HoP on the Air

[Morris, Edward K.]

Michael Pettit (York University) was featured today on the US NPR show, "Radio Lab" (on KPR from 2:00-3:00 CST). He provided historical context and cogent commentary on US approaches to mental health: Freud, Rogers, Esalen, and the self-esteem movement whose research has not been empirically or logically compelling (e.g., weak and spurious correlations), along with a personal touch — a story. It would be a useful supplement in courses on clinical psychology, mental health, public health, popular psychology, and the HoP throughout -- IMHO.

[David Robinson]

As a longtime fan of MP, I decided to hear the podcast (over an hour). It is Radiolab- NPR, dated January 21, 2026, entitled "You and Me and Mr. Self-Esteem." Mr. Self-Esteem was California state representative John Vasconcellos, who found his remarkable self at Esalen Institute and then established his famous 'task force'. I was a grad student at Berkeley in the early 1980s, so I remember him well. I wished to hear more from Michael Petitt, of course, and less of the NPR chit-chat, but Mike must have helped them to get off a few good lines about Carl Rogers, etc.

--David

David K. Robinson, Professor of History emeritus

Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri

Past-Executive Officer, Cheiron (International Society for History of Behavioral & Social Sciences)

History of Psychology Editor, American Journal of Psychology (AJP)

On Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 10:20 PM Morris, Edward K. <e...@ku.edu> wrote:

Michael Pettit (York University) was featured today on the US NPR show, "Radio Lab" (on KPR from 2:00-3:00 CST). He provided historical context and cogent commentary on US approaches to mental health: Freud, Rogers, Esalen, and the self-esteem movement whose research has not been empirically or logically compelling (e.g., weak and spurious correlations), along with a personal touch — a story. It would be a useful supplement in courses on clinical psychology, mental health, public health, popular psychology, and the HoP throughout -- IMHO.

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[Vincent Hevern]

I found that the episode that Ed was mentioning may have been broadcast in his area yesterday. But, it was originally aired on Jan 23, 2026. Here is a link that I found to the transcript/episode itself:

Vinny Heven

On Feb 21, 2026, at 11:20 PM, Morris, Edward K. <e...@ku.edu> wrote:

Michael Pettit (York University) was featured today on the US NPR show, "Radio Lab" (on KPR from 2:00-3:00 CST). He provided historical context and cogent commentary on US approaches to mental health: Freud, Rogers, Esalen, and the self-esteem movement whose research has not been empirically or logically compelling (e.g., weak and spurious correlations), along with a personal touch — a story. It would be a useful supplement in courses on clinical psychology, mental health, public health, popular psychology, and the HoP throughout -- IMHO.