Speaking of Psychology - Archive

Buy now, pay later plans have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, adding yet another variable to consider when making spending decisions. Abigail Sussman, PhD, discusses the psychological biases that influence how we spend, budget and borrow, including why splitting payments can make purchases feel more affordable, why we underestimate irregular expenses, and why many people carry debt even when they have savings. She also shares research-based strategies to help you make more deliberate choices and better manage your money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before babies have the words to tell us what they're thinking, they can laugh. Developmental psychologist Gina Mireault, PhD, explains how she sets up a “baby comedy club” in her lab; what babies find funny and why; when babies start trying to make other people laugh; and what studying laughter can tell us about babies’ cognitive development and how they experience the world in their first year of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much can you really tell about someone at first glance? Nicholas Rule, PhD, of the University of Toronto, talks about the science of first impressions: How your brain starts making judgments about other people in milliseconds--before you’re even aware of it--how accurate those judgments are and how they’re shaped by stereotypes and biases; the research on “gaydar”; to what degree you can pick up on traits like extraversion and trustworthiness; and the real-world consequences of our accurate – and inaccurate – snap judgments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Tourette disorder and other tic disorders affect millions of people yet remain widely misunderstood. John Piacentini, PhD, director of the UCLA Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Clinic, explains the brain basis of Tourette disorder; talks about why tics are very common in young children; debunks common myths—such as the idea that Tourette disorder mainly involves uncontrollable swearing—and discusses how recent behavioral therapies are helping many patients manage tics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life is full of situations -- and people -- that try our patience, from a standstill traffic jam to an obstinate preschooler who won’t put on her shoes. Sarah Schnitker, PhD, talks about why patience can be so hard to come by; whether modern life and modern technology have made us less patient; the difference between patience and passivity; and cognitive strategies to build up your ability to be patient. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than half of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. involve stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine. There are no medications to treat stimulant addiction, but there is a behavioral treatment that works: contingency management, which involves offering tangible, immediate rewards for abstaining from drugs. Lara Coughlin, PhD, and Michael McDonell, PhD, discuss why contingency management works and the psychological principles it’s based on; how it can be used to treat other addictions including alcohol, tobacco and opioids; and recent momentum in moving it from research labs to the real world at

Why do some ideas, products, news stories and trends spread like wildfire, while others disappear? Jonah Berger, PhD, discusses the science of what catches on; the psychological forces that drive word of mouth, including social currency and high-arousal emotions like awe and anger; whether online and offline sharing differ; and what his research can tell us about the spread of misinformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From school pressures to friendship ruptures, all kids will face challenges as they grow. Mary Alvord, PhD, talks why building resilience is key to helping kids handle both everyday stresses and significant life setbacks; how to help children and teens develop foundational resilience skills like emotion regulation, problem solving and an “action mindset”; and how the Resilience Builder program is being scaled up to classrooms and schools to reach more kids who could benefit from it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Popular culture often frames love and dating as a competitive marketplace shaped by evolution and rigid gender differences, but relationship science tells a different story. Paul Eastwick, PhD, talks about what the research says about attraction, compatibility and long-term bonding; why men and women are more alike than different in what they seek; how dating apps distort romantic expectations and how to use the apps better; and how evolutionary ideas about love and relationships can be misused in ways that fuel harmful stereotypes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many women, being a daughter is not just a family role – it’s a lifelong job. Dr. Allison Alford discusses what she calls “daughtering”: the work of managing family dynamics, from coordinating schedules to soothing emotions to worrying about a parent’s future. She discusses why these expectations fall on daughters; why the work often goes unrecognized; the role of birth order and “eldest daughter syndrome”; and how daughters and families can rethink their roles to make them sustainable and fulfilling for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People with aphantasia can’t visualize images in their mind’s eye. Ask them to picture an apple and they see a blank screen. Aphantasia researcher Joel Pearson, PhD, discusses how scientists are developing new methods to measure aphantasia beyond self-reports; how aphantasia may affect people’s memory and emotions; the link between aphantasia and creativity; the opposite condition of hyperphantasia, or extraordinarily vivid mental imagery; and what these differences in our internal mental experiences can teach us about consciousness and neurodiversity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us could look at a decades-old yearbook and recognize many of the faces of our former classmates -- but humans aren't the only ones with this remarkable ability. Laura Simone Lewis, PhD, of the University of California, Santa Barbara, discusses her research on the long-term social memories of chimpanzees and bonobos, including a bonobo who remembered family members after 26 years apart. She explains how these great apes navigate their social worlds and what they can teach us about the evolution of our own social cognition. Learn more about

