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If anyone is interested in the wider topic, this subject is called bibliotherapy, and has a long history. This specific program was popularized in the early 19
by sammalloy 5y ago
If anyone is interested in the wider topic, this subject is called bibliotherapy, and has a long history. This specific program was popularized in the early 1990s at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as an alternative probation sentencing program, and it was so successful it later branched out around the world. Key advocates include Robert Waxler, Jean Trounstine, and Mary Stephenson, and researchers Roger Jarjoura and Susan T. Krumholz.
- johnchristopher 5y agoI feel like Bibliotherapy tried a stint in general public awareness two or three years ago but it didn't take off. Are there any reviews of its effectiveness for mental health problems like depression, anxiety, etc. ?
- tgv 5y agoRelatively easy to find, given that the name is quite distinctive. E.g., https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272735817302908 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S02727.... That article doesn't seem to be conclusive. I, however, doubt the value of bibliotherapy. I don't see how it would work.
- randcraw 5y agoI think a major takeaway from reading is to see inside the mind of another person. That's something that I suspect most criminals do badly, since crime, especially violent crime, requires the person to NOT understand the impact of their actions on others. Sociopaths don't care, but they commit the vast minority of crime. Getting the other criminals to appreciate more perspectives than just their own might be very helpful to diminish their willingness to harm others.
- tgv 5y agoBut that doesn't relate to e.g. depression.
- johnchristopher 5y agoI am aware of that meta study, it's from 2017 though. I also didn't dig enough to get the list of books used in the various studies (I am interested self-help vs fiction/non-fiction).