The Psych Files Podcast http://www.thepsychfiles.com Psychology podcast and resources for students and educators Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:43:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 ThePsychFiles is a podcast for anyone interested in the topic of psychology and how theories in this field apply to everyday life. Dr. Michael Britt brings you an upbeat, fun podcast of interest to everyone from psychology majors to those just interested in why people do what they do. Michael Britt no Michael Britt michael@thepsychfiles.com michael@thepsychfiles.com (Michael Britt) 2007-2008 Psychology podcast and resources for students and educators psychology, human behavior, psych major, psych The Psych Files Podcast http://www.thepsychfiles.com/images/TPFnewLogo144x144.jpg http://www.thepsychfiles.com Episode 118: Are You REALLY Listening? Sanford Meisner, Acting and Psychology http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/03/episode-118-are-you-really-listening-sanford-meisner-acting-and-psychology/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/03/episode-118-are-you-really-listening-sanford-meisner-acting-and-psychology/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:30:51 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1333 A lot of people get into psychology because they think they have good listening skills, but are you really a good listener? What does it mean to be a good listener? In this episode I look at a fascinating acting exercise created by Sanford Meisner called the “repetition exercise” which trains actors how to truly listen. Are you as good a listener as these trained actors?

Resources on Sanford Meisner and Carl Rogers

Psychology Twitterers

  • mbritt (me!)
  • psych101
  • psyprof
  • PsychNews
  • NewPsychologist
  • Want me to add to the list? Leave a comment below
]]> A lot of people get into psychology because they think they have good listening skills, but are you really a good listener? What does it mean to be a good listener? In this episode I look at a fascinating acting exercise created by Sanford Meisner called the “repetition exercise” which trains actors how to truly listen. Are you as good a listener as these trained actors?

Resources on Sanford Meisner and Carl Rogers

Psychology Twitterers

  • mbritt (me!)
  • psych101
  • psyprof
  • PsychNews
  • NewPsychologist
  • Want me to add to the list? Leave a comment below
]]> http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/03/episode-118-are-you-really-listening-sanford-meisner-acting-and-psychology/feed/ 3 Episode 117: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – An Interview with Bobbi http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/02/episode-117-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-an-interview/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/02/episode-117-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-an-interview/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:15:28 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1313 What is it like to live with OCD?

Listen to this interview with Bobbi, a young woman who deals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder every day and you’ll get a much better understanding of what OCD is like. You have probably heard of the term OCD and perhaps you’ve seen shows like Monk or you’ve seen characters on TV and in the movies who show symptoms of obsessional thoughts or compulsive behaviors and perhaps you’ve wondered yourself about some of your own thoughts and behaviors. Learn more about OCD in this episode of The Psych Files.

Resources on Obsessive Compulsive Disoder

  • Definition of OCD (Wikipedia): Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce anxiety, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety, or by combinations of such thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions). The symptoms of this anxiety disorder range from repetitive hand-washing and extensive hoarding to preoccupation with sexual, religious, or aggressive impulses. These symptoms can be alienating and time-consuming, and often cause severe emotional and economic loss. The acts of those who have OCD may appear paranoid and come across to others as psychotic. However, except in some severe cases, OCD sufferers generally recognize their thoughts and subsequent actions as irrational, and they may become further distressed by this realization.

    OCD is the fourth most common mental disorder and is diagnosed nearly as often as asthma and diabetes mellitus. In the United States, one in 50 adults has OCD. The phrase "obsessive–compulsive" has become part of the English lexicon, and is often used in an informal or caricatured manner to describe someone who is meticulous, perfectionistic, absorbed in a cause, or otherwise fixated on something or someone. Although these signs may be present in OCD, a person who exhibits them does not necessarily have OCD, and may instead have obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) or some other condition, such as an autism spectrum disorder. The symptoms of OCD can range from difficulty with odd numbers to nervous habits such as opening a door and closing it a certain number of times before one leaves it either open or shut.

  • Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a treatment method available from behavioral psychologists and cognitive-behavioral therapists for a variety of anxiety disorders, especially Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is an example of an Exposure Therapy.

