Flip through the channels on a television set or walk into any bookstore in the United States, and you are likely to encounter various self-help reality shows or books offering insights into how you can help yourself with mental health issues.
For this discussion, pick one self-help television show or book to evaluate (Dr. Phil, Hoarders, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Managing Your Moods, Learn How to Boost Your Self Esteem, etc.). Identify your selection and provide enough information on the topic of the show or book to create adequate context. Analyze the validity, reliability, benefits, and value of the popular resource based on your reading and study of the science of psychology across the course. Describe the presentation of the content within the book or television show in terms of the role of authority the author or host takes. (Is the presentation informational or authoritative?) Explain any theoretical foundations or shortcomings found in the material. Evaluate the ability of the book or show to apply the methods within the presented material to the target population. Describe any efforts on the part of the author(s) or host(s) to apply ethical principles and professional standards of psychology in the delivery of the content. Note any ethical issues not addressed by the chosen resource.