Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast that deconstructs human behavior from the perspectives of social scientists, psychologists, and others that use applied psychology in their work.
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with clinical psychologist Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They discuss how OCD is different from "ordinary" obsessions, different categories of obsessive thoughts, whether or not traumatic events cause OCD, and how exposure helps to treat OCD symptoms. For mor…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#054 - Intelligence with Dr. Russell T. Warne
59:53
59:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:53
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with educational psychology scholar Dr. Russell Warne about intelligence and his book, In the Know: Debunking 35 Myths about Human Intelligence. They discuss the key components of intelligence, the myth of multiple intelligences, what life outcomes are improved by having higher intelligence, to …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#053 - Shame & Guilt with Dr. June Tangney
51:54
51:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:54
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with emotion researcher Dr. June Tangney about shame & guilt. They discuss the difference between guilt & shame, why some people feel more shame than others, whether or not shame can be a good thing, cultural differences in experiencing shame, and how to effectively cope with feelings of guilt &…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#052 - Morbid Curiosity with Dr. Coltan Scrivner
50:37
50:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:37
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with behavioral scientist Dr. Coltan Scrivner about morbid curiosity. They discuss the different domains of morbid curiosity, if morbidly curious people are less empathetic, what attracts us to horror & true crime content, and potential benefits of being curious about danger. For more on Coltan,…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#051 - Gaming & Mental Health with Dr. Chris Ferguson
53:56
53:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:56
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with professor of psychology and co-author of "Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games Is Wrong", Dr. Chris Ferguson, about the relationship between video games and mental health. They discuss whether or not violent video games cause violent behavior, the challenges in measuring the imp…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#050 - The Importance of Play with Dr. Peter Gray
1:12:04
1:12:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:12:04
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with play expert, Dr. Peter Gray about his book, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students For Life. They discuss the characteristics of an activity that allow it to be considered play, the developmental skills learn…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#049 - Dealing with Uncertainty with Dr. Kate Sweeny
44:51
44:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:51
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist Dr. Kate Sweeny about the psychology of uncertainty. They discuss the upside of worrying, how uncertainty compares to other life stressors, what types of people are better at worrying, and effective vs. ineffective coping strategies. For more on Kate, visit www.katesween…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#048 - Mindful Health with Dr. Ellen Langer
56:21
56:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:21
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with professor of psychology Dr. Ellen Langer about mindfulness and her new book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health. They discuss the difference between mindfulness and mindlessness, how our thoughts & mindsets can limit our potential, why the mind should not be thought of as …
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with ADHD expert, Dr. Stephen Faraone. They discuss the primary symptoms of ADHD, the difference between normal inattentiveness and ADHD, genetic vs. environmental factors, and effective ADHD treatments. For more on Stephen, visit www.adhdevidence.org. Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#046 - Motivation with Dr. Ayelet Fishbach
49:36
49:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:36
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with behavioral scientist & motivation expert Dr Ayelet Fishbach about motivation and her new book, Get it Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation. They discuss the one trait that all goals should have, how to use framing & incentives to motivate behavior, why the middle of pursu…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#045 - Speech & Society with Dr. Valerie Fridland
55:58
55:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:58
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with sociolinguist Dr. Valerie Fridland about speech & society and her new book, Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English. They discuss whether or not there is a "right way" to speak English, how social class can drive changes in speech, why um's & likes can be useful, and how …
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with Dr. Anna Lembke about addiction and her newest book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. They discuss the importance of dopamine as it relates to the pleasure/pain balance, how technology & our on-demand culture exploit the brain's wiring, why the pursuit of pleasure …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#043 - Gestures with Dr. Susan Goldin-Meadow
50:27
50:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:27
