Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files

Michael Britt

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The Psych Files is a podcast for anyone interested in the topic of psychology and how ideas in this field apply to everyday life. 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.

11 MAY

The Song "Yesterday," Manhood, and the Fear of Vulnerability

In this episode of The Psych Files, I explore the fascinating intersection between music, psychology, and gender roles through subtle lyric changes in Paul McCartney’s timeless song, “Yesterday.” I focus specifically on why iconic male singers like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Marvin Gaye altered the lyric from “I said something wrong” to “I must have said something wrong.” I suggest that this small but meaningful change reflects a deeper cultural discomfort with male vulnerability, connecting it to the psychological concept of “precarious manhood”—the idea that men often feel compelled to protect their masculinity by appearing strong and infallible. Drawing upon psychological research, including Joseph Vandello’s influential studies, I highlight how seemingly minor cultural signals, such as these lyric adjustments, reinforce restrictive gender norms. While admitting mistakes or expressing vulnerability might seem risky for men, psychological evidence shows these behaviors can actually strengthen relationships and emotional well-being. Ultimately, I encourage listeners to challenge traditional ideas about masculinity, embracing authenticity and emotional openness as true indicators of strength.

12 min
7 FEB · VIDEO

Study Hack: Use ChatGPT to Ace Your Exams! | Self-Explanation Effect

Discover how to leverage ChatGPT and other AI tools to dramatically improve your learning and test performance! In this video, I explain a powerful study technique called the "self-explanation effect" and show you exactly how to combine it with AI for maximum learning impact. The full prompt: "I am currently studying [insert the topic you are studying here]. Pretend that you are a student who doesn’t know what the term means. I would like you to listen to my explanation and the example I give in it. Then tell me if you think anything I’ve said is incorrect or unclear. Feel free to ask me to explain the idea again until my explanation is correct and clear. When this is done, please research the web to make sure that you understand what cognitive dissonance means. and then tell me if my explanation was correct or if I missed any important piece of information. Perfect for: • College students struggling with difficult concepts • Self-learners looking to master new topics • Anyone preparing for exams or certifications • Students studying alone who need a study partner This study method is backed by cognitive psychology research and now supercharged with AI technology. Watch as I demonstrate live how to use ChatGPT to validate your understanding and catch any gaps in your knowledge. No more wondering if you've really grasped the material! ✨ Key Topics Covered: Explanation of the powerful self-explanation effect study technique How to use AI to carry out this technique Demonstration of exactly how to do it Practical tips for implementing this technique #StudyTips #ChatGPT #ArtificialIntelligence #StudyWithMe #CollegeHacks #Education #Learning #StudentLife #ExamPrep #StudyMotivation #AIEducation #LearningHacks #StudyTechniques #Education2024 #studysmarter Disclaimer: This video mentions ChatGPT Plus subscription ($20/month) but free alternatives are also discussed.

5 min
18/10/2024

Lost in the Click: Exploring the Browser Doorway Effect

The Blank Tab Effect: A Modern Doorway Phenomenon Have you ever switched to a new browser tab, only to find yourself staring at a blank page and wondering why you opened it in the first place? This common experience is strikingly similar to what psychologists call the doorway effect and it’s one of quirks of how our memory works. Understanding the Doorway Effect The doorway effect occurs when people forget their intentions after passing through a doorway. This happens because our brains compartmentalize information based on the environment, treating each room as a separate context. For example, in the kitchen, your mind focuses on relevant items like refrigerators and sinks. Moving to another room, like a bedroom, requires your brain to reset and focus on new surroundings, causing potential memory lapses.