Depression and anxiety look very different from one person to the next, and finding the right treatment can be a trial-and-error process. But researchers are working to change that. Leanne Williams, PhD, and Zachary Cohen, PhD, discuss the emerging field of precision or personalized mental health care; how advances in neuroimaging and big data are helping researchers identify subtypes of depression and anxiety and predict treatment response; and the challenges of bringing these methods from the research lab into treatment clinics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to have an AI boyfriend or girlfriend, or to turn to an AI friend for emotional support? Ashleigh Golden, PsyD, and Rachel Wood, PhD, discuss the rise of AI companions and how they may change our human relationships; the differences – and overlap – between AI companions and general chatbots; the role of psychologists in developing ethical AI; and what the future holds for AI-human relationships as technology continues to advance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than half the world’s population speaks more than one language. Viorica Marian, PhD, of Northwestern University, talks about why speaking multiple languages may have far-reaching cognitive benefits, how the bilingual brain processes language, and how the languages we speak shape the way we think and perceive the world. Originally aired March 1, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you dreading the cold, dark months ahead? In Scandinavia, where the winters are among the coldest and darkest on earth, many people look forward to winter as a time of coziness, beauty, and rest. Psychologist Kari Leibowitz, PhD, author of How to Winter, talks about how cold weather and darkness affect our body and mind and what can we learn from the way that residents of cold-weather places approach the season. Originally published Dec. 4, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From classrooms to boardrooms, from sports to social media, we’re constantly sizing ourselves up against other people -- and being sized up in return. Dr. Stephen Garcia discusses what drives some people to be extremely competitive in their work, in relationships and in life; which situations bring out the competitiveness in all of us; and how to handle the overly competitive people in your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s December, which means it’s peak season for charitable donations. But how do you decide which organizations to support? Joshua Greene, PhD, discusses how people make moral choices and the implications for where they donate their money; how people can donate using their head and their heart; and how moral psychology can offer avenues to help people cooperate across partisan divisions in a polarized world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an age of increasing distractions, researchers have found that spending time in nature can be an antidote that helps us restore our focus and attention. Marc Berman, PhD, talks about why natural environments are “softly fascinating” and why that’s beneficial for the brain; why even cold, rainy walks can be good for you; whether bringing nature inside – through plants, art or patterns – may have some benefits; and what implications this research has for policymakers, urban planners and others who shape our physical world. Learn more about your ad

Studies have shown that gratitude can help us cope with challenges and is good for our relationships and our health. But figuring out how to foster gratitude in kids isn't always easy or obvious. Andrea Hussong, PhD, talks about why gratitude matters; how to help kids feel thankful, recognize generosity and think about others; and how to respond productively in the moment when kids do something ungrateful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For people with misophonia, certain sounds – like chewing, coughing or pen clicking – can trigger strong emotional reactions including anxiety, disgust and rage. Heather Hansen, PhD, director of the Misophonia Research Network, talks about scientists’ evolving understanding of misophonia; what’s happening in the brain when someone hears a trigger sound; whether misophonia is related to other mental health conditions; and advice for those living with misophonia and their friends and family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the past several years, the rise of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy has changed the conversation around weight and obesity in the U.S. Rachel Goldman, PhD, talks about how GLP-1s work; the effects they can have on mental health; what questions to ask if you’re considering trying these medications; how weight loss can shift people's relationships with their family, friends and partners; and why there’s still stigma around the use of GLP-1s and how patients can navigate that. Find Dr. Rachel's new book at When Life Happens: The

