What does Martin Seligman say therapy and medication can and cannot change?

Martin Seligman says the conclusions of his book What You Can Change and What You Can't, written about 25 years ago, still hold, since five editions of his abnormal psychology textbook turned up almost no new discoveries. Psychotherapy and drugs work decently on some problems and not at all on others, he says, so people should learn which traits are malleable to avoid wasting money and effort.

• Chris Williamson names it as his favourite Seligman book, read alongside behavioural genetics on heritability and twin studies.

▸In their words

“psychotherapy and drugs work decently well on some things and don't work at all on others.” Martin Seligman · at 1:18:07 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Modern Wisdom (2026-10-24). Read the whole episode summary →

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