The initial argument of the book is twofold. First: a lot of the psychological interventions to help people anything from helping first responder deal with traumatic events to keeping kids from getting pregnant are either useless or counterproductie.
We can't know without experimental testing. Second: a particular kind of approach cal Redirect started strong, got weak enough in the middle that I was debating between 2 and 3 stars as I trudged through, and then got quite strong again at the end. Second: a particular kind of approach called story-editing that depends on altering the way people construct their own narratives can be surprisingly helpful at solving psychological problem.
As far as story-editing goes, the results really are surprising. For example, if you take students who have done poorly on an early test in college and simply give them the information that lots of people struggle early on then--with that intervention alone--you can significantly improve their subsequent performance on tests, graduation rate, etc.
The theory is that you're helping them embrace a growth-narrative "if I work hard, I can get better" rather than a fixed-narrative "I must not be good enough. As as the emphasis on experimental design goes: it's a valuable point but Wilson hangs too much from it. He consistently holds out the ideal of controlled drug experimentation without recognizing that human trials of drugs are based on earlier experiments with laboratory animals.
There's no such phase with psychological testing; we can't run don't-do-drugs programs experimentally on rats first to make sure that there's no major danger before rolling the program out to high school kids. This makes psychological experimentation fundamentally different from medical experimentation, which complicates his persistent use of medical experiments as the goal standard to which all social psychology should be held.
Furthermore, experiments just aren't as magically distinct from observational studies as he would like us to believe.
For one thing, he consistently cites experimental studies that illustrate the effectiveness of a certain approach, and then claims credit for story-editing, despite the fact that that last leap attributing the results to his pet theory is actually not a necessary result of the science. It's just his interpretation. This obsession on experimental design leads to the long, boring middle section of the book which is mostly just a literature review of various programs attempting to deal with problems like stopping child abuse, stopping drug abuse, stopping racism, etc.
The theme is basically that if an intervention doesn't work it has nothing to do with story-editing, and if it does work Wilson claims it's a story-editing approach no matter what the original designers may have thought and claims credit for his "team". As you can imagine, this gets tedious.
The final sections were very interesting, however, because Wilson started talking about racial disparities in American culture, and suggested the first plausible explanation I've ever heard for the persistent discrepancy in achievement scores between white and blacks controversially outlined in The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life.
The concept is stereotype threat , which is the idea that if a person is being tested and is aware of the fact that they belong to a group stereotypically expected to do poorly, they will do poorly. If black students take an IQ test, there's a gap between their performance and white performance, but if the same test is described as a "puzzle" with no references to "test" or "IQ" the gap vanishes. Similarly: elderly adults do worse on memory tests if attention is drawn to their age.
Women do worse on math tests if attention is drawn to their gender. Men do not, since there isn't a stereotype of men doing poorly at math, but if you take white men and give them a math test and tell them their scores will be compared with Asian men stereotypically assumed to be superior at math then the scores of the white men will fall. This isn't a new discovery of Wilson nor does he claim it , but it was news to me.
As someone who has really been bothered by The Bell Curve since I studied it in my sophomore English class we read an article-length treatment, not the whole book, and debated it at length under the guidance of our African American teacher , this was a huge revelation. The follow up is great as well: Wilson talks about a variety of different programs designed to erase the achievement gap along with experimental evidence for which ones are successful and which ones are not.
Of course stereotype threat isn't a panacea for all educational problems, for example if you tell someone about stereotype threat it doesn't erase any lag in their ability to read or do math, but it really powerfully emphasizes: 1. That a lot of endemic problems in achievment have to do with perception rather than objective reality.
That perceptions can be changed for the better with carefully designed programs. This section was so interesting and exciting for me, that I revised my ranking from 2 or 3 stars to 4 stars.
For the first time in a long time, I feel like there are actually programs that may really help to combat some of the problems with education in our society. Quick fixes? Absolutely not. But practically achievable programs with real results?
View all 4 comments. Jan 01, Kevin Denham rated it it was ok. After thoroughly enjoying Dr. Wilson's first book "Strangers to Ourselves", I was delighted to hear he'd released another title a few months ago. Perhaps I approached the book from too skeptical a perspective since the book cover gave clear signals that Dr. Wilson had intended this title for a different audience than his first. I wouldn't begrudge anyone trying to turn their passion and pool of knowledge into a higher standard of living, as I believe this title was intending to do.
