Redirect by Timothy D. Wilson

Timothy D. Wilson PhD. covers the science of changing and helping people cope with difficult circumstances using a technique known as story editing in his book, Redirect: The Surprising New Science of Psychological Change . 

Mr. Wilson points to research from Association for Psychological Science and others showing that CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) that occurs after a traumatic event does not reduce the incidence of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and may in fact make it harder for people to move on and recover if they are forced to recount the event against their will.  Waiting several weeks after an event and writing down thoughts for 15 minutes on three consecutive days works much better as does cognitive behavior therapy.  This allows people time to make sense of an event.

Mr. Wilson mocks the premise of the book, The Secret, pointing out the stupidity of attracting good things while sitting at home eating snacks.  He finds it ludicrous to blame the Secret-challenged people of Darfur for their inability to attract wealth and prosperity.

He devotes considerable attention to case control research on effective ways to promote healthy behaviors by helping college students realize the actual rates of binge drinking are lower than they thought.  He also points out activities that he finds are similar to blood letting.  It is a very bad idea to bring at risk teens together for activities.  They reinforce each others bad behaviors.  It is better to have the teens mentored through a program like Big Brothers Big Sisters.  

He offers some health parenting tips backed by case control studies on ways to coax the best behavior out of your kids.  Use the minimum reward/punishment necessary to accomplish a goal.  Change in behavior sticks when it becomes a part of who a person or groups identity.  We are a class that does not litter works much better than lectures telling kids to do the right thing.  Praise kids for doing hard work studying for a test not for being smart. 

RSA talk with Timothy Wilson - 18 minutes

Social Psychology - 40 minutes