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It is generally thought that science helps good ideas triumph over bad. The weight of evidence eventually pushes false claims aside.
But some ideas march onward despite the evidence against them. The discredited link between vaccines and autism continues to cause mischief and climate change sceptics continue to resurrect dead science.
Why, then, are some bad ideas so hard to kill?
A striking example of such a “zombie theory” comes from personality psychology. Personality psychologists study human individuality – how and why individuals differ in their patterns of behaviour and experience, and how those differences influence our lives.
For almost 50 years, an idea with a vexing immunity to evidence has needled this field. This idea is called situationism.
Read more here. (The Conversation)
But some ideas march onward despite the evidence against them. The discredited link between vaccines and autism continues to cause mischief and climate change sceptics continue to resurrect dead science.
Why, then, are some bad ideas so hard to kill?
A striking example of such a “zombie theory” comes from personality psychology. Personality psychologists study human individuality – how and why individuals differ in their patterns of behaviour and experience, and how those differences influence our lives.
For almost 50 years, an idea with a vexing immunity to evidence has needled this field. This idea is called situationism.
Read more here. (The Conversation)