    The method is predicated on the idea that a therapeutic effect is achieved as subjects confront their fears and discontinue their escape response. An example would be of a person who repeatedly checks light switches to make sure they’re turned off. They would carry out a program of exposure to their feared stimulus (leaving lights switched on) while refusing to engage in any safety behaviors. It differs from Exposure Therapy for phobia in that the resolution to refrain from the avoidance response is to be maintained at all times and not just during specific practice sessions. Thus, not only does the subject experience habituation to the feared stimulus, they also practice a fear-incompatible behavioral response to the stimulus. While this type of therapy typically causes some short-term anxiety, this facilitates long-term reduction in obsessive and compulsive symptoms.

  • Here’s a link to a post on Bobbi’s blog in which she talks about what it’s like to have OCD while attending college.

  • If you’d like to learn more about Exposure Response Prevention, listen to this interview from the February 17th episode of the Behavior Therapist podcast. This is a very well done podcast and highly recommended

  • The International OCD Foundation

  • The National Institute of Mental Health has an good site on OCD.

  • Here’s an interesting page on OCD from the KidsHealth web site.

  • There is an online OCD scale that the web site Psych Central offers. Here is what they say about it: "Use this brief screening measure to help you determine if you might need to see a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)".

  • OCD Risk Higher When Several Variations in Gene Occur Together

  • Here’s an interesting article from the New York Times: Scientists Find a Shared Gene in Dogs With Compulsive Behavior

  • Another article from the New York Times on OCD

Neurological Connections between OCD and the Left VentroLateral PreFrontal Cortex

  • Sex Differences in Neural Responses to Disgusting Visual Stimuli: Implications for Disgust-Related Psychiatric Disorders,
    Xavier Caseras, David Mataix-Cols, Suk Kyoon An, Natalia S. Lawrence, Anne Speckens, Vincent Giampietro, Michael J. Brammer, Mary L. Phillips
    Biological Psychiatry – 1 September 2007 (Vol. 62, Issue 5, Pages 464-471

  • Mataix-Cols D, An SK, Lawrence NS, Caseras X, Speckens A, Giampietro V,
    Brammer MJ, Phillips ML (2008) Individual differences in disgust sensitivity modulate neural responses to aversive/disgusting stimuli. Eur Journal of Neuroscience 27:3050–3058.
]]> http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/02/episode-117-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-an-interview/feed/ 4 OCD Listen to this interview with Bobbi, a young woman who deals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder every day and you’ll get a much better understanding of what OCD is like. You have probably heard of the term OCD and perhaps you’ve seen shows li... What is it like to live with OCD? Listen to this interview with Bobbi, a young woman who deals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder every day and you'll get a much better understanding of what OCD is like. You have probably heard of the term OCD and perhaps you've seen shows like Monk or you've seen characters on TV and in the movies who show symptoms of obsessional thoughts or compulsive behaviors and perhaps you've wondered yourself about some of your own thoughts and behaviors. Learn more about OCD in this episode of The Psych Files. (http://www.thepsychfiles.com/images/41tW9ALr6bL._SL160_.jpg)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepsyfil-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1572244682) (http://www.thepsychfiles.com/images/41ZRNYXF23L._SL160_.jpg)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepsyfil-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1572241691) (http://www.thepsychfiles.com/images/51832F0FAFL._SL160_.jpg)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepsyfil-20&l=as2&o=1&a=042519955X) Resources on Obsessive Compulsive Disoder * Definition of OCD (Wikipedia): Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce anxiety, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety, or by combinations of such thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions). The symptoms of this anxiety disorder range from repetitive hand-washing and extensive hoarding to preoccupation with sexual, religious, or aggressive impulses. These symptoms can be alienating and time-consuming, and often cause severe emotional and economic loss. The acts of those who have OCD may appear paranoid and come across to others as psychotic. However, except in some severe cases, OCD sufferers generally recognize their thoughts and subsequent actions as irrational, and they may become further distressed by this realization. OCD is the fourth most common mental disorder and is diagnosed nearly as often as asthma and diabetes mellitus. In the United States, one in 50 adults has OCD. The phrase "obsessive–compulsive" has become part of the English lexicon, and is often used in an informal or caricatured manner to describe someone who is meticulous, perfectionistic, absorbed in a cause, or otherwise fixated on something or someone. Although these signs may be present in OCD, a person who exhibits them does not necessarily have OCD, and may instead have obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) or some other condition, such as an autism spectrum disorder. The symptoms of OCD can range from difficulty with odd numbers to nervous habits such as opening a door and closing it a certain number of times before one leaves it either open or shut. * Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a treatment method available from behavioral psychologists and cognitive-behavioral therapists for a variety of anxiety disorders, especially Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is an example of an Exposure Therapy. The method is predicated on the idea that a therapeutic effect is achieved as subjects confront their fears and discontinue their escape response. An example would be of a person who repeatedly checks light switches to make sure they're turned off. They would carry out a program of exposure to their feared stimulus (leaving lights switched on) while refusing to engage in any safety behaviors. It differs from Exposure Therapy for phobia in that the resolution to refrain from the avoidance response is to be maintained at all times and not just during specific practice sessions. Thus, not only does the subject experience habituation to the feared stimulus, they also practice a fear-incompatible behavioral response to the stimulus. While this type of therapy typically causes some short-term anxiety, this facilitates long-term reduction in obsessive and compulsive symptoms. * Here's a link to a post on Bobbi's blog in which she talks about what it's like to have OCD (http://www.utexas. Michael Britt no 25:19 Episode 116: Social Loafing – Don’t Be a Sucker or a Free Loader! http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/02/episode-116-social-loafing-dont-be-a-sucker-or-a-free-loader/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/02/episode-116-social-loafing-dont-be-a-sucker-or-a-free-loader/#comments Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:03:28 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1302 Do you like working in a group? Most people don’t because they’re afraid that they’ll have to do most of the work (wind up being a sucker) and that other group members won’t do their share of the work (free loaders). Want to find out how to avoid this and make your group work productive? Learn how the Agile software development technique can be adapted to your help your next group project be a success.

