Index – Science – Revealed The secret of the secret, pseudoscience may have covered the world

Rhonda Byrne The secret His book has sold more than 35 million copies and has been translated into more than 50 languages. Byrne produced a number of related books, including The biggest secret but, riding the waves of success, he even released a deck of cards. Of course, the book could not avoid the film adaptation either, a Secret: Dare to dream It was made in 2020 starring Katie Holmes. According to The Guardian, it “became offensively mediocre… forgettable”. But there is also a DVD, The Secret Behind the Secret titled whichben a self-help guru claims to control a spiritual being named Benjamin.

The guiding idea behind the secret is that the law of attraction operates within the universe: we become or attract what we think about the most. Positive things happen to positive people and negative things happen to negative people. We are not passive receivers, but active attractors.

It can only work for the cheerful

In 2006, Oprah Winfrey devoted two episodes of her talk show to The Secret, which she said embodies the message she has always believed, namely that we are in charge of our lives. So Byrne’s idea is neither entirely new nor innovative. Rather, it is the rediscovery and repackaging of the psychological line that has become popular in recent decades, the “power of positive thinking”.

Much empirical psychological research has already shown that positive thinking and feeling are likely to lead to more positive outcomes. But there is a big difference between the book and the empirical studies that have tested the qualifications and nuances of the effects of positive expectations. The secret may work and appeal to those who are already balanced and cheerful, but the depressed will not find any help in it. Moreover, it suggests that depression and its consequences are the victim’s fault, and let them think more positively!

If the “Secret Trick” worked, there would be no more poverty or wars. But it was not only in these areas that he did not prove himself, as he incorrectly applied the principles of quantum physics to explain the “law of attraction” – which is a pseudo-scientific idea in itself. Still, it’s still bought and loved, with over 40,000 customers on Amazon taking the time to review the book. Its average rating is 4.6 out of 5. But it’s no wonder, because it promises easy success and seems logical at first. We love spiritual and simple explanations, and this is THE secret. It talks about the search for meaning and the possibility of achieving happiness.

The big guys stood by

Rhonda Byrne was lucky that the book was embraced by big-name American opinion makers, such as Winfrey, or gurus like Bob Proctor, John Assaraf and Jack Canfield. According to Byrne, some of the great figures of history also knew the secret, such as Plato, Shakespeare and Einstein. The only problem with this is how would Byrne know if Einstein or Plato used it?

It also relies on the individual’s belief in the spiritual dimension of the world to control their own destiny. But according to psychologists, positive thinking is far from enough. Hard work, persistence, motivation, skill and ability are also required for success.

A key element of the scientific method is that theories must be testable, that is, observations and data must be collected. If personal experience is any indication, The Secret has achieved an impressive feat, as the internet is full of positive testimonials describing its results. But, according to the psychologist, these descriptions are often based on wrong conclusions, or they reveal false connections, false cause-and-effect conclusions, or it’s just a matter of confirming a belief. If an avid reader asks the universe for a raise and gets it two weeks later, he thinks the book’s ideas helped him, not his hard work and diligence. But how can we really know for sure?

Mark Manson, a New York Times bestsellerszerzője, The refined art of “messing up”. and the author of other best-selling books (whose works have sold approximately 20 million copies and have been translated into more than 65 languages). According to him, it is full of superstitions, silly clichés and based on narcissism, with one of its basic ideas being “I am at the center of the universe”.

But let’s add, empirical psychological research also supports Byrne’s theses, especially that a positive attitude usually produces positive results – although not always, and not because some magical connection with the universe is established.

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