We all want to be liked and respected. But sometimes, our intuitions about how to make a good impression lead us astray. Övül Sezer, PhD, talks about common mistakes, including humblebragging and hiding our accomplishments; whether the rules of making a good impression are different on social media; and how to “brag wisely” by sharing your journey rather than listing your accomplishments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Body-focused repetitive behaviors such as hair pulling (trichotillomania) and skin picking are relatively common but remain stigmatized and misunderstood. Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD, and Clare Mackay, PhD, talk about why these behaviors occur and how they relate to grooming and emotion regulation; how living with BFRBs affects people’s lives and mental health; why reducing shame and stigma is so important; and how parents can support children with BFRBs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you dreaming of your next vacation? Many people see travel as a chance to escape their routines, explore new places and maybe even ‘find themselves.’ Andrew Stevenson, PhD, author of “The Psychology of Travel,” talks about whether travel makes us happier, how technology and social media are changing the experience of travel, why we get post-vacation blues and how to approach the place where you live with a travel mindset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we think of courage, we often picture dramatic, high-stakes moments, but courage comes into play not only in extraordinary situations but also in everyday life. Cynthia Pury, PhD, talks about physical, moral and psychological courage; whether courage necessarily involves overcoming fear; how our cultural and social viewpoints shape what we see as courage; and whether it’s possible to practice bravery and become more courageous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, yet it’s still widely misunderstood. Tim Odegard, PhD, talks about how dyslexia is diagnosed and defined; his own experience growing up with dyslexia; how kids at risk can be identified early; what interventions work best; how reading difficulties can affect mental health; and why talking about the “gifts” of dyslexia can be problematic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Left-handers make up about 10.6 percent of the world’s population. Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD, talks about why handedness and other brain asymmetries exist; the genetic and environmental factors that influence handedness; whether there’s any truth to the stereotype that lefties are more creative; why “pawedness” is common in cats, dogs, and other non human animals; and why left-handed people are underrepresented in brain research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You might think the best way to make decisions is to know all the facts. But psychologists’ research suggests that getting the “gist” – the core meaning behind the facts – is more important than focusing on every last detail. Valerie Reyna, PhD, talks about why gist matters; how it explains why teens make so many risky decisions; how understanding gist can help doctors communicate better with their patients; and why AI systems may be moving toward more gist-based reasoning. Chapters 00:00 What is Gist? 09:55 The Role of Gist in

From hurricanes to wildfires to gun violence, trauma and disaster touch the lives of millions of children each year. Robin Gurwitch, PhD, discusses how disasters affect children’s mental health, how to support children and teens in the aftermath of disasters, and how parents can talk to their children about traumatic events in the news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Financial scams targeting people over age 60 cost victims more than $3.4 billion in 2023. Neuropsychologist Duke Han, PhD, talks about why some older adults are at risk, financial vulnerability as an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, and how people can protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim to a scammer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many women, the shifting hormones of midlife bring troubling symptoms like hot flashes, mood and memory changes. Now, researchers are learning more about the short- and long-term health effects of menopause. Clinical health psychologist Rebecca Thurston, PhD, discusses links between menopause symptoms and long-term cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s risk; evolving treatments, including hormone therapy and non-hormonal options; and why midlife can be an empowering as well as challenging time for women. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many boys form deep friendships in childhood. But as they become teens, they report fewer close, rich friendships. Niobe Way, PhD, author of “Rebels With a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves and Our Culture,” discusses “boy" culture; why boys are naturally as emotionally intelligent as girls; the societal pressures that lead to disconnection among boys as they grow into men; and how teaching students to listen with curiosity can help them deepen connections and friendships. Please take our listener survey at at.apa.org/SoPSurvey Chapters 01:37 Understanding Boy Culture and Its Impact 03:43 The

From deciding whether to buy a house to weighing the risks and benefits of taking a new medication, many important life decisions hinge on understanding numbers, statistics and probability. Ellen Peters, PhD, author of “Innumeracy in the Wild: Misunderstanding and Misusing Numbers” discusses what it means to be numerate; how numeracy affects people’s health, financial security and other life outcomes; and how can you improve your confidence and ability with numbers. Please take our listener survey at at.apa.org/SoPSurvey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can you learn from the science of behavior change that can help you make the changes you want to see in your life? Katy Milkman, PhD, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You are to Where You Want to Be, discusses the importance of accurately identifying the behavioral roadblocks standing in your way, how specific strategies such as “temptation bundling” and creating fresh starts can help you achieve your goals, how

Why do people like to watch scary movies or listen to sad songs? Why do we run marathons and raise children, even though both of those pursuits come with struggle and pain? Paul Bloom, PhD, discusses why suffering is linked to meaning in life, the connection between pleasure and pain, and the difference between chosen and unchosen suffering. Please take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As an adult, making new friends—and maintaining old friendships—can be tough. Life is busy and friends end up taking a backseat to other relationships and responsibilities. Marisa Franco, PhD, psychologist and friendship expert, talks about how to make new friends and strengthen and rekindle old friendship ties, why Americans’ friendship networks are shrinking, the differences between men’s and women’s friendships, and more. Please take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many of us, movies offer our earliest lessons in love and help shape our expectations about what romance and relationships might look like. Relationship researchers Paul Eastwick, PhD, and Eli Finkel, PhD, are cohosts of the podcast “Love Factually,” where they use psychology to dissect their favorite rom coms. They talked to “Speaking of Psychology” about how films depict dating and relationship truths and myths, and how well our favorite characters’ love stories hold up when analyzed through the lens of science. Please take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPsurvey Learn

