One of the most popular topics in Psychology is attraction: why are we romantically attracted (or not) to each other? Whenever anyone asks me about this topic, or they ask me for other psychology podcasts in addition to The Psych Files. I send them over to the Psychology of Attractiveness podcast, hosted by Rob Burriss. Rob has been hosting this … Read More
Ep: 238: A Robot’s Gender, Act Like A Girl and Be A Man
Does it matter if a robot looks male or female? You might not think so, but are we perpetuating stereotypes if if we create a robot that looks “feminine” to help the elderly aren’t we continuing the stereotype that these types of jobs are “women’s” jobs? If we create “masculine” looking robots to work outside and do adventurous, heavy lifting … Read More
Ep 236: My Cross-Dressing Experience in La Cage Aux Folles
I was recently cast as “Albin” in the musical La Cage Aux Folles and it has given me the unique opportunity to have to learn how to act more effeminate and to cross dress. As a psychologist who obsesses about the “psychology of everyday life” you can imagine how I’ve been thinking about what there is to learn from this … Read More
Ep 234: Transvestism – Is It Normal? What Is Normal Anyway?
A small number of men cross dress and many movies and broadway shows feature cross dressers (often referred to as tansvestism), so obviously many people find it fascinating and those who cross dress typically enjoy it. Why? What does it mean about the people who do it? I was recently cast as Albin/ZaZa in the musical version of the movie … Read More
Ep 197: Using the Word Guys for Women, Robots Helping the Elderly and Supernormal Foods
Should we stop using “Guys” to refer to groups of women and mixed sex groups? Why do we (particularly men) refer to many objects – like cars and boats – as “she”? Are everyday foods actually “SuperNormal” foods – created to be absolutely irresistible and therefore causing us to be overweight? Is it okay to employ robots to care for … Read More
Ep 196: What Men Need to Do to End Violence Against Others
Are jail time and new laws the only answers to men’s violence against women, children, and other men? Or is there something every man can do to end these tragedies? In an earlier episode of The Psych Files in which I discussed Blaming the Victim, I talked about why there’s a tendency to blame victims and to overlook the Optimism … Read More
Ep 179: Lipstick Effect, Stereotype Threat and other Gender Matters
photo credit: beast love via photo pin cc Do women who work in typically male dominated jobs “play down” their femininity in order to be gain more respect from their male co-workers? In this episode we’ll explore stereotype threat (also known as stereotype vulnerability) as well as something you may not have heard of: the lipstick effect. How do men … Read More
Ep: 166: The Secret Life of Pronouns – an Interview with James Pennebaker
What do you reveal about yourself in the way you use the smallest and seemingly most insignificant words you use every minute? That’s the focus of Dr. James Pennebaker‘s fascinating book and one of the most interesting psychology books of 2011: The Secret Life of Pronouns. If you’re fascinated by language then you’ll find this episode especially interesting. When … Read More
Ep 155: On Cuddling, Baths, Google, Body Language and Phantom Cell Phone Vibration – Psych Files Brief #2
Is cuddling good – especially for men – in marriage? Do baths make you feel less lonely, is Google really making you stupid, how does your body language affect your feelings, and….is that your cell phone vibrating? In this 2nd Psych Files brief I take a look at some of the more interesting psychological research circling around the web this … Read More
Ep 153: The REAL Reason Why You Support (or Oppose) Gay Marriage
What is the REAL reason why you either support or oppose gay marriage? We may give logical reasons for our opinions, but the roots behind your opinion lies – where else? – in your past. So let’s dive into your mind as we always do here in the Psych Files. Resource on Attitudes and Gay Marriage Pavlov: classical conditioning: two … Read More
