In a recent article published in La Vanguardia, Dr. Neus Vidal Barrantes, reflects on how the widespread use of psychological language in everyday contexts may be complicating interpersonal relationships.
The piece explores how terms such as trauma, toxicity, or anxiety—originally clinical in nature—are increasingly used in popular discourse, often disconnected from their technical meanings. Alongside insights from other professionals such as clinical psychologist and science communicator Alba Pérez González and digital addiction specialist Marc Masip, the article highlights the risks of using these terms out of context: from trivializing genuine psychological disorders to fueling misunderstandings in personal interactions.
While acknowledging that this trend reflects a growing societal awareness of mental health, the article also warns of its unintended consequences. The indiscriminate use of psychological terminology may blur the distinction between normal emotional experiences and clinically significant conditions.
As an alternative, the article advocates for a more thoughtful approach: fostering emotional literacy through accurate, evidence-based information and avoiding self-diagnosis or hasty labeling.
🔗 Read the full article in La Vanguardia: “Psychologizing” Language: How It Invades Everyday Life and Complicates Relationships