3 min
24/06/2024

Beck's Cognitive Distortions: An AI-Powered Learning Activity

In my recent exploration of artificial intelligence, I stumbled upon a fascinating article entitled, “Instructors as Innovators: a Future-focused Approach to New AI Learning Opportunities, With Prompts" which introduced the concept of goal-play interaction between students and AI. The authors provided a prompt for this interaction, which I found to be an intriguing application of AI to create interactive, educational experiences for students. I adapted the prompt provided in the article to be more aligned with psychology concepts, particularly for students learning about cognitive distortions. I experimented with various AI models, including Google, Gemini, Meta, Perplexity, and ChatGPT, and the results were truly enlightening. The goal of this exercise is for the individual to assume the role of a counselor, while the AI embodies a person exhibiting cognitive distortions. However, I must note that the outcomes were not always predictable, as different language models sometimes altered the dynamics of the interaction. Despite this unpredictability, I found the interactive conversations to be incredibly valuable, sparking insightful discussions around cognitive distortions and Aaron Beck's groundbreaking work in this field. I invite you to try this out and share your experiences with your students (and with me as well as I'd love to hear how you've been using - and possibly modifying - this prompt). I am continuously refining this experiment and welcome any suggestions to enhance its reliability and effectiveness. I encourage you to engage in this thought-provoking exercise and explore the potential of AI to create engaging and meaningful conversations around psychological concepts. As you'll see, I instructed the AI to draw from content on the Psych Central site, so thanks to them for providing very clear explanations of various types of cognitive distortions. Happy experimenting! Instructions: copy all of the text below (without the lines) and then past it into whichever AI large language model of your choice. I have tried this in the free version of ChapGPT as well as paid versions of Perplexity, Gemini, and Meta, and it works well, though differently, in each one.

4 min
11/05/2024

Paralyzed by Fear: Exploring Tonic Immobility in Sexual Assault

In this episode of "The Psych Files," we delve into the complex and sensitive topic of sexual assault, focusing particularly on the phenomenon of tonic immobility, often referred to as "frozen fright." This involuntary response can leave victims unable to move or speak during an assault, a reaction that is not only common but also deeply misunderstood. Our journey begins with a fictional account from the Netflix series "A Nearly Normal Family," where a young woman experiences this paralyzing effect during an assault. This portrayal opens up a discussion about the real-life implications of tonic immobility, including the challenges it presents in legal contexts where victims' lack of physical resistance is often misinterpreted as consent. Throughout the episode, we explore the biological and psychological underpinnings of tonic immobility. Experts explain that this response is an evolutionary defense mechanism, akin to the "freeze" response observed in many animals when confronted by predators. It's a survival strategy, not a choice, triggered by extreme fear and a complex cascade of hormonal reactions in the brain. We also discuss the broader implications of misunderstanding tonic immobility, particularly the undue guilt and shame that can afflict survivors, complicating their recovery and the pursuit of justice. The episode highlights the importance of education and awareness, both for mental health professionals and the general public, to foster a more compassionate and informed response to survivors of sexual assault. This episode is not just an exploration of a psychological phenomenon but also a call to action to support survivors more effectively and to challenge societal misconceptions about sexual assault and victim behavior. #SexualAssaultAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #EndTheSilence: #SupportSurvivors #TonicImmobility #MentalHealthAwareness

10 min
06/05/2024

Cloning Voices: Scary Maybe, But Also Therapeutic?

I'm about as worried as anyone else about how the new tools for cloning voices could be used by "bad actors" to clone the voices of politicians to make them say things they never said and possibly further polarize our country before an important election. But in this episode of the podcast I describe how I used ElevenLabs - a site that will allow you to clone your - or someone else's - voice to "re-create" my father's voice and use it to have him say some things that I always wanted to hear him say. Weird? Yes, but satisfying and therapeutic? I think so.

12 min
29/04/2024

The Psychology of Music: The Role of Expectations and Minor Chords

How does music affect us emotionally? Why do minor chords sound so sad? In this episode of The Psych Files I explore ideas from Daniel Leviton's fascinating book, Your Brain on Music, especially those ideas concerned with what composers do to draw you into their music by first conforming to your musical expectations and then carefully confounding them in order to surprise and delight. I talk with guitarist and composer David Temple to get his perspective on this process as well. Along the way you'll hear excerpts from some fascinating pieces of music and David and I will discuss what makes them so compelling, especially those in the minor key. My My piano playing skills are pretty rough but get ready for some fun.

44 min
08/03/2024

My 3 Favorite Psych Articles This Week - March 8, 2024

In this episode of The Psych Files, host Michael Britt explores three fascinating new psychology studies. First, research found that making hospital alarms more musical could help prevent dangerous mistakes caused by alarm fatigue. Next, studies on cats and dogs suggest they likely dream about their waking experiences, just like humans do. The brain activity of a sleeping dog resembles when it is chasing a ball, for example. Finally, not all personality tests are created equal - while popular, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) lacks scientific support, whereas the Big Five model and its personality traits are well-validated by research. However, no test can capture the full complexity of your personality. Psychological science is always uncovering new insights into how our minds work, with much still left to discover.

4 min

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Dr. Michael A. Britt

Host

The Psych Files is a podcast for anyone interested in the topic of psychology and how ideas in this field apply to everyday life. 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.