What can we learn from an old, dusty book I found in the basement? Well, if that book is about gender role stereotypes then there’s a lot of things to uncover that explain why boys and girls act the way they do. In this episode we get an example of qualitative research by really […]
Most of us assume that one of the reasons men tend to act aggressively is that men have higher levels of testosterone. Let’s take a look at this “testosterone myth” because this isn’t always the case. In fact, in some cases, the higher levels of testosterone actually cause men to be MORE NICE than […]
We know a lot about why individuals join extremist groups, what can we do about it? How do we bring them back to society and help them have meaningful lives again? This is the second of 2 episodes on this topic and what we learn here also applies to school shooters. Here are some […]
What draws people toward violent extremist groups? Psychologists have conducted a lot of research to find this out and in this episode I summarize the findings of key researchers in this area. Researchers Arie Kruglanski, Katarzyna Jasko, David Webber, Marina Chernikova and Erica Molinario explain how their theory, called SQT or Significance Quest Theory […]
You have probably heard a lot about football and CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), the brain degeneration that results from repeated head impacts. One of the worst cases so far of CTE was found in the brain of football player Aaron Hernandez. The Oxygen network produced a fascinating account of Hernandez’s life entitled Aaron Hernandez Uncovered […]
Ever wonder how the fingers of really experienced pianists seem to fly across the keyboard? How do they know where their fingers are going? How can they think that fast? In this episode I’ll tell you about some of what the brain is doing when pianists play the piano. Maybe you’ll be inspired to […]
Fitness tracking devices are getting smarter. They’re going to have to get a lot smarter if they are going to be powerful tools in your quest to be fit. But how much more “smart” do we really want them to get? Today they keep track of your steps and heart rate, but if your […]
How can psychologists get you to lead a healthier life? We all have “noble intentions” when it comes to eating well and exercising regularly, but those intentions often don’t last too long and you’re back to your old unhealthy ways. We can lecture you again about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise, or […]
Have you seen the movie Coco? You should – it’s a very moving story. But if you pay attention to the music you’ll notice that the melody to the son “Remember Me” is played in several different ways – each with a very different effect on the psyche. In this episode I examine the psychology […]
What is the psychology and the research behind why many people are angry about athletes “taking a knee†during the playing of the national anthem? Part of the explanation lies in what’s called the “empathy deficit†that people in power can sometimes display. That is, those in higher social classes in societies are often not […]