Social Loafing (free riding) occurs when…

  • …group members don’t value the group goal

  • …individual contributions to the group effort cannot be measured

  • …a group member’s effort is duplicated (or even surpassed) by someone else

  • …a group member feels that he or she doesn’t have a unique skill to devote to the group effort

  • …when a group member feels that what he or she has been asked to do is harder than what others have been asked to do

  • …a group member doesn’t think (or doesn’t know) whether or that others in the group are working on the task (or how hard they are working on the task)

Solutions:

  • Make sure that each group member has a different set of skills

  • Everybody has to believe that the task is important

  • Assign roles to group members (note taker, time keeper, questioner, reporter, etc.)

  • The group has to know exactly what is expected, i.e., how will you know when the task is “done”?

  • make sure that the groups break down the larger goal (write a paper, do a project) into smaller “phases”

  • Ask each person in the group to “grade” themselves and everyone else in the group

  • Make sure that the group meets as often as possible – if not every day then every other day. Once a week is probably not often enough

  • use some Agile methods in these meetings: a) what have you done since the last meeting?, b) what are you planning to do before the next meeting?, c) is anything blocking you?

Articles on Social Loafing

  • Social loafing: A meta-analytic review and theoretical integration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 681-706

  • Shepperd, A. (1993). Productivity loss in performance groups: A motivation analysis, Psychological Bulletin, 113, 67-81.

Resources on the Agile Software Development process ]]> Do you like working in a group? Most people don’t because they’re afraid that they’ll have to do most of the work (wind up being a sucker) and that other group members won’t do their share of the work (free loaders). Want to find out how to avoid this and make your group work productive? Learn how the Agile software development technique can be adapted to your help your next group project be a success.

Social Loafing (free riding) occurs when…

  • …group members don’t value the group goal

  • …individual contributions to the group effort cannot be measured

  • …a group member’s effort is duplicated (or even surpassed) by someone else

  • …a group member feels that he or she doesn’t have a unique skill to devote to the group effort

  • …when a group member feels that what he or she has been asked to do is harder than what others have been asked to do

  • …a group member doesn’t think (or doesn’t know) whether or that others in the group are working on the task (or how hard they are working on the task)

Solutions:

  • Make sure that each group member has a different set of skills

  • Everybody has to believe that the task is important

  • Assign roles to group members (note taker, time keeper, questioner, reporter, etc.)

  • The group has to know exactly what is expected, i.e., how will you know when the task is “done”?

  • make sure that the groups break down the larger goal (write a paper, do a project) into smaller “phases”

  • Ask each person in the group to “grade” themselves and everyone else in the group

  • Make sure that the group meets as often as possible – if not every day then every other day. Once a week is probably not often enough

  • use some Agile methods in these meetings: a) what have you done since the last meeting?, b) what are you planning to do before the next meeting?, c) is anything blocking you?

