“You’re Not a Therapist. Stop Talking Like One/Please respect everyone else’s boundaries by keeping your psychobabble to yourself”

Ann Althouse Summary:

“Like many terrible things, we can blame therapyspeak on America’s stupidest decade: the 1970s.”

“Back then, it was called psychobabble…. The concept survived the hedonistic ’80s, the grimy ’90s, and the low-rise aughts only to reemerge in the social media age with a new name and a more sinister purpose…. Isn’t it odd… that the most selfish people you know always seem to be the ones who are armchair diagnosing their friends and family with personality disorders? I’m reminded of the minor scandal that erupted a few years ago when an A-list actor allegedly wrote private messages to his then girlfriend telling her that if she needed to post photos of herself in a bathing suit, he was not the right partner for her. Elsewhere he wrote, ‘I’d love to know before the premiere so I’m not put in the position of publicly flaunting our love if my boundaries are going to be continued to be disrespected. That would be hurtful and triggering for me.’ The girlfriend was a professional surfer….”