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with Dr. Susan Goldin-Meadow about gestures and her new book, Thinking with Your Hands: The Surprising Science Behind How Gestures Shape Our Thoughts. They discuss how our gestures help both others and ourselves understand thought, the spontaneous nature of gestures, why gesturing is important i…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#042 - Pseudoscience in Mental Health with Dr. Stephen Hupp
50:57
50:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:57
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with clinical psychologist Dr. Stephen Hupp about pseudoscience in mental health. They discuss the difficulties of proving benefits from mental health treatments, why Rorschach tests are bogus, the value of psychoanalysis vs. cognitive behavioral therapy, and how not all treatments "work" the wa…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#041 - Politics, Science, and Belief with Dr. Cory Clark
1:00:16
1:00:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:16
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist Dr. Cory Clark about politics, science, and belief. They discuss whether or not values & cognition differ based on your political affiliation, how in-group bias can impact belief formation, why public institutions should avoid politicizing issues, and public attitudes ab…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#040 - Procrastination with Dr. Tim Pychyl
1:06:19
1:06:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:19
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with procrastination expert, Dr. Tim Pychyl. They discuss the difference between delay & procrastination, the role emotions play in our guiding our actions, why tomorrow won't be different from today, and the essential tools we need to overcome procrastination. For more on Tim, visit procrastina…
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist, Dr. Erin Westgate, about boredom. They discuss the features of situations that cause boredom, who is prone to boredom, why difficult tasks can also be boring, the benefits of boredom, and solutions to conquering boredom. For more on Erin, visit www.erinwestgate.com or f…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#038 - Deception with Dr. Daniel Simons & Dr. Christopher Chabris
57:41
57:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:41
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with researchers Dr. Daniels Simons & Dr. Christopher Chabris about deception and their new book, Nobody’s Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It. They discuss how easy it is to be fooled by online information, why doomsday cult members don't abandon their beliefs when their predi…
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with clinical psychologist & attachment researcher, Dr. Or Dagan. They discuss the importance of healthy parent-child relationships, the necessary elements for developing a secure attachment, consequences of having an insecure attachment style, how parents can balance care & independence, and th…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#036 - Health Beliefs with Dr. Nick Tiller
55:13
55:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:13
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with exercise scientist and researcher, Dr. Nick Tiller, about health beliefs and his new book, The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science: Confronting Myths of the Health & Fitness Industry. They discuss why misinformation is so pervasive in the health & fitness industry, why we should avoid quick f…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#035 - Online Dating with Dr. Liesel Sharabi
55:55
55:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:55
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with Dr. Liesel Sharabi, about online dating. They discuss online vs. traditional dating, tips for crafting a good profile, gender differences in the online experience, why being too picky can be a bad thing, and what factors lead to long term success. For more on Liesel, check out her blog, Dat…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#034 - Evolution & Motivation with Dr. Doug Kenrick
54:20
54:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:20
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with professor of psychology Dr. Doug Kenrick about human motivation and his newest book, co-authored with his son, David Lundberg-Kenrick, entitled Solving Modern Problems with a Stone-Age Brain. They discuss meaningful differences between the environment of our ancestors vs the modern world, w…
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with writer & speaker, Kelly Carlin, about self-expression. They discuss how one's early life can make self-expression challenging, discovering your true passions, ways to develop creativity, and how Kelly's father (George Carlin) struggled to express his true self. For more on Kelly, visit huma…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#032 - Effective Learning with Dr. Regan Gurung
53:24
53:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:24
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist, Dr. Regan Gurung about effective learning strategies and his new book co-authored with Dr. John Dunlosky entitled Study Like A Champ: The Psychology Based Guide to “Grade A” Study Habits. They discuss why the feeling of learning may not be the same as actual learning, t…
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with author and marketing professor, Dr. Zoe Chance about influence and her new book, Influence Is Your Superpower. They discuss how to influence without manipulating, if authenticity is necessary to be persuasive, why feelings must come before facts, and the importance of kindness & persistence…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#030 - Conspiracy Theory Beliefs with Dr. Joe Pierre
56:12
56:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:12
