I received a question recently, and I thought it might be useful for all of you who question things (good!) and who sometimes wonder what to believe and what not in psychology.

“Hi Irina, I read a lot of psychology, but I don’t know what to believe anymore. I often find information that I feel isn’t right, and other times I think I’ve found ‘the answer,’ but after a while I realize it isn’t. In the end, I don’t know anymore what is true or false. How do you know what to trust?

Sarah”

Dear Sarah,

When I studied at university, psychology felt clearer, without so many passing trends—Personality, Abnormal Psychology, Experimental Psychology etc. This strong foundation still helps me today. Without it, I would not be able to navigate all the noise! Nowadays, when I see too much buzz, rumor, and bubble around something, I immediately question its validity. I am very cautious with concepts that appear in the language of psychology but are actually shaped more by ideology than by science—terms that end up labeling or dividing people instead of clarifying reality. For example: “toxic masculinity”, “narcissistic abuse syndrome”, internalized homophobia, toxic whiteness—to name just a few.

If you see it everywhere, start questioning it.

I try to differentiate between genuine psychological problems and normal human experiences that are increasingly being pathologized—terms that create the illusion of a “problem,” although no such problem exists. The need to be validated, the desire to look good, to have a family, to share life with a partner—these are natural aspects of human life, not pathologies. I also look at history: psychology has always had waves of ideas that sounded convincing at the time but later disappeared. Remembering those helps me recognize what is just another bubble—or a marketing invention to make some people rich.

If it sounds like a new syndrome for a normal need, question it.

And I hold onto what will always remain important, no matter what trends or so-called “studies” try to sell us: responsibility, self-determination, respect for ourselves and others, forgiveness, Love, faith, hope, truth, justice, integrity.

If a trend, a book, or a post ever tells you these don’t matter—question it. Stand firm. Don’t be fooled.

#psychology#criticalthinking#trauma#values#therapy#responsibility#faith#truth#integrity#selfrespect#healing#wisdom