People are increasingly turning to chatbots for mental health advice and support – even as researchers work to develop safe, evidence-based AI mental health interventions. Vaile Wright, PhD, discusses the promises, limitations and risks of AI in mental health; how AI tools are already being used in mental health care; how these tools could help expand access to care; and how AI might change what therapy looks like in the future. Please take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why can’t you remember your first birthday party? Or the house you lived in at age 2? Nicholas Turk-Browne, PhD, talks about new studies that suggest that babies and toddlers may form early memories; why we aren’t able to retrieve them as adults; and how evolving brain imaging techniques could help answer these questions – and help us understand more about what it’s like to be a baby and how babies experience the world. Take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to be happier? Some of our happiness level is due to genes or life circumstances, but research shows much of it is within our control. Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, talks about the habits and mindsets that lead to lasting happiness, the complex relationship between money and happiness, whether technology is making us less happy, and whether it’s possible to worry too much about being happy. Find Dr. Lyubomirsky's newsletter The Happiness Files at https://drsonja.kit.com/newsletter. Take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can money make you mean? Most of us like to think we’d stay grounded if we were to become wealthy, but psychologists’ research suggests that money, status and power shape people’s beliefs and behavior – sometimes in surprising ways. Paul Piff, PhD, of the University of California, Irvine, talks about money, fairness and empathy; the relationship between money and happiness; and the implications of rising income inequality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between economic uncertainty, the rise of AI and major changes in government policy, many U.S. workers feeling stress. A recent survey found more than half of U.S. workers report stress due to job insecurity. Mindy Shoss, PhD, talks about the future of work, including how AI and technology may reshape job roles; how job insecurity affects mental and physical health; coping strategies; and the role of employers in fostering a supportive work environment in uncertain times. Take our listener survey at https://at.apa.org/SoPsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Becoming a parent is a huge life transition. Now, researchers are finding evidence that parenthood actually changes the brain – and these changes happen to fathers as well as to mothers. Darby Saxbe, PhD, talks about the hormonal and brain shifts that occur in new moms and dads; the advantages and risks these changes confer; why paternity leave matters; and how to support people as they become parents. Take our listener survey at https://at.apa.org/SoPsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes us feel secure, safe and supported in our relationships with partners, friends and family? Ximena Arriaga, PhD, talks about how early and ongoing life experiences shape our bonds with others, why our “attachment style” isn’t fixed but can always change, and how partners can help each other thrive in their close relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does time fly when you’re having fun – and slow to a crawl when you’re not? Ruth Ogden, PhD, talks about how our experiences and emotions influence our sense of time, why time seems to go by faster as we get older, why changing to daylight saving time feels so disruptive and why the COVID-19 pandemic did strange things to many people’s sense of time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No one gets through life without encountering adversity. But many people survive terrible things without lasting trauma. George Bonanno, PhD, talks about how humans cope with extreme life events, the factors that lead to resilience in the face of adversity, and how cultivating cognitive flexibility can help us handle difficult times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hoarding disorder affects about 2 percent of the population and is more common among older adults. Psychologist Mary E. Dozier, PhD, talks about the causes of hoarding disorder, its links to other mental health disorders, why many people who hoard are highly altruistic, and how a values-based intervention can help them – and others who struggle with clutter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Girls begin receiving messages that will shape their body image as young as preschool. Janet Boseovski, PhD, and Ashleigh Gallagher, PhD, author of “Beyond Body Positivity: A Mother's Science-Based Guide for Helping Girls Build a Healthy Body Image,” talk about how kids understand body image from early childhood through the tween years and why parents’ early influence is so important. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The word “extremist” might call up images of violence or terrorism. But extreme behaviors are all around us and can be a force for good as well as destruction. Arie Kruglanski, PhD, and Sophia Moskalenko, PhD, talk about what drives people to extreme behaviors, whether there’s an “extremist personality,” how social media drives extremism and whether the world is becoming more extreme. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pain, sadness, joy, awe – under the right circumstances, any of these emotions can bring on tears. Lauren Bylsma, PhD, talks about why crying evolved, the psychological and social purposes of tears, why some people cry more easily than others, and whether having a good cry can make you feel better when you’re sad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Advocates of cultured meat say that it could help solve many environmental and animal welfare problems. But psychologists have found that some consumers say they’d be reluctant to try it. Matti Wilks, PhD, and Daniel Rosenfeld, PhD, discuss the psychological factors at play when people consider eating lab-grown meat -- and meat in general -- and how moral values, disgust, and other factors contribute to people’s dietary choices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s your first reaction when someone cuts you off in traffic or you stub your toe? Do you let out a choice word or two? Richard Stephens, PhD, talks about the psychology of swearing, including his research on why swearing can increase people’s pain tolerance and strength during stressful or painful moments; how swearing is processed in the brain; and the increasing acceptance of swearing in daily life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are the most important things you can do to reduce the risk of dementia and keep your brain healthy as you grow older? Neuropsychologist Vonetta Dotson, PhD, talks about what a healthy brain looks like; why you’re never too young – or old – to think about brain health; why physical activity, mental activity, and social engagement are all key; the relationship between depression and brain health; and small steps you can take to get started with a brain-healthy lifestyle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you think your ex is probably a narcissist? Do you worry that your boss is gaslighting you? In recent years, these words and others have entered the vocabularies of millions of Americans. Dr. Taisha Caldwell-Harvey, PhD, and Dr. Erin Parks, PhD, discuss the rise of “therapy speak,” what psychologists and other mental health professionals think about it, and how it’s changing the way many of us think about our friends, our family, our relationships and ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, paranoia was seen a symptom of severe mental illness only. But in recent decades, some psychologists have begun to think about it differently. Daniel Freeman, PhD, author of “Paranoia: A Journey Into Extreme Mistrust and Anxiety,” discusses his research on the links between paranoia and other forms of mistrust and anxiety; why paranoid thoughts are relatively common; and new research on therapeutic treatments for paranoia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between email, Zoom, Slack, and just walking down the hall, workplaces these days offer people more ways than ever to communicate with their virtual -- and in-person -- colleagues. Andrew Brodsky, PhD, author of “Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication,” discusses the best ways to use all these modes of communication; the advantages and disadvantages of “video on” vs. “video off” meetings; whether you should use emojis in your emails; and how to develop authentic, strong work relationships with virtual colleagues – and with those you see in person. Learn

