Citation

Snyder WU. Am. Psychol. 1949; 4(5): 153.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1949, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0056664

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This letter argues that one serious problem facing the psychological profession is that of attempting to curb the airing of radio programs which give advice on personal problems. The effect of this sort of program on the public is injurious, in encouraging persons to apply to themselves advice, often very bad advice, which is given to the client who appears or is discussed on the program. It would seem to be a violation of professional ethics to use personal problems for their entertainment value, to give personal advice in such a way that it might be misapplied by persons for whom it is not intended, and to give such bad advice in the first place. The author encourages psychologists to support legislation which will limit this kind of program and to write protest letters to the broadcasting systems and to the Federal Communications Commission. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)