Episode 129 (video): Science Shows Superstitions Actually Work! Sort of…

  • July 25, 2010
  • 11 Comments

Okay, admit it – you have some kind of lucky charm on you, in your car or in your house. And if you participate in any sport or performance activity you have some sort of ritual that you believe will help make you more successful. Well guess what – there is research to show that such charms and rituals really do help you perform better.

Episode 127 (video): Phrenology: Maybe They Were On To Something

Everyone can picture one of those phrenology heads with personality traits drawn into different sections of the cranium. Was there anything to that? Well, not exactly. However, with the use of MRI scans researchers today may have located where certain personality traits lie in your brain. Travel with me into a 3D brain and let’s find out where your personality may lie.

Episode 126: Your Eyes Are Making Your Stomach Big

There are many reasons why it is difficult to lose weight, but have you considered how supernormal stimuli might be one of them? In this episode I discuss some of the ideas in the books Waistland and Supernormal Stimuli by Dierdre Barrett. Is it possible that the old saying Everything in Moderation might just be wrong? And will Small Changes really help you to get in shape or are radical changes really the way to go?

Episode 123 (video): What Does Your Dog Know About You?

What do your dog and Shakespeare have in common? Well, they both use a Theory of Mind. Join me for this video episode in which I look at this fascinating idea of theory of mind and the unique and fun research that has been done around it. And yes, you might pick up an idea of how to test your dog to see if your dog can actually read your mind.

Episode 121: Top 10 Psychology Apps for the iPad, iPhone, & iPod

  • April 7, 2010
  • 28 Comments

In this video episode I show you 10 of what I consider to be the best psychology apps in the app store. There are a lot of apps out there and many are not so good, but in this episode I pick out what I consider to be credible therapy apps, excellent mobile mind mapping tools, relaxation apps, games based on Gestalt principles of psychology, and some of the best 3 dimensional ways to look at the brain.

Episode 109: Correlation and Causation

  • November 10, 2009
  • 11 Comments

Delving into Correlation and Causation Ever wondered about the relationship between correlation and causation? You’re not alone. This widely quoted saying “correlation doesn’t mean causation” has left many scratching their heads. But fret not, we’re here to simplify this complex concept. Understanding Through Humor In an amusing approach, The Psych Files presented a “Breaking News” […]

Episode 105: Smart Birds are More Successful with the Ladies

  • September 25, 2009
  • 2 Comments

A popular piece of animal research indicates that intelligent male Browerbirds appear to have greater mating success (researcher lingo for sex). The more sensitive birds may also be more preferred by the opposite sex as well. So much for the jocks. Find out about this fascinating research on animals in this video episode of The Psych Files.

Episode 102: How to Create an Online Experiment

  • August 24, 2009
  • 16 Comments

Want to create an online experiment? Here’s how to do it. I’ll show you can create an experiment using two tools: Wix.com and Google Forms. Using these two tools, you’ll be able to get creative and put together an experiment online that others can take.