Debunking The World Of Pseudoscience

Pseudoscience relates to any belief system or methodology that attempts to seek legitimacy in the scientific domain but lacks rigorous methodology and evidence in support. A term first coined in 1796 by James Pettit; it is a term used a lot these days. This post looks to explore pseudoscience in modern society, from alternative medicine to detoxifying products. 

Medical treatments
There is a flurry of non-evidence-based approaches used by individuals as medical remedies and therapies. Although these "medical remedies" may appear legitimate, all backed by health gurus and spiritual leaders, they do not work. This includes herbal medicine treatment, acupuncture, homoeopathy, energy healing cures.

Homoeopathy techniques
This is just one of the many examples of practices with no scientific underpinning and clinical evidence still used by millions of people around the world. This one that cures by using small amounts of a substance that invokes symptoms of the disease that it is to be treated. Its application goes treatment of the common cold and allergies to severe conditions like heart disease and cancer. It is a low cost, generic, non-patented attributes make it an ideal for those who want a ready treatment. Homeopathic treatment can ease symptoms and offer therapeutic effects. This does not actually cure the problem. Prescribed medicine from medical practitioners have undergone rigorous testing in the lab and with past patients.

Anti-vaccination rhetoric
This is sentiment associates with conspiracy thinking and denials of individual liberties and freedoms. The dogma behind an anti-vaccine ideology is that vaccines cause autism and other lousy health impacts. Government and the pharmaceutical industry knowingly hide this information from the public. Social media acts as an essential conduit helping claims, anxieties and thoughts to manifest across. It is your choice on whether you are for or against vaccines, but there should be no denial of the proven facts.

"The wish to believe, even against evidence, fuels all the pseudosciences from astrology to creationism." – Isaac Asimov

— Trueblogposts (@trueblogposts) November 27, 2020

Marketing and advertising
You can spot pseudoscience everywhere - from your shampoo bottle to the ads which pop up in your Twitter feed. Bold statements with scientific jargon help propagate misleading information. People are sometimes fooled by claims supported by "laboratory-research" and "statistics". It can be difficult to challenge these beliefs when people are persuaded by their cognitive biases. Our minds are hooked on patterns, and make sense of the world by seeking them out. A person might decide purchasing a suncream with "added collagen" as why not choose the one that sounds more healthy?

Global wellness industry
The global wellness industry is worth trillions of dollars, topping the global pharmaceutical industry by over four times. A large number of consumers and patients favour alternative moreover traditional medicines despite the lack of empirical evidence and medical backing. This is perpetuated by figureheads like celebrities and influencers who flaunt themselves as wellness gurus. A single celebrity endorsement can very much change the fortune of a business therefore, many businesses leverage this as part of their marketing strategy. The wellness industry frequently targets people who are vulnerable and likely to have been failed by traditional medicine. These individuals often have strong opposing opinions against big pharma.

Age of social media
“Pseudoscience” was previously an ad targeting category used by advertisers now removed by Facebook in bid to curb misinformation on Covid-19. According to Reuters, an estimate of over 78 million users possessed interest in material relating to pseudoscience. Facebook have now incorporated initiatives to stop the proliferation of false information that can cause imminent physical harm. Advertisers were profiting from ads which targeted people that the company believes are interested in pseudoscientific content.

Human and political impact
Throughout years, decades and even centuries, the world of science has slowly overcome pseudoscience, allowing a triumph of sense over nonsense. From the 16th and 17th century, the writings of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler and Newton have helped overturn ancient cosmology. Astrology was scientifically defeated in the 18th and 19th century although it garners some followers even today. Young-earth creationism has finally been overturned in the early 20th century but evolution theory still remains a heated debated topic.

“Pulling bad science apart is the best teaching gimmick I know for explaining how good science really works.” – Ben Goldacre

— Trueblogposts (@trueblogposts) November 27, 2020

Political left or right
Politicians and scientists making bold claims and throwing accusations at one another on how scientific or unscientific something is enough to make our heads swim, especially for those with little to no exposure to science past their high-school. This is very much true for most of our politicians who create and enforce our laws. Hot topics like the anti-GMO movement, the paleo movement, anti-vaccination movement, the global climate change movement are just a few of the areas which affect our individual lives. To prevent abuse and exploitation of life, we need better quality of scientific education.

So... Is marketing just pseudoscience?
Pseudoscience has a hazy definition. Many things get labelled pseudoscientific such as astrology, alchemy, divinations... This list does not stop. It is tricky to differentiate between what is scientific versus something still waiting to be proved. Pseudoscience will likely continue to exist in society in various forms...



Resources
(Article) 3 ways to tell evidence-based health information from pseudoscience
The writer discusses how to distinguish between valuable information from legitimate health experts and pseudoscientific claims made by unscrupulous wellness influencers.

(Article) Pseudoscience from the political left and right
Throughout history, pseudoscientific ideas have cropped up on both sides of the political spectrum, often detached from any specific ideology. However, there are some crucial differences between left-leaning and right-leaning pseudoscience.

(Paper) Editorial: The Psychology of Pseudoscience
The research topic aims to explore developments in the psychological study of pseudoscience and inspire further philosophical thinking in this area. Understanding can help address misinformation and promote scientific literacy.