What are psychologists talking about this week? Well, we’re fighting back against the unbelievable claims made by the marketers of fidget spinners (does the toy really help people with ADHD, PTSD and anxiety?), we’re astounded by the results of research on the intelligence of ravens (apparently the birds get resentful if you don’t treat them […]
Here’s a new piece of weight-loss advice: eat on a crinkly plate! Um…sounds weird. It is kinda, but we’ll explore why this might be a good bit of advice. We’ll also take a minute and a half sound byte from the TV show Luther and wring all kinds of critical-thinking goodies from it. We’ll […]
Guess what? Practice definitely does NOT always lead to perfection. When you practice an instrument are you doing it right? In this episode I explore the “10,000 hour” myth and how you can practice something – like an instrument or a language – in a way that is going to result in much faster learning. […]
All of us have probably felt a little “down” every once in a while so we can empathize a little with someone who is depressed, but how about someone who is suffering from schizophrenia? What is it like? Games may hold one answer for helping all of us gain a small experience of what it […]
Like psychology? How about gaming? Did you know that these two fields actually go together quite well? Find out how two people with strong backgrounds in both of these fields are putting their experience to work creating games that educate and that provide players with experiences that really help us understand more about mental health. […]
We live in a time when facts are being questioned, and when respect for each others’ differences is on the decline. How often do we say to ourselves: “Yea, but what can I do about it?”. Actually, with a little psychology maybe you can turn things around. In this episode I interview someone who’s doing […]
The involuntary removal of a passenger on a United Airlines flight has justifiably garnered a lot of attention. And as teachers we certainly want to capture students’ attention. But how do we create a discussion among students that goes beyond the simple shock value of showing the video? In this episode I talk both about […]
Have to memorize lines for a play or musical? There are a lot of techniques. Let me tell you about a few that are backed by science. I’ve been involved in the theatre for many years and I’ve done a lot of memorizing of both lines and song lyrics. Typically, actors and singers use […]
It’s hard to remember names – but here’s how to do it. You’ll use your imagination and some weird imagery – but this works. This is another great use of mnemonics. I’ll give you a bunch of people’s names and describe the images I created to help me remember them. Give your brain a […]
How many times when a parent is arguing with a teen has the parent either said – or wish they could say – “Do it because I said so!”. As a parent myself, I’ve had more than a few of those times. But it just doesn’t work – especially with teenagers. In this episode […]
