Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files

Michael Britt

Learn how theories in psychology affect you in everyday life. Upbeat and interesting podcasts from experienced psychology teacher Michael Britt give you a bit more insight into you and your life.

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390 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes390

Newest first

Sep 18, 2008 · 26 min
Episode 71: Horse Sense or Nonsense? Clever Hans is Alive and Well
Can horses be used for corporate training? If you listened to the NPR piece called, "Horse Sense: New Breed Of Executive Training" you might have thought it sounds a little fishy. "Clever Hans" just might be alive and well in management training.
Sep 10, 2008 · 39 min
Episode 70: Coincidence or Synchronicity? You Be The Judge
Have you heard that president Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy and president Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln? In this episode we explore strange coincidences like this one and we also examine Carl Jung's concept of Synchronicity.
Sep 2, 2008 · 32 min
Episode 69: Personal Space Invasions - Ethical Implications of one of Psychology's Strangest Studies
Remember the psychological study conducted in a men's room? Let's take a close look at what the critics say and what the authors themselves have to say in response. A fascinating look at the ethics and history of research in psychology.
Aug 22, 2008 · 18 min
Episode 68 (video): Mnemonic Device for Erikson's Eight Stages of Development
Memorize Erik Erikson's Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. In this video episode I have a little fun using the peg word mnemonic device and ordinary household items to show how mnemonics work.
Aug 13, 2008 · 18 min
Episode 67: The Olympic Silver Metal? What a Bummer!
Psychologists say that winning the silver medal - coming in second - is actually less satisfying than coming in third - the bronze. Why is that? Sounds weird, but it also sounds right, doesn't it? Find out why winning the silver is...a bummer.
Aug 11, 2008 · 19 min
Episode 66: What to do about Mom? Personal Control and Aging
Do nursing homes and assisted living facilities have to be so depressing? Is there a way to help senior citizens have more energy and enthusiasm for life? Learn more in this review of a classic study in psychology. This week on The Psych Files podcast.
Jul 30, 2008 · 29 min
Episode 65: God and Self Help, Synchronicity, and Listener Feedback
Some of the most popular self help books rely on references to god and religion. In this episode I add a few thoughts on how scientists view self help books which rely on references to god. I also share listener email.
Jul 21, 2008 · 31 min
Episode 64: A Scientist Goes Looking for a Self Help Book....
Self Help books: there are so many such books out there. Can they cure depression? Find out how critical thinking can help you weed out the best self-help book. Here's a list of the top 14 things that really bother psychologists about self-help books.
Jul 14, 2008 · 31 min
Episode 63: Cognitive Dissonance, the Monty Hall Problem and a Possible Solution?
Cognitive Dissonance - one of the most established and respected theories in psychology - is under attack. M. Keith Chen uses what is called the "Monty Hall problem" to show that the research on cognitive dissonance may be seriously flawed.
Jul 8, 2008 · 28 min
Episode 62: Sustainability and Human Behavior
Sustainability - what does it mean? Listen to Dr. Deborah Rowe talk about this concept of sustainability - "Meeting the needs of the present while allowing future generations to meet theirs".
Jun 24, 2008 · 27 min
Episode 61: The Mozart Effect - Is There Anything To It? Part 2
This is part 2 of my interview with Dr. Kenneth Steele of Appalachian State University on his research on the Mozart Effect. Rats were brought into the lab to listen to Mozart music. Did it make them smarter?
Jun 17, 2008 · 36 min
Episode 60: The Full Monty Backstage - Body Image and Gender Differences
The Full Monty: maybe you've seen the movie or the musical, but what is it like backstage? What are the actors thinking? Join me as I go backstage and explore the psychological and societal issues brought up by The Full Monty musical.
Jun 10, 2008 · 36 min
Episode 59 - The Mozart Effect: Is There Anything To It?
The Mozart Effect - almost everyone has heard about it, but is there really anything to it? In part one of my interview with one of the leading researchers and critics of the Mozart Effect - Dr. Kenneth Steele - you get the real story behind the hipe.
May 25, 2008 · 24 min
Episode 58: Speed Dating - You Don't Know What You Want
Do you really know what you want in a romantic partner? The answer is no. Learn more about what women (and men) really want in this fascinating study conducted in of all places a speed dating event. Psychology studies finally get interesting for subjects!
May 16, 2008 · 24 min
Episode 57: Expectancy Theory, Goal Setting and Getting in Shape!
Trying to get in shape and lose weight? What's the psychology behind getting in shape? First forget the psychobabble. In this episode of The Psych Files podcast I examine two established theories of human motivation - goal setting and expectancy theory.
May 10, 2008 · 37 min
Episode 56: What is Music Therapy?
Interested in Music Therapy? Music therapy, often used with children with autism, can also be used in the classroom to help children learn patterns. In this interview music therapist Kamile Geist talks about types and techniques of music therapy.
Apr 24, 2008 · 17 min
Episode 55: Is It Really Better to Give Than to Receive?
We've looked at the story of the Good Samaritan so now it's time to scientifically answer the question: is it better to give than to receive? Psychologists have recently examined the relationship between happiness and charitable giving.
Apr 13, 2008 · 44 min
Episode 54: Math Anxiety - Causes and Cures
Could it be that the roots of this anxiety lie not in math itself but with the way math is taught? In this episode I speak with Dr. Eugene Geist. Math anxiety - how it develops and what can be done to help kids overcome it.
Apr 2, 2008 · 23 min
Episode 53: Mindful Learning, NCLB, and the True Foundations of Success
Tired of rote memorization? Tired of NCLB? Try mindful learning. In this episode I explore psychologist Ellen Langer's concept of mindful learning. What does it mean to teach in a mindful way? How does this differ from the Foundations of Success report?
Mar 28, 2008 · 15 min
Episode 52 (video): Research Design Part 2 - Factorial Designs
We're going to delve into a two by two factorial research design. I'll try my best to make it fun. Watch to find out how it can be to your disadvantage to be attractive and along the way learn a bit about research design.

Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files

Episode 71: Horse Sense or Nonsense? Clever Hans is Alive and Well

Episode 70: Coincidence or Synchronicity? You Be The Judge

Episode 69: Personal Space Invasions - Ethical Implications of one of Psychology's Strangest Studies

Episode 68 (video): Mnemonic Device for Erikson's Eight Stages of Development

Episode 67: The Olympic Silver Metal? What a Bummer!

Episode 66: What to do about Mom? Personal Control and Aging

Episode 65: God and Self Help, Synchronicity, and Listener Feedback

Episode 64: A Scientist Goes Looking for a Self Help Book....

Episode 63: Cognitive Dissonance, the Monty Hall Problem and a Possible Solution?

Episode 62: Sustainability and Human Behavior

Episode 61: The Mozart Effect - Is There Anything To It? Part 2

Episode 60: The Full Monty Backstage - Body Image and Gender Differences

Episode 59 - The Mozart Effect: Is There Anything To It?

Episode 58: Speed Dating - You Don't Know What You Want

Episode 57: Expectancy Theory, Goal Setting and Getting in Shape!

Episode 56: What is Music Therapy?

Episode 55: Is It Really Better to Give Than to Receive?

Episode 54: Math Anxiety - Causes and Cures

Episode 53: Mindful Learning, NCLB, and the True Foundations of Success

Episode 52 (video): Research Design Part 2 - Factorial Designs