Scott Lilienfeld Ph.D.

About

Scott Lilienfeld, Ph.D., was a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Emory University in Atlanta. Scott earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Cornell University and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. His principal areas of research were personality disorders, psychiatric classification and diagnosis, evidence-based practices in psychology, and the challenges posed by pseudoscience to clinical psychology. Scott received the 1998 David Shakow Award for Early Career Contributions to Clinical Psychology, was a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and a past president of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology. He co-authored Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology and Psychology: From Inquiry to Understanding.

Books by Scott Lilienfeld Ph.D.

Recent Posts

Evidence-Based Practice: The Misunderstandings Continue

The concept of evidence-based practice has been widely misunderstood. A new, widely distributed essay perpetuates still more misconceptions about the role of science in the selection and evaluation of psychotherapies.

Beware the Regression Fallacy

It's that time of the year again - losing football teams are firing their coaches. But will it help? Probably not. Like many erroneous inferences in life, including jinxes, they may be falling prey to a cognitive illusion - the regression fallacy.

Coma, Dubious Science, and False Hope

 Recent uncritical media coverage of a man in a coma communicating ignores scientific findings.

The Rorschach-Wikipedia Kerfuffle Continues

People's reactions to the posting of the inkblots provides something of a Rorschach test itself.

The Polygraph Test Strikes – and Strikes Out – Again

Is the polygraph test an infallible detector of the truth? Hollywood portrayals aside, the answer is an unambiguous no. And I'm not lying.

Michael Jackson, Truth Serum, and False Memories

Recent press coverage of the sexual abuse charges against Jackson has typically omitted one crucial fact.

Recent Negative Findings for Gene-Environment Interaction in Depression Impart Useful Lessons

Recent negative findings regarding the genetic and environmental influences on depression may have left some discouraged. But these findings show psychological science working at its best - and highlight a rare case in which the news media got things right.

Is Positive Psychology for Everyone?

New research raises doubts about the widespread claim that "accentuating the positive" works for everyone.

The Autism Fad Parade Continues

We've recently witnessed yet another new entry into the seemingly never-ending parade of autism fads - Lupron.  Will the fate of this one be any different from the others?  There is ample reason for skepticism.