It descrbies the use of popular buzzwords, taken out of their original context or meaning, but still with a psychological tinge! When phrases become overused, misused, and jagonised they become psychobabble. And in the process they become part of our culture and everyday language. We've all used psychobabble to one degree or another. Despite originating in misuse, some psychobabble generates useful shorthand, relating to valid concepts, even if the use is somewhat vague!
For example, is shyness really social anxiety disorder? Do you actually mean your friend is schizophrenic or are they just a bit moody?
Psychobabble is used widely in a lot of self-help material, and also by agony aunts, 'celebrity'/TV doctors and psychologists, probably because this is one way of using everyday language to discuss valid psychological problems and issues.
Words commonly (mis)used in pschobabble include; OCD, inner-child, depression, reptillian brain, left-brain/right-brain, dysfunctional, closure, self-actualisation, well-being, acting-out, anal, and many many more!!
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