Pseudoscience includes beliefs, theories, or practices that have been or are considered scientific, but have no basis in scientific fact. This could mean they were disproved scientifically, can't be tested scientifically, or lack evidence to support them. The term generally has a negative connotation. When used, someone's insinuating the topic isn't based on scientific findings and is, therefore, lacking in truth.
Let's take a look at a few miscellaneous pseudoscience examples. Body Language - The belief that two people send cues to one another based on their body positioning. Dianetics - Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, a system believed to cure all mental disorders by dealing with the relationship between the mind and body.
Yet, while these shows are framed in scientific principles and language, its generally understood that they are not actual representations of scientific possibility; rather, they are what would be considered pseudoscience.
In science fiction, pseudoscience can be used as an exciting plot device to move a story along, but where does it fit in the real world? Through this lesson you'll learn what defines pseudoscience and gain insight into how and why it exists.
Pseudoscience is a broad category that refers to research or areas of interest that claim or appear to be scientific in nature but lack any of the standards and hallmarks of legitimate scientific study.
A much more serious example of pseudoscience is the numerous vitamins and supplements that are often advertised on television or on the Internet. The ads use a careful manipulation of scientific language to make their products sound as though they have been rigorously tested and verified, when they have in fact never been tested or approved.
In general, the scientific community has a negative opinion of pseudoscience because it has the ability to mislead the public, encourages poor decision making, and can lead to exposure to harmful and untested medical treatments.
According to believers, the ancient astronaut theory suggests that extraterrestrial beings visited earth thousands of years ago and provided ancient civilizations with knowledge and technology that allowed for, among other things, the building of the pyramids. In this case, people are misunderstanding existing evidence or distorting information in order for it to fit their claims, which is unacceptable in the scholastic research community.
On an individual basis, pseudoscientific beliefs are probably harmless, but when they become collective beliefs, they can be problematic. For example, if someone who was diagnosed with cancer comes across a pseudoscientific treatment that sounds legitimate, he could end up subjecting him or herself to something that is not only useless but also dangerous.