Challenges and Rewards “But, Dr. Jones, I’d always heard that
opposites attract. Isn’t that true?” “Dr. Smith, yesterday I
heard my political science professor talk about the American
people’s schizophrenic attitude toward abortion. So doesn’t that
mean that schizophrenics really do have multiple personalities?”
“Dr. Allen, my therapist told me that I need to express my anger
to get rid of it. So hitting a pillow when I get mad will make
me feel better, right?” Anyone who has taught an introductory
psychology course has surely heard these kinds of questions from
students. That is hardly surprising, because survey data show
that many psychological misconceptions — like those exemplified
by such questions — are widespread among undergraduates
(Lilienfeld, Lynn, Ruscio, & Beyerstein, 2009). Philosopher of
science Sir Karl Popper (1963) argued that “science must begin
with myths, and with the criticism of myths” (p. 50). My
contention in this column is that psychology instructors should
similarly make misconcepti