Debunking psychology myths and misconceptions, with Erin Smith, PhD

May 6, 2026

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5 min read

Debunking psychology myths and misconceptions, with Erin Smith, PhD

Even college students who had just completed an introductory psychology course still believed many common psychological misconceptions—things like "people only use 10% of their brain" or "sugar makes kids hyper." This finding, from a study of about 900 students across eight different campuses, is exactly what the researchers expected, but it raises a hard question for educators: if teaching the facts isn't enough to dislodge false beliefs, what is?

Why misconceptions are so stubborn

Misconceptions persist for reasons rooted in normal human psychology. "The way our memory works," Smith explains, "when we hear things over and over and over again, even when it's not true, even if we're told this is not true, repeated exposure increases our belief that that thing is true." This is the same mechanism that helps children remember useful warnings like "don't touch that hot stove"—it's adaptive, but it works just as well for false information as for true.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:29) **Common Psychology Myths Introduced** - Host Kim Mills lists several widely held but false beliefs, including left-brain/right-brain, hypnosis for forgotten memories, 10% brain usage, and sugar causing hyperactivity.
2 (01:37) **Guest Introduction: Dr. Erin Smith** - Dr. Smith is introduced as a developmental psychologist whose research includes misconceptions in introductory psychology courses.
3 (02:32) **The Study: How It Worked and What It Found** - Dr. Smith describes a study of ~900 students across eight campuses who took a "quiz about people" after their intro psych class.
4 (04:40) **Why Misconceptions Are Hard to Study** - Misconceptions are not a consistent "package" of beliefs; endorsing one myth doesn't predict belief in another.
5 (07:47) **Most Common and Stubborn Myths** - The most persistent misconceptions include subliminal messages influencing purchases and the belief in learning styles.
6 (08:19) **Why Myths Stick: The Psychology of Memory** - Repeated exposure to a statement, even when told it's false, increases belief in it due to how memory works.
7 (10:38) **The Role of Social Media and Echo Chambers** - Social media creates ideological echo chambers that solidify beliefs through repeated exposure and emotional reinforcement.

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Show Notes

From the idea that we only use 10% of our brains to the belief that each of us has an optimal learning style that helps us learn best, many popular “facts” about human behavior aren’t actually true. Yet they persist, even among students who have studied psychology. Erin Smith, PhD, explores why misconceptions about the mind are so widespread and how repetition and social influences reinforce false beliefs; discusses the role of psychology education in debunking myths and shaping critical thinking; and offers advice on how all of us can become more thoughtful consumers -- and sharers -- of psychological science.

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