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American Psychological Association · Science

Speaking of Psychology

"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.

Episodes

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The psychology of swearing, with Richard Stephens, PhD

09 Apr 2025
33m
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This episode explores the unexpected benefits of swearing, a topic investigated by Dr. Richard Stephens, a senior lecturer in psychology. Against the backdrop of swearing's increasing societal acceptance, Dr. Stephens' research delves into its potential to alleviate pain and enhance physical performance. For instance...

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Keeping your brain healthy as you age, with Vonetta Dotson, PhD

02 Apr 2025
40m
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This episode explores the science of maintaining brain health as we age, interviewing clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Vonetta Dotson. Against the backdrop of a 42% risk of dementia after age 55, the discussion highlights lifestyle factors crucial for reducing this risk. More significantly, Dr. Dotson emphasizes physic...

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The rise of ‘therapy speak,’ with Taisha Caldwell-Harvey, PhD, and Erin Parks, PhD

26 Mar 2025
34m
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This episode explores the increasing prevalence of "therapy speak" in popular culture and its implications. Against the backdrop of readily available information via social media, the hosts interview two psychologists to analyze this phenomenon. More significantly, the discussion delves into the duality of this trend...

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Understanding paranoia and extreme mistrust, with Daniel Freeman, PhD

19 Mar 2025
33m
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This podcast interviews Dr. Daniel Freeman, a leading expert on paranoia, to discuss its causes, diagnosis, and treatment. The interview covers the prevalence of paranoid thoughts in the general population, the link between paranoia and other mental illnesses (like schizophrenia and depression), and the development of...

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Email, Slack, Zoom and text: How to master virtual communication, with Andrew Brodsky, PhD

12 Mar 2025
38m
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This podcast interviews Dr. Andrew Brodsky, author of "PING: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication," about effective communication in today's hybrid workplace. The interview explores Dr. Brodsky's PING framework (Perspective, Initiative, Nonverbal cues, Goals) for choosing the right communication method (ema...

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Mind over Mars: The psychology of space exploration, with Suzanne Bell, PhD

05 Mar 2025
42m
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This podcast interviews Dr. Suzanne Bell, a NASA psychologist, about the psychological and behavioral challenges of long-duration space missions, particularly a trip to Mars. The interview covers astronaut selection criteria, focusing on resilience, teamwork, and self-care skills needed for extended isolation and comm...

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Why are more adults being diagnosed with ADHD? With Russell Ramsay, PhD

26 Feb 2025
41m
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This podcast interviews Dr. Russell Ramsey about the rise in adult ADHD diagnoses. The discussion covers reasons for the increase (improved awareness and the pandemic's impact on daily routines), how ADHD symptoms differ in adults versus children (inattentiveness, impulsivity, and internalized hyperactivity), and avai...

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Yuck! What disgusts us and why, with Paul Rozin, PhD

19 Feb 2025
34m
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This episode of Speaking of Psychology interviews Dr. Paul Rozin, an expert on the psychology of disgust, exploring its origins, development, and cultural variations. The discussion covers the innate versus learned aspects of disgust, its role in food choices and cultural differences in food preferences (e.g., the acc...

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How to say ‘no’: The power of defiance, with Sunita Sah, PhD

12 Feb 2025
39m
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This podcast interviews Dr. Sunita Sah, author of "Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes," about the psychology of speaking up and saying no. The interview explores the difference between compliance, consent, and defiance, highlighting the often-overlooked pressure to comply due to "insinuation anxiety." D...

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Understanding and treating chronic pain, with Rachel V. Aaron, PhD

05 Feb 2025
35m
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This podcast interviews Dr. Rachel Aaron, a clinical psychologist specializing in chronic pain, about the nature of chronic pain, its relationship with mental health, and effective treatment options. The interview covers common causes (often unknown), the biopsychosocial model of pain, and various treatments including...

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How to be an inspiring leader, with Adam Galinsky, PhD

24 Jan 2025
40m
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This interview podcast features a conversation with Dr. Adam Galinsky, a social psychologist, about his book "Inspire." The discussion centers on the "leader amplification effect," illustrating how a leader's actions, both positive and negative, are magnified by their position. Dr. Galinsky introduces "the sweet thre...

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Can we prevent school shootings? With Dewey Cornell, PhD

22 Jan 2025
38m
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This interview podcast features Dr. Dewey Cornell, a forensic clinical psychologist, discussing school threat assessment. The podcast begins by addressing the frequency of gun violence in schools, reassuring listeners that while tragic, school shootings are statistically rare compared to other settings. It then delve...

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Why do some of us age faster than others? With Terrie Moffitt, PhD

15 Jan 2025
34m
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This interview podcast features a conversation with Dr. Terrie Moffitt, a psychologist involved in the Dunedin Longitudinal Study. The discussion centers on the study's findings regarding biological aging, specifically the Dunedin PACE test, which measures the rate of biological aging using biomarkers and DNA methylat...

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Dry January: Why more people are taking a break from alcohol, with Richard de Visser, PhD

08 Jan 2025
36m
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This podcast episode delves into Dry January, a UK initiative that encourages people to refrain from alcohol for a month. It explores the campaign's impressive growth, from just 5,000 participants in 2013 to around 1.5 million today, as well as its expansion into other countries and its influence on changing views abou...

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Encore - Why we get conned and how to avoid it, with Daniel Simons, PhD, and Christopher Chabris, PhD

01 Jan 2025
35m
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In this podcast episode, psychologists Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris delve into the reasons behind why people fall for scams and cons. They discuss how common cognitive biases, such as truth bias and reliance on easily accessible information, make individuals more susceptible to deception. The conversation high...

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Encore - What is borderline personality disorder? With Carla Sharp, PhD

25 Dec 2024
37m
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In this podcast episode, the hosts delve into borderline personality disorder (BPD), a condition often surrounded by misunderstanding. They challenge the conventional diagnostic approach that categorizes personality disorders, suggesting instead a dimensional model that emphasizes unhealthy self-perception and interper...

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Dreams, nightmares and sleepwalking: What can happen while we sleep, with Antonio Zadra, PhD

18 Dec 2024
42m
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In this episode of Speaking of Psychology, Dr. Antonio Zadra dives into the intriguing world of dreams and nightmares. He highlights that while everyone experiences dreams, our ability to remember them can vary significantly. Dr. Zadra discusses the purpose of dreams, their ties to our waking lives, and how they can be...

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Why do we push ourselves to be perfect? With Thomas Curran, PhD

11 Dec 2024
35m
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In this podcast episode, the focus is on the increasing rates of perfectionism, especially among young people, and how it adversely affects their mental health. Dr. Thomas Curran, a renowned perfectionism expert, delves into the various forms of perfectionism, including self-oriented and socially prescribed types, as w...

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Learning to embrace winter, with Kari Leibowitz, PhD

04 Dec 2024
41m
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In this podcast episode, the focus is on cultivating a positive mindset about winter, drawing insights from research in Scandinavia, especially Tromsø, Norway. Dr. Kari Leibowitz, who lived above the Arctic Circle for a year, shares how locals embrace the long, dark winter months. The key takeaway is that our mindset p...

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Encore - Tightwads and spendthrifts: How emotions drive our shopping behavior, with Scott Rick, PhD

27 Nov 2024
33m
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In this podcast episode, the focus is on the psychology behind our spending habits, featuring insights from Dr. Scott Rick and his Tightwad-Spendthrift Scale. This scale highlights the "pain of paying," showcasing the stark differences in brain activity and behavior between tightwads—who feel significant distress when ...

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