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with psychiatrist & author, Dr. Joe Pierre, about conspiracy theory beliefs. They discuss what distinguishes conspiracy theories from other types of beliefs, the motives & thinking errors that contribute to these beliefs, why convincing people to change their mind might be the wrong goal of cons…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#029 - Consumer Motivation with Dr. Kaitlin Woolley
52:43
52:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:43
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with researcher & marketing professor, Dr. Kaitlin Woolley, about consumer motivation. They discuss the motives & biases underlying consumer decisions, why we avoid certain types of product information, how marketers leverage psychology to build loyalty, and practical ways to improve your decisi…
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with psychiatry instructor & psychotherapist, Dr. Mark Ruffalo, about psychotic disorders. They discussed the nature of psychotic disorders, changes in classification & treatment over time, how talk therapy can be used to reduce symptoms, and ways to address psychotic disorders in homeless popul…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#027 - Self-harm & Trauma with Dr. Jill Rathus
53:02
53:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:02
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with psychologist Dr. Jill Rathus about self-harm & trauma. They discussed motives behind self-harm, the role trauma plays in creating negative patterns of behavior, the downside of using distraction to deal with emotional pain, and how dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help people develop …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#026 - The Value of Irrationality with Dr. Stuart Vyse
52:17
52:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:17
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with behavioral scientist Dr. Stuart Vyse about his new book The Uses of Delusion: Why It's Not Always Rational to Be Rational. They discussed why being rational is not always the optimal way of thinking, the competing systems of human cognition, when it makes sense to be unhealthy, and why bein…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#025 - Effective Conversations with Monica Guzman
50:26
50:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:26
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with journalist & author, Monica Guzman about her new book I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. They discussed barriers that get in the way of effective communication, how judgment is the opposite of curiosity, how social medi…
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with clinical psychologist, Dr. Camilo Ortiz about effective parenting. They discussed the keys to effective discipline, how to have less arguments with your children, the danger in being too helpful, and some techniques for fostering emotional intelligence. For more on Camilo, visit his website…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#023 - The Art of Insubordination with Dr. Todd Kashdan
59:03
59:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:03
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with author & well-being researcher, Dr. Todd Kashdan. They discussed why most dissent efforts fail, what makes insubordination principled vs unprincipled, how to overcome barriers to fostering new ideas, and strategies for rebels to be more effective at changing minds. For more on Todd, visit h…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#022 - Social Anxiety with Dr. Kevin Chapman
55:27
55:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:27
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with clinical psychologist, Dr. Kevin Chapman. They discussed how social anxiety is a normal human emotion, the lies we tell ourselves about our ability to socialize, the role of culture and race in the experience of social anxiety, and how to retrain our brains to overcome negative thinking. Fo…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#021 - School Shooters with Dr. Peter Langman
47:04
47:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:04
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with psychologist & school shooting expert, Dr. Peter Langman. They discussed whether or not profiles of school shooters are accurate, how shooters make their intentions known, why these warnings are often overlooked, and how to effectively prevent these tragedies from happening. For more on Pet…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#020 - The Value of Subtraction with Dr. Leidy Klotz
49:58
49:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:58
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with Dr. Leidy Klotz about why subtraction is often overlooked, how evolution & culture has impacted our ability to appreciate subtraction, how inventors & emergency rooms applied subtraction to solve problems, why "just enough" is often better than "the best", and how to improve your life with …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#019 - The Psychology of Magic with Brian Brushwood
1:03:40
1:03:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:40
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with magician Brian Brushwood about the importance of story-telling when performing tricks, the lengths magicians will go to create effects, what magic teaches you about reading people, and how magic can change your perception of the real world and prevent you from being taken advantage of. For …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#018 - Bullshitting with Dr. John Petrocelli
1:01:17
1:01:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:17
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist Dr. John Petrocelli about the difference between BS and lying, the various kinds of BS and why people engage in them, the danger in valuing personal experience over objective truth, and what tools you should have in your BS detection kit. For more on John, check out his …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#017 - Self & Identity with Dr. William Swann