Astronauts on a future mission to Mars will face many challenges, including three years in a tiny spacecraft and a Mars habitat, with just a few other crew members and a 22-minute delay for any communication back to Earth. Psychologist Suzanne Bell, PhD, head of NASA’s Behavioral Health and Performance Lab, talks about the human challenges of long-term space exploration, what it will take to keep astronauts mentally and physically healthy, and how researchers are using a simulated Mars habitat here on earth to prepare for a mission to Mars. Learn

For many years, ADHD was seen as a disorder of childhood. But in recent years, an increasing number of adults have been diagnosed with it as well. Clinician and researcher Russell Ramsay, PhD, discusses what’s driving the rise in adult diagnoses, what ADHD looks like in adults, how it affects people’s lives – including their work, relationships and health -- and what treatments are available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Disgusting” is a flexible word – it could describe everything from a putrid smell to your least-favorite food to a behavior you find immoral. But what does it really mean to be disgusted? Paul Rozin, PhD, talks about where disgust comes from, why some people are more easily disgusted than others, universal triggers of disgust, why the foods we consider disgusting vary by culture, why is gross-out humor can be funny, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How often do you “go along to get along,” or say yes when you really want to say no? Organizational psychologist Sunita Sah, PhD, author of “Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes,” talks about why it can be so hard to speak up and and how can you strengthen your resolve and ability to say no when the situation calls for it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each year, more than 50 million U.S. adults experience chronic pain. Increasingly, researchers and patients are finding that behavioral treatments and therapies can be an important part of pain treatment. Pain psychologist Rachel Aaron, PhD, discusses what effective treatments are available, the link between chronic pain and mental health, how our emotions and life experiences affect pain, and what promising pain treatments may be on the horizon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the difference between an inspiring boss and an infuriating one? What qualities do the best coaches, teachers and mentors share? Adam Galinsky, PhD, author of “Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others,” discusses why leaders often have even more power than they realize, the universal qualities of good leadership, and how anyone can learn to become a more inspiring leader in their work, as a parent, and in other aspects of their lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Columbine to Sandy Hook to Uvalde, the list of schools and communities devastated by gun violence grows every year. Dewey Cornell, PhD, an expert in school violence prevention, discusses how schools can respond when faced with a potential threat, and how students, teachers, administrators and law enforcement can work together to keep schools safe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study has been tracking the health and life experiences of more than 1,000 New Zealanders since 1972. Terrie Moffitt, PhD, a professor of psychology at Duke University and one of the leaders of the Dunedin study, discusses what researchers have learned from this remarkable study about how people age, why some of us age faster than others, and how our genes and life experiences shape our physical and mental health and the aging process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called to add cancer warnings to alcohol labels. For many people, “Dry January” offers a chance try out a low- or no-alcohol life. Health psychologist Richard de Visser, PhD, talks about what’s driving public interest in Dry January and other “sober curious” trends; how temporarily giving up drinking can affect your mental and physical health; and how to succeed if you’d like to give Dry January a try. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Ponzi schemes to email phishing identity thieves, the world can seem full of people who want to deceive us. Daniel Simons, PhD, and Christopher Chabris, PhD, co-authors of Nobody’s Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It, talk about the cognitive habits that put us at risk of believing lies; famous frauds and cons from the worlds of business, science, and competitive chess; and what you can do to protect yourself, and your wallet, by spotting scammers before it’s too late. Learn more about your

