This Psych Professor Is Debunking All of TikTok’s Biggest Psychology Myths

For every piece of awesome and informative knowledge that we take away from TikTok, we're exposed to several "fun facts" that simply aren't true at all.

And the way we consume TikTok videos, scrolling through our feeds and viewing all kinds of content in rapid succession, can make it extra hard to comb through what's real and what isn't. We've been seeing all kinds of nonsense lately in the "psychology" sphere, with videos claiming to be science that have more to do with opinion or are even straight-up misleading.

It's tough to comb through, but Dr. Inna Kanevsky has joined TikTok to help. She's a psychology professor for the San Diego Community College District, who has just shy of a million followers on the platform, and she's using her page to debunk myths and straighten out the truth so we don't have to keep guessing. Keep reading to discover what we've learned from her so far.

Shutting Down People Who Don't Take No for an Answer:

@dr_innaAnswer to @yasminisbae There are very few relatively universal human behaviors (that are more complex than reflexes) which may count as instincts.♬ original sound – Inna Kanevsky, Ph.D. (she/her)

How to Juggle Deadlines and Your Mental Health:

@dr_innaReply to @lameocampus This is NOT for everybody and I don't recommend professors to be mean (firm isn't mean).♬ original sound – Inna Kanevsky, Ph.D. (she/her)

Cold Showers Don't Cure Depression:

@dr_inna#stitch with @ruggedcounseling If cold showers help you, by all means, go for it! But the research isn't there yet.♬ Paradise – Bazzi

Let's Not Retrospectively Diagnose Historical Figures:

@dr_innaIt's all pure speculation #adhd #adhdgenius #genius #adhdtiktok #thisiswrong #psychprofessor♬ original sound – Inna Kanevsky, Ph.D. (she/her)

The Fake Link Between Cheaters and IQ:

@dr_inna#stitch with @psychology_masters Psychology masters, huh? Sorry, psychology doesn't say this.♬ Epic – Joystock

On Problematic IQ Tests and Measuring 'Intelligence':

@dr_innaReply to @sierraleones we really don't have a great way of measuring this, so we use problematic IQ tests…♬ Spongebob – Dante9k

ADHD Doesn't Make You Smarter:

@dr_innaBIlly shouldn't be calling Jimothy dumb, but Jimothy's mom misinterpreted her sources in that video. Sorry!♬ original sound – Inna Kanevsky, Ph.D. (she/her)

And While We're on That Subject, This Test Cannot Test ADHD:

@dr_inna#stitch with @skylarastin can people just not? There is no magic test to diagnose ADHD. See a professional.♬ original sound – Inna Kanevsky, Ph.D. (she/her)

The Science of Proprioception:

@dr_innaGymnastics isn't like basketball, and not being able to focus correctly means much more than not scoring. #learnontiktok #mentalhealthmatters #simone♬ original sound – Inna Kanevsky, Ph.D. (she/her)

But Yes, Elite Gymnasts' Brain Plasticity Does Give Them Better Spatial Perception, Working Memory and More!

@dr_innaThis is technically neuroscience, but it is also psychology. #learnontiktok #gymanstics #mentalhealthmatters♬ All Eyes On Me – Bo Burnham

Want to find out what else we learned from TikTok? Click HERE to discover the most valuable pet info we learned from TikTok vet Dr. Hunter Finn.