49:52
49:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:52
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist Dr. William Swann about the battle between viewing yourself positively vs. accurately, why some people might not prefer positive feedback, the trick to maintaining your sense of self worth, and why affirmations may not be as useful as once thought. For more on Bill, visi…
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with aggression expert, Dr. Brad Bushman about which types of people are prone to aggression, how violent media and the presence of guns can influence aggressive behavior, why purging your anger is a bad idea, and some helpful ways to manage your anger. For more on Brad, visit his OSU faculty pa…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#015 - Rational Thinking with Dr. Richard Nisbett
55:17
55:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:17
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist, Dr. Richard Nisbett about how poorly people are at explaining their own thoughts, how thinking has changed over the past century, what statistical principles can make you a better thinker, and cost-benefit analysis in the age of Covid-19. For more on Richard, visit his …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#014 - The Illusion of Psychic Ability with Mark Edward
57:11
57:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:11
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with mentalist Mark Edward about the techniques he uses to create the illusion of psychic ability. We discussed how listening plays a role in producing a convincing reading, what methods psychics use to get inside information about you, whether or not all psychics are con artists, and how much o…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#013 - Success in Long-term Relationships with Dr. Benjamin Karney
51:16
51:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:16
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist, Dr. Benjamin Karney about success in long-term relationships. They discuss the one trait that predicts marriage success over time, how life circumstances & socioeconomic status can influence relationships, what behaviors within a relationship can lead to more positive o…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#012 - Moral Judgment with Dr. David Pizarro
53:21
53:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:21
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist Dr. David Pizarro about moral judgment. They discussed how emotions can influence moral judgments, if too much empathy can be a bad thing, how disgust can impact your political attitudes, and how to balance emotion & reason when forming moral judgments. For more on David…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#011 - Goals, Motivation, and Well-being with Dr. Kennon Sheldon
44:09
44:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:09
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with social psychologist Dr. Kennon Sheldon about goal pursuit and motivation. They discussed the biggest mistake people make when choosing goals, the importance of doing things you don't want to do, the keys to effective goal planning, how to stay motivated while pursuing long-term goals, and h…
…
continue reading
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with Dr. James Kaufman about how there's not just one way to be creative, how to maximize creativity in a group setting, what mental processes and traits contribute to someone being creative, whether or not mental illness increases creativity, and how to increase YOUR ability to be more creative…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#009 - Sex, Dominance, and Evolution with Dr. Gregory Gorelik
35:31
35:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:31
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with Dr. Gregory Gorelik about sexual selection and how it influences gender differences in humans, why dominance is an important trait within males, how today's environment differs from that of our ancestors, and the evolutionary origins of BDSM. For more on Greg, visit his website or his autho…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#008 - The Psychology of Improv with Casey Casperson
51:52
51:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:52
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with Casey Casperson about how the principles of improv can be applied to real life, including how to be more accepting of others, the freeing nature of expressing emotions effectively, and the importance of listening & being open to new ideas. For more on Casey, visit his website or Sick Puppie…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#007 - Mental Health in College Students with Dr. Justin Puder
58:52
58:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:52
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with Dr. Justin Puder about the top mental health issues encountered in college students, the challenges of dealing with new life transitions and how to overcome them, how social media can impact mental health, and how mindfulness can help you combat stress and live a happier life. For more on J…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
#006 - Effective Leadership with Dr. Ryne Sherman
49:43
49:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:43
In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Ryan Moyer speaks with Dr. Ryne Sherman about why individuals typically chosen for leadership positions may not be the best fit for the job, what traits make for an effective leader, whether or not leaders need to be nice in order to be effective, and what behaviors are sure to undermine trust in leadership. For …
…
continue reading