Articles on Social Loafing

  • Social loafing: A meta-analytic review and theoretical integration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 681-706

  • Shepperd, A. (1993). Productivity loss in performance groups: A motivation analysis, Psychological Bulletin, 113, 67-81.

Resources on the Agile Software Development process ]]> http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/02/episode-116-social-loafing-dont-be-a-sucker-or-a-free-loader/feed/ 4 Social Loafing Do you like working in a group? Most people don't because they're afraid that they'll have to do most of the work (wind up being a sucker) and that other group members won't do their share of the work (free loaders). Do you like working in a group? Most people don't because they're afraid that they'll have to do most of the work (wind up being a sucker) and that other group members won't do their share of the work (free loaders). Want to find out how to avoid this and make your group work productive? Learn how the Agile software development technique can be adapted to your help your next group project be a success. Social Loafing (free riding) occurs when... * ...group members don't value the group goal * ...individual contributions to the group effort cannot be measured * ...a group member's effort is duplicated (or even surpassed) by someone else * ...a group member feels that he or she doesn't have a unique skill to devote to the group effort * ...when a group member feels that what he or she has been asked to do is harder than what others have been asked to do * ...a group member doesn't think (or doesn't know) whether or that others in the group are working on the task (or how hard they are working on the task) Solutions: * Make sure that each group member has a different set of skills * Everybody has to believe that the task is important * Assign roles to group members (note taker, time keeper, questioner, reporter, etc.) * The group has to know exactly what is expected, i.e., how will you know when the task is "done"? * make sure that the groups break down the larger goal (write a paper, do a project) into smaller "phases" * Ask each person in the group to "grade" themselves and everyone else in the group * Make sure that the group meets as often as possible - if not every day then every other day. Once a week is probably not often enough * use some Agile methods in these meetings: a) what have you done since the last meeting?, b) what are you planning to do before the next meeting?, c) is anything blocking you? Articles on Social Loafing * Social loafing: A meta-analytic review and theoretical integration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 681-706 * Shepperd, A. (1993). Productivity loss in performance groups: A motivation analysis, Psychological Bulletin, 113, 67-81. Resources on the Agile Software Development process Michael Britt no Episode 115 (Video): Violent Video Games – What Does the Research Say? http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/01/episode-115-video-violent-video-games-what-does-the-research-say/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/01/episode-115-video-violent-video-games-what-does-the-research-say/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:41:55 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1294 Recent research on violent video games is pretty conclusive and you’re not going to like it: there’s good evidence that people if you play violent video games you might be less likely to a) notice aggressive events, b) perceive fewer or less severe injuries, c) feel less sympathy for violence victims, and d) have less negative attitudes towards violence. In this video I take a close look at this research as well as one study which claims the complete opposite: that violent video games are perceived by players as merely “rough and tumble play” and that violence actually enhances performance. Who should you believe? The video is about 28 minutes long.

Resources on Video Game Violence

  • Feel free to download the presentation I used in this video episode. You can download them in Apple Keynote format: Violent Video Games, in PowerPoint format: Violent Video Games, and in PDF: Violent Video Games.

  • You’ll find links to lots of resources on violence video games at Craig Anderson’s web site.

  • Center for the Study of Violence

  • The effect of video game violence on physiological desensitization to real-life violence

  • Here is Dr. Wolfgang Bösche’s homepage, author of Violent content enhances video game performance. The site is in German, but you can download the pdf of the article from this site.

  • Carnagey, N.L., Anderson, C.A., & Bushman, B.J. (2006). The Effects of Video Game Violence on Physiological Desensitization to Real-Life Violence. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

  • Anderson, C.A., & Dill, K.E. (2000). Video games and aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior in the laboratory and in life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 772-790.

  • Violent video games and desensitization from the Cognitive Daily web site.