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed personality disorders, and one of the most misunderstood. Carla Sharp, PhD, of the University of Houston, discusses how BPD is diagnosed, defined and treated, how family members can help children and adults with BPD, and how the disorder fits in with researchers’ evolving understanding of personality disorders in general. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our dreams can be exhilarating, surprising, terrifying, even mundane. But where do they come from and what, if anything, do they mean? Dream researcher Antonio Zadra, PhD, talks about why some people remember their dreams vividly while others don’t remember them at all; whether exploring dreams can offer insight into our waking lives; why nightmares happen and effective treatments for problematic recurring nightmares; understanding lucid dreaming and sleepwalking; and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In job interviews and in life, perfectionism is often seen as a selling point – an asset disguised as a flaw. But as psychologists have found rising rates of perfectionism in the United States and around the world in recent decades, they’ve begun to recognize the toll that the drive to be perfect can take on people’s mental health and well-being. Thomas Curran, PhD, author of “The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough,” talks about different types of perfectionism, why more and more of us feel the need to

Are you dreading the cold, dark months ahead? In Scandinavia, where the winters are among the coldest and darkest on earth, many people look forward to winter as a time of coziness, beauty and rest. Psychologist Kari Leibowitz, PhD, author of “How to Winter,” talks about how cold weather and darkness affect our body and mind and what can we learn from the way that residents of cold-weather places approach the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does shopping bring you joy? Or do you feel a bit of pain and regret every time you have to make a purchase? Many of us will be shopping for gifts in the upcoming weeks—whether we enjoy it or not. Scott Rick, PhD, of the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, discusses how our emotions drive our buying behaviors, why some people spend money so easily while others find it so difficult, whether “retail therapy” actually works, and why Black Friday sales are so irresistible. Learn more about your ad

Strong, supportive relationships are key to our mental and even physical health. But what are the keys to a healthy, loving relationship? John Gottman, PhD, and Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD, talk about why it’s so important to pay attention to your partner’s “bids for connection,” how to have productive rather than destructive fights, whether any couple can learn to communicate better, and why it’s a myth that you should never go to bed angry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our culture tends to prize being bold and outgoing, making the world harder to navigate for kids who are shy. Dr. Koraly Pérez-Edgar talks about temperament in young children, how shyness develops from babyhood on, the difference between shyness and introversion, how parents and other caregivers can best support shy kids, and recognizing the advantages of a shy temperament. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Birdbrain” may be an insult, but birds are far smarter than they’re often given credit for. Irene Pepperberg, PhD, talks about her five decades of research with gray parrots, how she teaches parrots to communicate with English words, how birds’ mathematical and other abilities compare with young children, how the field of animal cognition has evolved over the decades and what it can teach us about intelligence in general. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the surgical suite to the battlefield to the driver’s seat of a car, robots and other autonomous systems are increasingly part of people’s workplaces and their daily lives. Ericka Rovira, PhD, a professor of engineering psychology at the United States Military Academy West Point, talks about how robots are being used in the military, in medicine and in other complex, high-stakes arenas; how trust and collaboration work on human-robot teams; and how we humans can maintain our skills as we increasingly rely on robots and AI to assist us in

