Academic psychology embraces capitalist realism, by assuming that human minds see no alternative to prioritising self-interest and economic productivity. The field’s major paradigms reflect this view. Behaviourism sees all actions as motivated by external rewards, while cognitive psychology defines rational choices as those that advance self-interest. Even humanistic and applied fields like educational and clinical psychology are shaped by capitalist values, focusing on individual achievement and economic productivity rather than societal well-being. This enables psychology to classify those who don’t fit into the capitalist framework as being disabled or mentally ill, and to view individuals, rather than society, as the source of people’s mental health problems.