the likely cost and benefits of our actions, together with reasonable expectation grounded in reality, may be just as beneficial to us as individuals as a healthy dose of optimism.
Sources:
[1] Bergsma, Ad; Journal of Happiness Studies, Vol 9(3), Sep 2008. pp. 341-360.
[2]Den Boer, P. C., Wiersma, D., & Van den Bosch, R. J. (2004). Why is self-help neglected in the treatment of emotional disorders? A meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 34, 959-971.
Scientifically, self help books and programs were found to be effective in treatment of certain disorders, some books were even able to produce positive outcomes that were comparable to therapist-administered treatments [2] Researches found that self help books and programs are most effective for anxiety, depression, mild alcohol abuse, insomnia and sexual dysfunction. However, due to the sheer volume of self help books published every week, some have not gone through rigorous reviews, and their recommended methodologies are often untested and may be scientifically unsound. Individuals who need help and insight into their behavior and problems may be doing themselves a disservice if they believe in every word they see on these books.
The current study quoted scientific evidences against certain self help myths. For example, positive self affirmation alone was not enough in building self esteem, in order to experience true happiness, one also needed positive feedback from others. Goal visualization also required concrete actions to make one's dream a reality. These findings come as little surprise, as no self help books can promise any drastic changes if the readers do not apply what they have learned and take actions to better their lives, the same ways that no fitness program can promise a fitter body if the person who bought the membership choose not to use the gym. Some effort and perhaps uncomfortable changes are required for any self improvement programs.
Imposed optimism is a major psychological trap in our society. Individuals in need of help and guidance are coached into forcing themselves to think positive. Psychologists have found that personality traits are both determined by nature and nurture. Ignoring the fact that who we are and how we think are partly determined biologically, we may find ourselves in situations which we put in a great deal of effort to try to be positive all the time when our instinct tells us not too look through rosy glasses. Such blind faith and false hope may lead us to nowhere. A healthy dose of pessimism, a realistic look of the likely cost and benefits of our actions, together with reasonable expectation grounded in reality, may be just as beneficial to us as individuals as a healthy dose of optimism.
Sources:
[1] Bergsma, Ad; Journal of Happiness Studies, Vol 9(3), Sep 2008. pp. 341-360.
[2]Den Boer, P. C., Wiersma, D., & Van den Bosch, R. J. (2004). Why is self-help neglected in the treatment of emotional disorders? A meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 34, 959-971.
Labels: anxiety, depression, guided meditations, self help
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