Over the past few decades the U.S. has become an increasingly less religious country, and many people who grew up with religion have chosen to leave the faith they were raised in. Daryl Van Tongeren, PhD, author of “Done: How to Flourish after Leaving Religion,” talks about the changing religious landscape in the U.S.; what’s driving these religious “dones”; the spiritual, social and other challenges they face; and how people rebuild meaning in life after leaving religion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even as the average family size shrinks in much of the world, myths about only children remain common – including that they’re lonely, spoiled or maladjusted. Toni Falbo, PhD, talks about her decades of research with only children that have dispelled many of these myths, explains what researchers have found instead, and offers advice for parents of only children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between raising young children, climbing the career ladder and handling the everyday demands of adult life, the 30s and 40s can be a particularly busy time. Developmental psychologist Clare Mehta, PhD, talks about the challenges and rewards of “established adulthood”; how relationships, friendships and work life change; and why it’s useful to think of the 30s and 40s as its own distinct life stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year, there are more than 2.8 million traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. The risks of brain injury among youth athletes, pro football players and military veterans have all made headlines in recent years. But other populations are at increased risk as well – including people in the criminal justice system and domestic violence survivors. Concussion researcher and brain health advocate Kim Gorgens, PhD, talks about how to identify TBI, what happens to the brain when you get a concussion, what we should we be doing to protect athletes and

The U.S. feels more polarized than ever, and with election day around the corner, many of us are feeling the strain of political divisions among our friends, family members and loved ones. Keith Payne, PhD, author of “Good Reasonable People: The Psychology Behind America’s Dangerous Divide,” discusses the psychology that underlies how most people think about politics, how U.S. history has led us to where we are, whether polarization is really worse than it used to be, and what, if anything, we can we do to bridge the divide. Learn more

Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, a psychologist who has spent decades working to advance the mental health of youth of color, was selected as one of 12 global leaders to receive a $20 million grant-making fund from philanthropist Melinda French Gates. Dr. Alfiee discusses the state of youth mental health, particularly for intersectional youth of color, the biggest challenges facing young people today, how the conversation around youth mental health has changed in recent years and how she hopes to use the new funding to make a difference in young people’s lives. Learn

Today, music therapies are being used to help treat mental and physical health conditions as diverse as chronic pain, Parkinson's disease and stroke. Renowned soprano Renée Fleming, editor of a new book on music, the arts and health, joins music cognition researcher Aniruddh Patel, PhD, to talk about the connections between music, mind and body, whether humans evolved to be an inherently musical species, the science behind some of the most effective music therapies and promising directions for future research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your commute the most stressful part of your day? Traffic psychologist Dwight Hennessy, PhD, talks about what’s going on when we get behind the wheel -- including what causes “road rage,” why some people find driving more stressful than others and how our personality affects our driving, what’s going on with the “zipper merge,” and how driving may change with more automated and self-driving cars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For those with health anxiety, worrying about sickness can be a constant struggle that can harm their mental health, relationships and even physical health. Karen Lynn Cassiday, PhD, author of the book “Freedom from Health Anxiety,” talks about how to recognize health anxiety (once known as hypochondria), why the internet and “Dr. Google” can make health anxiety worse, and what to do if you or someone you love struggles with health anxiety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you and your job just not clicking anymore? New York University psychology professor Tessa West, PhD, author of “Job Therapy: Finding Work that Works for You,” talks about the most common sources of job dissastisfaction, how you can figure out why you’re unhappy at work and find a job that’s a better fit, how to handle -- or avoid -- toxic coworkers, and the importance of good communication at work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conversational chemistry might seem intangible, but psychologists are beginning figure out what makes some conversations work while others fall apart. Charles Duhigg, author of the upcoming book Supercommunicators and conversation researcher Michael Yeomans, PhD, talk about how anyone can learn to communicate better, the best way to build rapport with someone you just met, why it’s important to think about your goals in a conversation, how to have a productive conversation about a disagreement, and how technology changes conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether your idea of the perfect vacation involves the beach, exploring a city, or just relaxing at home, you probably look forward to your time off all year. Sarah Pressman, PhD, of the University of California Irvine, and Jessica de Bloom, PhD, of Groningen University in the Netherlands, talk about why taking a break from work is important for physical and mental health, what you can do to make the most of your vacation time, and differences in work and vacation culture around the world. Learn more about your ad choices.