  • Safer Children in a Digital World: the report of the Byron Review

  • Violent video games linked to child aggression

    • ]]> http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/01/episode-115-video-violent-video-games-what-does-the-research-say/feed/ 12 Episode 114 (video): Finding Little Albert http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/01/episode-114-video-finding-little-albert/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/01/episode-114-video-finding-little-albert/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:03:03 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1265 Little Albert Little Albert – one of the most famous subjects in the history of psychology has finally been identified. Researchers spent 7 years tracking down every possible lead in order to discover who John Watson’s "Albert B" really was. In this video episode I take you through each step of the extensive detective work to uncover his identity. It’s a fascinating, creative, and in the end touching journey. Some never seen before pictures are included. Join me in this episode of The Psych Files.

    As much as Pavlov’s dogs, Skinner’s pigeons, and Milgram’s obedience experiments, the conditioning of Albert is the face of psychology. To many, Little Albert embodies the promise and, to some, the dangers inherent in the scientific study of behavior” – Beck, et al, p. 613

    littleAlbert.jpg

    Resources for this Episode

    • Beck, H. P., Levinson, S., & Irons, G. (2009). Finding Little Albert: A Journey to John B. Watson’s Infant Laboratory. American Psychologist, 64, 605-614.

    • Many thanks to Hall Beck for his support, background information and photos that appear at the end of this episode. Professor Hall Beck’s homepage at Appalachian State University.

    • More information on the myths and truths of the famous Little Albert Study can be found here in episode 47.

    • Little Albert Video: There are a lot of Little Albert videos on YouTube, but most of them contain poor quality video. This little albert video, although it has no sound, looks the best.

    • I am happy to share the slides I used in the video. The slides were created in Apple Keynote, which you can download by clicking here: Finding Little Albert. A PowerPoint version can be downloaded by clicking here: Finding Little Albert, and a pdf version is available by clicking here: Finding Little Albert.
      • ]]> http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2010/01/episode-114-video-finding-little-albert/feed/ 6 Episode 113: Interview with Scott Lilienfeld on the 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/12/episode-113-interview-with-scott-lilienfeld-on-the-50-great-myths-of-popular-psychology/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/12/episode-113-interview-with-scott-lilienfeld-on-the-50-great-myths-of-popular-psychology/#comments Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:37:53 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1254 I interview Dr. Scott Lilienfeld, author of 50 Myths of Popular Psychology and we talk about, a) does the polygraph actually work?, b) do women talk more than men?, c) does handwriting analysis reveal your personality? and d) when you’re taking a multiple choice test should you change your first answer or leave it alone? Along the way we also talk about whether the full moon really does make people act strangely (and cause more dog bites). Finally, Dr. Lilienfeld provides his opinion on whether psychotherapists need to be more up-to-date on the scientific research behind the various types of psychotherapy.

      • Click the speaker to listen to Dr. Lilienfeld discuss the myths (in separate audio files):

      • My previous interview with Dr. Lilienfeld, in which we talk about what the science says about EMDR.
        • ]]> http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/12/episode-113-interview-with-scott-lilienfeld-on-the-50-great-myths-of-popular-psychology/feed/ 19 pseudoscience In this interview Dr. Scott Lilienfeld, author of 50 Myths of Popular Psychology and we talk about, a) does the polygraph actually work?, b) do women talk more than men?, c) does handwriting analysis reveal your personality? I interview Dr. Scott Lilienfeld, author of 50 Myths of Popular Psychology and we talk about, a) does the polygraph actually work?, b) do women talk more than men?, c) does handwriting analysis reveal your personality? and d) when you're taking a multiple choice test should you change your first answer or leave it alone? Along the way we also talk about whether the full moon really does make people act strangely (and cause more dog bites). Finally, Dr. Lilienfeld provides his opinion on whether psychotherapists need to be more up-to-date on the scientific research behind the various types of psychotherapy. (/images/51DStpIjqPL._SL160_.jpg)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepsyfil-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1405131128) * Click the speaker to listen to Dr. Lilienfeld discuss the myths (in separate audio files):(/images/audioIcon.jpg) * My previous interview with Dr. Lilienfeld, in which we talk about what the science says about EMDR (http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2008/01/emdr-a-critical-perspective/). Michael Britt no 43:22 Episode 112: Evolutionary Psychology – David Buss Responds to Critics – Part 2 http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/12/episode-112-evolutionary-psychology-david-buss-responds-to-critics-part-2/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/12/episode-112-evolutionary-psychology-david-buss-responds-to-critics-part-2/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:35:35 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1244 In part 2 of my interview with David Buss, he responds to more criticisms of evolutionary psychology. Here’s what we cover: a) does evolutionary psychology just give criminals another reason not to take responsibility for themselves?, b) is all the research in evolutionary psychology done on American college students?, c) are evolutionary psychology theories falsifiable? We cover such topics as whether women’s mating strategies change depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle? and How does evolutionary psychology might explain homosexuality? and what does evolutionary psychology say about cultural differences in the desire for women with a low waist-hip ratio? All in this episode of The Psych Files.

