Introducing the “psycho-neurosurgeon”. This interesting feature in the BPS Research Digest comments on the use of psychologists in political analysis, hot on the heels of behavioural expert Steve Martin’s take on prime ministers question time.

It’s nice to see psychology being deployed in political analysis, but I fear that Martin was applying this particular theory inappropriately, at the wrong level of analysis, in a way that made it sound like he was just stating the obvious. Just to add insult to injury, the clip is labelled on the BBC site as “‘Emotional Intelligence’ at PMQs” – of course emotional intelligence is a quite separate concept from Prospect Theory, but never mind.

However, despite all this, it’s well worth watching the clip, just to witness the sheer exasperation of Lord Charlie Falconer who was a guest on the show. He labels Martin a “psycho-neuron-surgeon”, and his analysis as nothing more than “psychobabble”.

Source: BPS Research Digest