I would begrud After thoroughly enjoying Dr. I would begrudge someone failing to write a book of higher quality simply because he wanted to make a half-ass effort at a sell out title.
If you're going to sell out, do it, and do it in a way that isn't blatantly self-sabotaging. I can entirely understand Dr. Wilson's motivation with this book. Wilson's research and that of his colleges in the social psychology field, but it wasn't marketed or written to sell millions of copies. That would have to wait a few years later for Wilson's close colleague Dr. Daniel Gilbert's "Stumbling on Happiness" to convey many the very same ideas, and research in a way that was marketed and written for Oprah's crowd.
It was an amazing success that I could only tolerate reading about halfway through. The first few chapters of Redirect actually led me think that perhaps Dr. Wilson had retained his amazing ability to relate complex and novel ideas with a conversational prose that succeeded in making you feel smarter than you actually are. This turned to disillusionment fairly quickly though.
If you're going to market a book to Oprah's lemmings, you don't spend the better part of a chapter ridiculing the ideas that are the staple of the self-help industry. The lost potential in this book becomes clearly evident as Dr. Wilson doesn't really spend any time on ideas, concepts, or theories. The one idea he does bring to the table regards "self-narrative", or the stories we tell ourselves, about ourselves, whether consciously or unconsciously.
While some of the applications and modes of delivery that Dr. Wilson proposes may be original, the ideas behind altering self-narratives have been in practice for years. Where Dr. Wilson really does shine though, is explaining not only his own research, but the research of his colleagues in the field of social psychology. More than once while reading Redirect I was struck by the sheer cleverness of the many experiments designed to tease out causal correlations.
Ferreting out the truth behind many social and psychological mechanisms seems like a fools errand, so I'm constantly impressed with the ingenuity of those who do manage to reveal such deeply buried truths. As someone who has spent time reading psychology journal articles I can appreciate even more a writer who can relate those ideas and methodologies in a way does not leave the reader's eyes glazed over.
Just as important is someone who can relate those big and important ideas while tempering the results of outcomes and including the necessary caveats where they are due. It's far too easy for the disingenuous to over exaggerate or misrepresent research findings. One feels assured that Wilson is providing a sober and accurate representation of what is being found, or not found, in psychological research.
This book written by anyone else would have merited an extra star. Knowing it was written by someone capable of much more makes it all the worse. View 1 comment. Shelves: read-in , non-fiction , psychology. The key point that Timothy D. Wilson makes in Redirect is that people have key narratives stories about themselves and that, when these key narratives are rewritten, people's lives can be changed.
Wilson devotes about two-thirds of the book to describing scientific research which backs up his premise. Wilson weakens his book by including interesting but unrelated material explanations of what The key point that Timothy D. Wilson weakens his book by including interesting but unrelated material explanations of what makes for a good experimental design in scientific research and by losing track of his audience.
Is his intended reader a layperson or a fellow scientist? It's difficult to tell. Still, because the core premise is so interesting our lives can be changed for the better if we can let go of unhelpful beliefs about ourselves and it is backed up by a lot of scientific research different settings and different demographics , this book has a lot to offer anyone who is interested in psychological change. Feb 03, Morgan Blackledge rated it liked it.
This book is very useful particularly if you are a psychology clinician, social worker, conscientious parent, educator, curious human being etc , as it a covers just enough experimental and statistical method to activate the "educated sceptic" module b rigorously shreds non evidence based interventions such as DARE and Scared Straight c introduces us to a broadly applicable method for adaptive personal and social change called "story editing" and effectively presents evidence for its effi This book is very useful particularly if you are a psychology clinician, social worker, conscientious parent, educator, curious human being etc , as it a covers just enough experimental and statistical method to activate the "educated sceptic" module b rigorously shreds non evidence based interventions such as DARE and Scared Straight c introduces us to a broadly applicable method for adaptive personal and social change called "story editing" and effectively presents evidence for its efficacy.
So why the 3 stars as opposed to 4 or 5? Because the book very much like the authors other book Strangers To Our Selves suffers a bit from a stuffy and dry presentation style. Steven Pinker, Robert Sapolsky and Jonathan Haidt can present pages of complex, abstract academic subject matter and have you laughing and crying all the way. This for me is the gold standard. This book is good, but it goes down a little like broccoli after a milkshake. I'd say this is very worthwhile reading if you're very interested in social psychology and I am, and so should you.