        Resources on Evolutionary Psychology

        • David Buss’ Homepage

        • Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind

        • The Evolution Of Desire – Revised Edition 4

        • Why Women Have Sex: Understanding Sexual Motivations from Adventure to Revenge (and Everything in Between)

        • Human Nature Today by David Brooks

        • Why Do We Rape, Kill and Sleep Around? by Sharon Begley
          • ]]> http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/12/episode-112-evolutionary-psychology-david-buss-responds-to-critics-part-2/feed/ 4 Evolutionary psychology In part 2 of my interview with David Buss, he responds to more criticisms of evolutionary psychology. Here’s what we cover: a) does evolutionary psychology just give criminals another reason not to take responsibility for themselves?, In part 2 of my interview with David Buss, he responds to more criticisms of evolutionary psychology. Here's what we cover: a) does evolutionary psychology just give criminals another reason not to take responsibility for themselves?, b) is all the research in evolutionary psychology done on American college students?, c) are evolutionary psychology theories falsifiable? We cover such topics as whether women's mating strategies change depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle? and How does evolutionary psychology might explain homosexuality? and what does evolutionary psychology say about cultural differences in the desire for women with a low waist-hip ratio? All in this episode of The Psych Files. Resources on Evolutionary Psychology * David Buss' Homepage (http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/Group/BussLAB/) * Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0205483380?ie=UTF8&tag=thepsyfil-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0205483380)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepsyfil-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0205483380) * The Evolution Of Desire - Revised Edition 4 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/046500802X?ie=UTF8&tag=thepsyfil-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=046500802X)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepsyfil-20&l=as2&o=1&a=046500802X) Michael Britt no 25:44 Episode 111: Evolutionary Psychology – David Buss Responds to Critics http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/12/episode-111-evolutionary-psychology-david-buss-responds-to-critics/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/12/episode-111-evolutionary-psychology-david-buss-responds-to-critics/#comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:06:47 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1237 There has been a lot of criticism of evolutionary psychology lately. How do researchers respond? One of the leading researchers in this field – Dr. David Buss of the University of Texas responds to these critics in part 1 of this 2 part episode. Find out how he responds to these questions: a) is evolutionary psychology sexist?, b) doesn’t evolutionary psychology just give people the ammunition they need to not take responsibility for themselves? c) theories from evolutionary psychology are not falsifiable, this it’s not scientific and d) human society is always changing – it hasn’t been stable enough long enough for any human behavior to have evolved.

          Resources on Evolutionary Psychology

          • David Buss’ Homepage

          • Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind

          • The Evolution Of Desire – Revised Edition 4

          • Why Women Have Sex: Understanding Sexual Motivations from Adventure to Revenge (and Everything in Between)

          • Human Nature Today by David Brooks

          • Why Do We Rape, Kill and Sleep Around? by Sharon Begley
            • ]]> http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/12/episode-111-evolutionary-psychology-david-buss-responds-to-critics/feed/ 6 There has been a lot of criticism of evolutionary psychology lately. How do researchers respond? One of the leading researchers in this field – Dr. David Buss of the University of Texas responds to these critics in part 1 of this 2 part episode. There has been a lot of criticism of evolutionary psychology lately. How do researchers respond? One of the leading researchers in this field - Dr. David Buss of the University of Texas responds to these critics in part 1 of this 2 part episode. Find out how he responds to these questions: a) is evolutionary psychology sexist?, b) doesn't evolutionary psychology just give people the ammunition they need to not take responsibility for themselves? c) theories from evolutionary psychology are not falsifiable, this it's not scientific and d) human society is always changing - it hasn't been stable enough long enough for any human behavior to have evolved. Resources on Evolutionary Psychology * David Buss' Homepage (http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/Group/BussLAB/) * Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0205483380?ie=UTF8&tag=thepsyfil-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0205483380)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepsyfil-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0205483380) * The Evolution Of Desire - Revised Edition 4 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/046500802X?ie=UTF8&tag=thepsyfil-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=046500802X)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepsyfil-20&l=as2&o=1&a=046500802X) Michael Britt no 28:19 Episode 110: Narcissism Among Celebrities, on Facebook and in Shakespeare http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/11/episode-110-narcissism-among-celebrities-on-facebook-and-in-shakespeare/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/11/episode-110-narcissism-among-celebrities-on-facebook-and-in-shakespeare/#comments Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:25:59 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1225
            Are celebrities really more narcissistic than you are? Is your Facebook page telling the world that you are a narcissist? And finally: who is Shakespeare’s most narcissistic character? I’ll give you a hint: the character can be found in Twelfth Night. So if you’re looking for more information about the Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or just everyday narcissism, as well as examples of famous narcissists, you’ll find it in this in this episode of The Psych Files.