After a lifetime of thinking that she was just a little bit bad at remembering people, Sadie Dingfelder learned that she had prosopagnosia, a disorder more colloquially known as face blindness. Harvard psychologist Joe DeGutis, PhD, who runs the research study that Dingfelder participated in, joins her to discuss how people with face blindness see the world, why it’s such an interesting disorder to study, and promising treatments that his lab is exploring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Octopuses haven’t shared a common ancestor with humans in at least 600 million years. But somehow, separately, these invertebrates evolved remarkable problem-solving abilities, curiosity and intelligence. Octopus researcher Jennifer Mather, PhD, talks about what we know about octopus behavior and cognition, how they evolved to be so smart, how the octopus brain is structured, and what can we learn about thinking and intelligence in general from studying how it evolved in a species so far removed from us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

APA’s 2024 Work in America survey found that younger workers are more likely than older workers to feel stressed, lonely and undervalued at work. Dennis Stolle, PhD, senior director of APA’s office of applied psychology, talks about why that might be and how employers can create workplaces where all ages can thrive; as well as other key findings from the survey including the state of remote work, hybrid work and four-day work weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few decades ago, the idea of being able to interact directly with a computer using only your thoughts would have sounded like science fiction. But today researchers and companies are testing brain-computer interfaces that allow patients to move a computer cursor or control a prosthetic limb directly with their thoughts. Nicholas Hatsopoulos, PhD, discusses the future of brain-computer interfaces, how they work, the practical challenges researchers face, and what scientists have learned about the brain as they develop this technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From getting lost in a novel to binge-watching a favorite TV show, we humans spend a lot of time in fictional worlds. Jennifer Lynn Barnes, PhD, a psychologist and novelist, talks about why we’re drawn to fictional worlds; the psychology of fandom and fan fiction; and how insights from psychology helped her write her best-selling series “The Inheritance Games.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From roaring leaf blowers to screeching trains, the world is full of unwelcome noise – and researchers have found that noisy environments can take a real toll on people’s mental and physical health. Arline Bronzaft, PhD, talks about how noise affects health and well-being, how it can harm kids’ learning, why it’s not just a problem in big cities, and the most unusual noise complaints she’s heard in her five decades of advocacy combating noise pollution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year -- 2023 -- was the world’s warmest on record, and 2024 could bring another record-shattering summer. Psychologist Kim Meidenbauer, PhD, and public health researcher Amruta Nori-Sarma, PhD, discuss how heat affects people’s mental health, emotions and even cognitive abilities; the link between heat, violence and aggression; who is most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat; and what policy makers could be doing to mitigate its effects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why can’t I get myself to run that 5K? Why isn’t my child getting better grades? We all have things that we struggle to accomplish – or that we struggle to get someone else to accomplish. Frank Worrell, PhD, and Wendy Grolnick, PhD, co-authors of “Motivation Myth Busters: Science-based Strategies to Boost Motivation in Yourself and Others,” discuss how our misconceptions about motivation get in the way of reaching our goals, why there’s no such thing as an “unmotivated” person, and the merits and drawbacks of strategies like rewards, competition and

The average American adult spends up to one-third of their waking hours alone. Psychologists are exploring how those hours spent on our own affect us – including the potential benefits, as well as the challenges, of solitude. Thuy-vy Nguyen, PhD, and Netta Weinstein, PhD, discuss the difference between solitude and loneliness, how solitude affects our emotions and stress levels, why some people crave solitude more than others, and why the stigma against solitude can make us uncomfortable with being alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2024 World Happiness Report, which ranks the happiness levels of countries around the world, found that young Americans are less happy than their peers in many other countries. Psychology professor Lara Aknin, PhD, an editor of the report, talks about how the report defines happiness, why young people’s happiness levels may have dropped in the U.S, what drives happiness, and why being generous makes people happy – even when they don’t have much to spare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A growing number of adults in the U.S. are choosing not to have children. Jenna Watling Neal, PhD, of Michigan State University, talks about her research that’s found 1 in 5 adults are child free, why people are choosing not to have kids, the stigma child-free adults face, whether people who decide not to have kids early in life usually stick with that choice, and how the prevalence of child-free adults in the U.S. compares with other countries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the thought of the upcoming election sends your stress level through the roof, you’re not alone. Psychologist Brett Q. Ford, PhD, and political scientist Kevin Smith, PhD, talk about how political stress affects people’s well-being; what high levels of political stress mean for people’s lives, for the U.S. and for democracy; and how to stay politically engaged while still maintaining your mental health. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices