"Speaking of Psychology" is an audio podcast series highlighting some of the latest, most important and relevant psychological research being conducted today. Produced by the American Psychological Association, these podcasts will help listeners apply the science of psychology to their everyday lives.
Feeling loved is a distinct internal experience separate from the external actions of others, rooted in being truly understood and appreciated. Dr. Harry Reis, a professor of psychology and co-author of How to Feel Loved, explains that individuals often hinder their own sense of connection by curating idealized version...
People consistently underestimate the happiness and connection gained from social interactions due to misplaced pessimism and an over-focus on personal competence. Dr. Nicholas Epley, a behavioral scientist at the University of Chicago, explains that humans are inherently social, yet we frequently avoid strangers and d...
Workplace digital surveillance, or "bossware," is increasingly pervasive, with employers utilizing technologies ranging from keystroke trackers to facial recognition to monitor productivity and safety. While organizations often claim these tools improve efficiency, they frequently incentivize harmful behaviors, such as...
Psychological misconceptions, such as the belief that individuals are left-brained or that sugar causes hyperactivity, persist among college students despite formal education. Developmental psychologist Dr. Erin Smith explains that these myths remain pervasive due to repeated exposure, social media echo chambers, and t...
Societal stress acts as a persistent, cumulative threat to health, manifesting as allostatic load that increases risks for cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, and mental health disorders. Chronic exposure to political polarization, economic instability, and global conflict keeps the body’s stress response in a ...
Creativity functions as a deliberate choice rather than an innate trait, requiring the courage to pursue original and effective solutions despite potential risks. Dr. Zorana Itcevich Pringle, director of the Creativity and Emotions Lab at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, emphasizes that creative potential sp...
Medical trauma encompasses the emotional, physical, and cognitive distress resulting from harrowing medical experiences such as critical illness, difficult childbirth, or chronic gaslighting by providers. Dr. Jim Jackson, a psychologist and director of Vanderbilt’s ICU Recovery Center, explains that while often overloo...
Tipping behavior in the United States is driven primarily by social norms and the desire to avoid disapproval rather than the quality of service provided. While consumers often cite rewarding good service as their primary motivation, empirical data shows that bill size accounts for approximately 70% of tipping variance...
The podcast explores the psychology behind spending habits, focusing on why people overspend and struggle with financial decisions. Dr. Abigail Sussman, a marketing professor, explains that buy now pay later services lead to increased spending because they make purchases seem more affordable by highlighting the initial...
Infant laughter and smiling as a window into understanding babies' cognitive development during their first year is explored. Dr. Gina Mireault, director of the Infant Laughter Lab, explains that while involuntary smiles occur in utero, voluntary smiling begins around six weeks, followed by laughter at approximately fo...
Snap judgments and first impressions are explored, revealing how quickly we assess others for danger, mating potential, and group affiliation. Dr. Nicholas Rule explains that while overall accuracy in judging perceptually ambiguous traits averages around 65%, it varies depending on the judgment type and available infor...
Tourette's disorder and other tic disorders, affecting many school-aged children, are often misunderstood, especially regarding coprolalia, which is the use of obscene words. Dr. John Piacentini, a professor of psychiatry and clinical psychologist, explains that Tourette's involves motor and vocal tics stemming from an...
Patience, defined as the ability to remain calm while waiting in the face of frustration, adversity, or suffering, is explored in this podcast featuring Dr. Sarah Schnitker. The discussion covers three types of patience: interpersonal, daily hassles, and life hardships, noting that individuals can exhibit varying degre...
The podcast explores contingency management (CM) as a behavioral treatment for stimulant addiction, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, addressing its effectiveness and implementation challenges. Contingency management uses positive reinforcement, rewarding individuals with incentives like money or gift cards for nega...
The podcast explores the psychology behind why people share certain content, challenging the notion that virality is solely due to chance. Dr. Jonah Berger, a word-of-mouth and social influence researcher, introduces the STEPS framework, highlighting six key factors driving sharing: social currency, triggers, emotion, ...
The podcast explores the concept of resilience in children, emphasizing its importance in navigating daily stresses and significant setbacks. Dr. Mary Alvord, a psychologist and resilience expert, defines resilience as the ability to adapt to various challenges, advocating for skills like problem-solving, emotional reg...
The podcast explores the science of love and bonding, challenging common stereotypes about relationships. Dr. Paul Eastwick, a psychology professor, introduces the "EvoScript," a set of assumptions about human mating based on ancestral pressures, which he argues is outdated. He discusses research that questions gender ...
The podcast explores the concept of "daughtering," the often invisible work adult daughters do to maintain family connections. Dr. Allison Alford, communication studies professor and author of "Good Daughtering," explains that daughtering includes instrumental labor, emotional support, planning, and identity work. This...
The podcast explores aphantasia, the inability to visualize mental images, and its counterpart, hyperphantasia. Dr. Joel Pearson, a cognitive neuroscientist, explains that aphantasia affects an estimated 4-8% of the population, who experience a "black-on-black" mental screen. Objective measurements, including binocular...
Chimpanzees' and bonobos' social cognition is examined, focusing on similarities with humans. Dr. Laura Simone Lewis discusses research indicating these apes recognize former group mates, even after decades of separation, with a special emphasis on those with whom they had positive relationships. An eye-tracking study ...
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