            Resources on Narcissism

            This Episode’s Sponsor:

            Link to Audible.com
          ]]>           http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/11/episode-110-narcissism-among-celebrities-on-facebook-and-in-shakespeare/feed/ 1 Narcissism Are celebrities really more narcissistic than you are? Is your Facebook page telling the world that you are a narcissist? And finally: who is Shakespeare’s most narcissistic character? I’ll give you a hint: the character can be found in Twelf... (/images/Facebook_thumb.jpg) Are celebrities really more narcissistic than you are? Is your Facebook page telling the world that you are a narcissist? And finally: who is Shakespeare's most narcissistic character? I'll give you a hint: the character can be found in Twelfth Night. So if you're looking for more information about the Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or just everyday narcissism, as well as examples of famous narcissists, you'll find it in this in this episode of The Psych Files. Resources on Narcissism * Buffardi, L. E. & Campbell, W. K. (2008). Narcissism and Social Networking Web Sites. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34, 1303-1314. * Here is Laura Buffardi (http://www.uga.edu/psychology/grads/social/lbuffardi.html)'s web page at the University of Georgia * The Narcissism Epidemic (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-narcissism-epidemic/200905/is-there-epidemic-narcissism-today) * Famous narcissists - Picasso (http://www.ultimate-self.com/famous-narcissists-picasso/) * 5 Ways to Spot a Narcissist from Their Facebook Page (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2044625/5_ways_to_spot_a_narcissist_from_their.html?cat=25) * Narcissistic Personality Inventory (http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/narcissistic.htm) * Narcissism - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism) * Are Today's Students Too Self-Centered? (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/27/health/main2519593.shtml?source=RSSattr%3DHOME_2519593&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsMain+%28Breaking+News%3A+CBSNews.com%29&utm_content=Google+Reader) * A Field Guide To Narcissism (http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200512/field-guide-narcissism) This Episode's Sponsor: (http://media.libsyn.com/media/tii/240x200_audible.jpg) Michael Britt no 28:07           Episode 109: Correlation and Causation http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/11/episode-109-correlation-and-causation/ http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/11/episode-109-correlation-and-causation/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:09:10 +0000 Michael http://www.thepsychfiles.com/?p=1192 Looking for examples of correlation and causation? You’ve heard it a million times: correlation doesn’t mean causation. Still need help? Well, here’s a humorous look at this topic that I think drives home the point. The Psych Files "Breaking News" explores whether satisfied workers are more productive and whether living together causes divorce. I hope you enjoy this unique video episode of The Psych Files.

          ]]>           Looking for examples of correlation and causation? You’ve heard it a million times: correlation doesn’t mean causation. Still need help? Well, here’s a humorous look at this topic that I think drives home the point. The Psych Files "Breaking News" explores whether satisfied workers are more productive and whether living together causes divorce. I hope you enjoy this unique video episode of The Psych Files.

          ]]>           http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2009/11/episode-109-correlation-and-causation/feed/ 1 Correlations Looking for examples of correlation and causation? You've heard it a million times: correlation doesn't mean causation. Still need help? Well, here's a humorous look at this topic that I think drives home the point. Looking for examples of correlation and causation? You've heard it a million times: correlation doesn't mean causation. Still need help? Well, here's a humorous look at this topic that I think drives home the point. The Psych Files "Breaking News" explores whether satisfied workers are more productive and whether living together causes divorce. I hope you enjoy this unique video episode of The Psych Files. Michael Britt no