Scott Alexander defends the concept of automaticity in psychology, arguing that core cognitive biases and priming effects are real, while acknowledging some claims have been overstated. Longer summary

Scott Alexander responds to a critique of automaticity in psychology, arguing that while some claims about cognitive biases and priming have been overstated, the core concepts are real and well-replicated. He provides examples of cognitive biases, priming effects, and nudges that have strong evidence behind them. Scott compares cognitive biases to optical illusions - real phenomena that affect our perception, but not in ways that make us completely helpless. He argues that automaticity is actually a very old idea about human nature, found in various philosophical and religious traditions. While we shouldn't see ourselves as completely controlled by unconscious forces, Scott suggests that accepting some level of automaticity in our cognition is both realistic and not necessarily problematic. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the Hearing Voices Movement, discussing its benefits and limitations in treating psychosis while emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to mental health care. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the Hearing Voices Movement, which advocates for treating hallucinations and delusions as normal rather than medicalized. He argues that while the movement has some positive aspects, such as providing community support for people with mild psychosis, it shouldn't be seen as a replacement for medical treatment in severe cases. The post explores the complexities of mental health advocacy, the role of community in treatment, and the importance of balancing different approaches to mental health care. Shorter summary