Popular psychology can be described as trying to make psychological ideas accessible, palatable, and usable to the general public.

Pop psychology consists of three main genres.

1. Recent developments in scientific psychology. These works focus on mind, brain and behaviour.
2. Practical help with everyday challenges. It includes publications that aim to make us better leaders, lovers, parents, smarter, thinner, fitter, etc.
3. Help in overcoming mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety or other conditions. The genre seeks to reduce suffering and dysfunction.

The self-help consumer may devour pop psychology in an attempt to find happiness and success. There is some evidence that the search may be successful and make a positive difference.

Research on bibliotherapy - using books to treat mental health problems - revealed that it could effectivel...