But if you're not, read it any way but consider yourself warned. Mar 31, Deb Readerbuzz Nance rated it really liked it Shelves: problems-ideas , nonfiction , creativity.
The treatment is called story editing. Very intriguing. I need to find out more about this powerful tool. View all 5 comments. Aug 20, Shira rated it really liked it Shelves: teaching , policy. Thank you -journal writing, done conscientiously, with periodic look-backs after enough time has passed to gain perspective on events, does work.
I will admit to being shocked that the immediate CISD trauma feedback sessions seem to be shown by research to be overwhelmingly ineffective, yet it makes alot of sense that waiting until enough time has passed that the initial shock has worn off, so that a bit of perspective can start to develop, before writing about the experience would be helpful.
Also changing attitudes by 'accidentally' or sort of slipping in, showing information that shows that what one thought was the case, was not actually the case, makes sense, just not so easy maybe. But this all means that we human beings must begin to diffferentiate our fast thoughts from our slower critical process thoughts and to use them in the right circumstances.
View 2 comments. Aug 14, Lis Carey rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction. Wilson gives us a highly readable account of what we do and don't know about psychological and social psychological interventions--what works, what doesn't, why, and how we tell the difference. A major concern of Wilson's is many popular, widely accepted approaches to solving, reducing, or preventing problems, such as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing CISD counseling for police and firefighters after a traumatic on-the-job incident, or popular and widely-respected anti-drug programs for the s Wilson gives us a highly readable account of what we do and don't know about psychological and social psychological interventions--what works, what doesn't, why, and how we tell the difference.
A major concern of Wilson's is many popular, widely accepted approaches to solving, reducing, or preventing problems, such as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing CISD counseling for police and firefighters after a traumatic on-the-job incident, or popular and widely-respected anti-drug programs for the schools, have been implemented on a large scale without being scientifically tested first.
In some cases, once broadly accepted, these approaches remain unchanged even after scientific testing demonstrates that they are ineffective or even counter-productive. A recurring theme is that good intentions and common sense don't always produce the expected results, while controlled scientific experimentation can often identify more effective methods--and that often these better methods are also simpler, easier, and less expensive.
One example is the CISD mentioned above. It seems quite sensible to encourage someone who's had a traumatic experience to talk about, get the feelings out, and avoid having lasting post-traumatic stress disorder effects from it. Unfortunately, experiments with survivors of traumatic incidents randomly assigned to either undergo CISD or not show that it actually increases the likelihood of PTSD symptoms. What does work? Having the trauma survivor wait a few weeks, and then spend fifteen minutes writing about the incident, for three or four days running.
Why does CISD make things worse, while the writing exercise makes things better? Because CISD forces the trauma survivor to focus on the events before he or she is prepared to make sense of them, and gets them trapped in the initial emotional response to what happened.
The writing exercise allows the mind time to process the event, and then write about it, in private, when ready to do so and without having to deal with another person's expectations. Another recurring theme is "story editing.
Some of those stories are not helpful to us, to say the least. A student who gets a bad grade on a test and concludes that he's not smart enough for the class is likely to keep doing badly in it. A student who gets the same bad grade and concludes that he needs to spend more time studying likely to do better on the next test, and be reinforced in his belief that working harder will bring success. It's clear which one of these reactions is more useful.
What's really valuable to know is that with a fairly simple intervention of having students listen to stories of upperclassmen who did badly at first and then improved in the class work, you can change the first reaction to the second one. Wilson gives an excellent overview of the current state of social psychology, explaining what works and what doesn't, and why. Examples range from students having academic problems to major social problems such as teen pregnancy, delinquency, and drug use, showing why some popular "common sense" programs have failed while seemingly simple interventions succeed.
He also gives pointers to the effective use of these principles in our personal lives, while making clear that there are mental and emotional health problems that do require professional help and more complex intervention.
Highly recommended. I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Sep 26, Heather Pagano rated it really liked it Shelves: cognition. Interesting and practical, a book that really changed the way I think about the thought patterns that motivate behavior. The focus of the book is "story editing," rewriting redirecting the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, what we can do, and how we feel.
Wilson offers story editing as a tool for both personal and societal positive change. Although I would have preferred that the book focus even more on how to effect change on a personal level, several techniques suggested for support Interesting and practical, a book that really changed the way I think about the thought patterns that motivate behavior.
Although I would have preferred that the book focus even more on how to effect change on a personal level, several techniques suggested for supporting personal growth and happiness are already a part of my everyday life.
For the first time I actually look forward to keeping a journal, and am able to see writing not just as a form of expression and communication, but as a tool for well-being. On a practical, personal level, Wilson also offers useful parenting techniques. Wilson had two points. One of them is the fantastic website link as well as computer system. This problem will relieve you to support one of your hobbies, reading routine. Wilson now?
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Wilson Even you consistently review by obligation, you can assist on your own to have reading publication routine. It will certainly be so helpful as well as fun then. Wilson Still confused? It matters not. Wilson by on-line or soft data. Wilson in the web link offered to visit. Wilson by online. After downloading and install, you could save the soft documents in your computer system or gizmo.
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As soon as more, reading practice will constantly provide valuable advantages for you. Wilson Just reserved numerous times in our spare or spare times while having dish or in your office to check out. Wilson will show you new point that you can do now. It will certainly aid you to enhance the top quality of your life.
Wilson , you could be healthier as well as a lot more enjoyable to delight in reading. The world-renowned psychologist Timothy Wilson shows us how to redirect the stories we tell about ourselves and the world around us, with subtle prompts, in ways that lead to lasting change.
Fascinating, groundbreaking, and practical, REDIRECT demonstrates the remarkable power small changes can have on the ways we see ourselves and our environment, and how we can use this in our everyday lives. Review "There are few academics who write with as much grace and wisdom as Timothy Wilson.
Redirect is a masterpiece. Well, Timothy Wilson is the scientist and Redirect is the book, and it is in fact amazing. Wegner, Harvard University, author of The Illusion of Conscious Will "Redirect reveals the hidden meanings we assume in our everyday lives, how these meanings shape our behavior, and how we can change our assumptions and the world. Timothy Wilson has distilled the field's wisdom and shown us how to use it to change ourselves and the world. This may well be the single most important psychology book ever written.
About the Author Timothy D. Wilson is the Sherrell J. Aston Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. He has written for Science and the New York Times, among other publications, and is the author of Strangers to Ourselves. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Not for Personal Change By DiamondJag This is not really a book on what I consider "psychological" change but rather a book on "social" change. One of them is the fantastic website link as well as computer system.
This problem will relieve you to support one of your hobbies, reading routine. Wilson now? Wilson to check out? You will never obtain the knowledge and encounter without managing yourself there or attempting by yourself to do it. Wilson is required. Wilson Even you consistently review by obligation, you can assist on your own to have reading publication routine. It will certainly be so helpful as well as fun then. Wilson Still confused? It matters not.
Wilson by on-line or soft data. Wilson in the web link offered to visit. Wilson by online. After downloading and install, you could save the soft documents in your computer system or gizmo. Wilson in certain time or area. Wilson , due to the fact that you have bunches of job. But, with this soft documents, you can take pleasure in reviewing in the extra time even in the spaces of your tasks in workplace. As soon as more, reading practice will constantly provide valuable advantages for you.
Wilson Just reserved numerous times in our spare or spare times while having dish or in your office to check out. Wilson will show you new point that you can do now. It will certainly aid you to enhance the top quality of your life. Wilson , you could be healthier as well as a lot more enjoyable to delight in reading. The world-renowned psychologist Timothy Wilson shows us how to redirect the stories we tell about ourselves and the world around us, with subtle prompts, in ways that lead to lasting change.
Fascinating, groundbreaking, and practical, REDIRECT demonstrates the remarkable power small changes can have on the ways we see ourselves and our environment, and how we can use this in our everyday lives. Review "There are few academics who write with as much grace and wisdom as Timothy Wilson. Redirect is a masterpiece. Well, Timothy Wilson is the scientist and Redirect is the book, and it is in fact amazing. Wegner, Harvard University, author of The Illusion of Conscious Will "Redirect reveals the hidden meanings we assume in our everyday lives, how these meanings shape our behavior, and how we can change our assumptions and the world.
Timothy Wilson has distilled the field's wisdom and shown us how to use it to change ourselves and the world. This may well be the single most important psychology book ever written. About the Author Timothy D. Wilson is the Sherrell J. Aston Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. He has written for Science and the New York Times, among other publications, and is the author of Strangers to Ourselves. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. Not for Personal Change By DiamondJag This is not really a book on what I consider "psychological" change but rather a book on "social" change.
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