Has Therapy Gone Too Far? & The Hidden Genius of Birds
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Today on Something You Should Know, the best way to ask someone for a favor so they're more likely to say yes. Then, mental health therapy. Lots of people seek therapy, but there are concerns within the profession.
My profession needs to stop labeling things as trauma and major mental health disorders. You know, if breaking a fingernail is now seen as a trauma, then what the heck is a major accident or being assaulted?
Also, did you know potato chip bags have a particular sound? And fascinating things about birds you never knew, including the fact that they're in danger.
Cats can be a hazard for birds. Cats are killing millions of birds. Also things like window glass. Sometimes they fly into windows in buildings, especially if the lights are on. And there's been a concerted effort to get tall skyscrapers to turn the lights off.
All this today on Something You Should Know.
Something you should know. Fascinating intel. The world's top experts. And practical advice you can use in your life. Today, Something You Should Know with Mike Carruthers.
If you want to ask someone to do you a favor, the way you ask it can make all the difference in the world. And that's what we're going to start with today on this episode of Something You Should Know. Hi, welcome. I'm Mike Carruthers. So when you need a favor, the words you use before you even ask can dramatically increase your chances of hearing yes. Researchers who study influence say there are three simple ingredients to an effective favor. First, announce it. Saying, can I ask you a favor, gives the other person a moment to psychologically prepare, and it signals that you're asking, not demanding, which subtly taps into our instinct to be helpful. Second, explain why. One of the oldest findings in persuasion research is that people are much more willing to cooperate when they're given a reason, even a simple one.
Finally, give them an out. Add something like, If it's not a good time, I completely understand. That may seem like you're making it easier to say no, but the opposite often happens. When people don't feel trapped or pressured, they're actually more inclined to help. One more interesting finding. Most of us underestimate how willing other people are to do us a favor. We assume we'll be rejected far more often than we actually are, which means the biggest mistake may simply be not asking in the first place. And that is something you should know. Mental health therapy has gone mainstream. For millions of people, seeing a therapist has become as normal as seeing the dentist. That's a remarkable change, and for many people, therapy has been life-changing.
But it also raises an interesting question. If more people are in therapy than ever before, why are anxiety, depression, and loneliness continuing to rise? Is it just because life has gotten harder, or is it possible we've started asking therapy to do things it was never intended to do? Should everyone have a therapist? Is it always helpful to explore your feelings? And where's the line between addressing a real mental health problem and simply trying to navigate the normal challenges of everyday life? My guest is a psychotherapist who believes we may have crossed that line. Jonathan Alpert is a therapist who has spent more than 20 years treating patients. He's been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Fox News, and many other outlets.
He's author of a book called Therapy Nation, How America Got Hooked on Therapy and Why It's Left Us More Anxious and Divided. Hey, Jonathan, welcome to Something You Should Know. Thanks, Mike. Appreciate you having me. So I find it interesting that it wasn't all that long ago when the idea of going to a shrink, seeing a therapist... It had a stigma to it. It's like, well, God, what's wrong with this guy? I mean, he's really got some problems if he's going to see a professional shrink. And now it is very common and it certainly has lost a lot of the stigma. So what changed?
Yeah, and I think what happened is there's no longer at least not as much the stigma that we had a few decades ago.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:02–6:32
2
How can three simple phrasing changes make someone more likely to say yes to a favor?
6:32–9:11
3
Why do researchers recommend announcing, explaining, and giving an out when asking for help?
9:11–16:38
4
Has therapy become too common and why are anxiety and loneliness still rising?
16:38–28:04
5
How might therapists be pathologizing ordinary life and lowering the bar for 'trauma'?
28:04–46:56
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from Something You Should Know
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