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Overall, an excellent and very balanced article, especially the care taken to address what neuroplasticity really means, and what it doesn't, as well as the current state of research. The conflation of "personal-transformation" as a "myth" with the myths associated with neuroplasticity is unfortunate though: > [Chris McManus, Professor of Psychology and Medical Education at University College London] believes it is just the latest version of the personal-transformation myth that’s been haunting the culture of the West for generations. & > This myth – that we can be whoever we want to be, and achieve our dreams, as long as we have sufficient self-belief – emerges again and again, in our novels, films and news, and TV singing competitions featuring Simon Cowell, as well as unexpected crazes like that for neuroplasticity. "Haunting"? Possibly, the author has some derision considering his "great-great-uncle" is "the inventor of the ’self-help’ movement". Regardless, it felt like a rather unscientific ax to grind. FWIW, the author points out that neuroplasticity myths are used to justify some undesirable conclusions, though he stops short of providing examples or references. |