Psychologically Speaking

Are you the type of person who goes along to get along? Or do you march to the beat of your own drum. In this time of masks versus no mask or vaccine versus no vaccine, are you likely to follow the adage, "When in Rome...."? Or not? If you're sure about something, you won't change your mind simply because others disagree. Or will you? Listen to this episode to find out what psychology tells us about conformity and compliance. Are we all susceptible to social influence in ways we might not realize?

Have you ever experienced a moment where your eyes and your brain are not communicating with one another? Maybe I'm the only one. You see a stick on the ground and think it's a snake or vice versa! What about those moments where you seem to be flying through a task on auto-pilot? Neuroscientists tell us that moments like these are prevalent because of the power of our brain to take over our senses! How powerful is the brain? Take a listen to find out.

Is it true that people sent postcards with pictures depicting live lynchings in the early 1900s? Is "implicit bias" a thing? I mean, surely someone knows whether they hold biased attitudes, right? A hurricane, whether it's Tina or Tom, is still a violent storm isn't it? So, we should take cover! Benevolent sexism would say not so fast! The ABCs of prejudice include the affect, behavior, and cognitions behind this destructive attitude. Take a listen! You might learn something new!

In a "just world," we all get what we deserve. But sometimes, we get more than we deserve. When we offer expressions of gratitude, we give the gift that keeps on giving. "In" all things, not "for" all things, be thankful. What can gratitude do for you? Psychology tells us that gratitude can do much more than we expected.
 

Do you have trouble with organizing and remembering things? Are you struggling with learning new information? Are you familiar with the SQ4R technique? Without memory—our storehouse of accumulated learning—there would be no recollections of past joys, no guilt or anger over painful experiences. Without memory, every experience would be new. There are thousands and thousands of studies investigating learning and memory. Here are some tips you can use to improve your organizational skills, manage your time better and enhance your study skills. Take out a pen and paper, or get those fingers ready! You're going to want to take some notes!

Do we really have control over our actions, so much so that we can freely choose to do what we want when we want? Social psychology tells us not as much as we think. On January 6, 2021, “patriots” stormed the U.S. Capitol building in a display of social influence at its worst. Social psychology explains the impact of social influence and how we can fall prey to others' influence whether we belong to a cohesive group or we find ourselves in a crowd of strangers, deciding to "go with the flow. "

From a very young age, we are taught to be kind to others. To treat others as you would like to be treated. When is the last time you were kind to yourself? When is the last time you allowed yourself the grace to make mistakes without being overly critical? Isn't it time you showed yourself some compassion? Love yourself! You deserve it! 

Do you know someone that is overly optimistic? Their glass is always full no matter the situation. You know the person. Nothing ever seems to bother them. Have you ever wondered if too much happiness was a thing? Well, it is. Happiness has a dark side, and I tell you all about it in this episode. Tune in as I explain to you the perils of positivity.

When was the last time you created something wild, colorful, and mystical that you didn't intend to create? You don't even understand what it means even though you created it. I'll give you a hint: When you created this magical thing, you were asleep! Dreams have fascinated people since the beginning of time. We are always looking for the hidden meaning and symbols in our dreams. Are dreams simply random stories that our brain tells us? Or do dreams mean something?

Psychological Myth or Scientifically Evidenced: Women are more emotional than men. As a psychologist, it's my job to dispel myths people often have about psychology and defend the science I love so much against all false claims! Are women more emotional than men? Do you happen to be someone who is not only plugged into your own feelings, but you're pretty good at recognizing social cues? Then, you, my friend, are emotionally intelligent, and you probably possess all kinds of other fantastic qualities. Getting to know your feelings can be one of the best moves you could ever make! Listen to find out why...