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Speaking of Psychology

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American Psychological Association

"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.

#332

Inside the mind of an octopus, with Jennifer Mather, PhD

Octopuses haven’t shared a common ancestor with humans in at least 600 million years. But somehow, separately, these invertebrates evolved remarkable problem-solving abilities, curiosity and intelligence. Octopus researcher Jennifer Mather, PhD, talks about what we know about octopus behavior and cognition, how they evolved to be so smart, how the octopus brain is structured, and what can we learn about thinking and intelligence in general from studying how it evolved in a species so far removed from us. ... Read more

24 Jul 2024

34 MINS

34:39

24 Jul 2024

#331

Why psychological safety matters in a changing workplace, with Dennis Stolle, PhD

APA’s 2024 Work in America survey found that younger workers are more likely than older workers to feel stressed, lonely and undervalued at work. Dennis Stolle, PhD, senior director of APA’s office of applied psychology, talks about why that might be and how employers can create workplaces where all ages can thrive; as well as other key findings from the survey including the state of remote work, hybrid work and four-day work weeks. ... Read more

17 Jul 2024

27 MINS

27:54

17 Jul 2024

#330

The future of brain-computer interfaces, with Nicholas Hatsopoulos, PhD

A few decades ago, the idea of being able to interact directly with a computer using only your thoughts would have sounded like science fiction. But today researchers and companies are testing brain-computer interfaces that allow patients to move a computer cursor or control a prosthetic limb directly with their thoughts. Nicholas Hatsopoulos, PhD, discusses the future of brain-computer interfaces, how they work, the practical challenges researchers face, and what scientists have learned about the brain as they develop this technology. ... Read more

10 Jul 2024

25 MINS

25:36

10 Jul 2024

#329

How to use psychology to write a best seller, with Jennifer Lynn Barnes, PhD

From getting lost in a novel to binge-watching a favorite TV show, we humans spend a lot of time in fictional worlds. Jennifer Lynn Barnes, PhD, a psychologist and novelist, talks about why we’re drawn to fictional worlds; the psychology of fandom and fan fiction; and how insights from psychology helped her write her best-selling series “The Inheritance Games.” ... Read more

03 Jul 2024

49 MINS

49:12

03 Jul 2024

#328

How noise pollution harms our health, with Arline Bronzaft, PhD

From roaring leaf blowers to screeching trains, the world is full of unwelcome noise – and researchers have found that noisy environments can take a real toll on people’s mental and physical health. Arline Bronzaft, PhD, talks about how noise affects health and well-being, how it can harm kids’ learning, why it’s not just a problem in big cities, and the most unusual noise complaints she’s heard in her five decades of advocacy combating noise pollution. ... Read more

26 Jun 2024

36 MINS

36:34

26 Jun 2024

#327

Mental health in a warming world, with Kim Meidenbauer, PhD, and Amruta Nori-Sarma, PhD

Last year -- 2023 -- was the world’s warmest on record, and 2024 could bring another record-shattering summer. Psychologist Kim Meidenbauer, PhD, and public health researcher Amruta Nori-Sarma, PhD, discuss how heat affects people’s mental health, emotions and even cognitive abilities; the link between heat, violence and aggression; who is most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat; and what policy makers could be doing to mitigate its effects. ... Read more

19 Jun 2024

39 MINS

39:26

19 Jun 2024

#326

How to motivate yourself and others, with Wendy Grolnick, PhD, and Frank Worrell, PhD

Why can’t I get myself to run that 5K? Why isn’t my child getting better grades? We all have things that we struggle to accomplish – or that we struggle to get someone else to accomplish. Frank Worrell, PhD, and Wendy Grolnick, PhD, co-authors of “Motivation Myth Busters: Science-based Strategies to Boost Motivation in Yourself and Others,” discuss how our misconceptions about motivation get in the way of reaching our goals, why there’s no such thing as an “unmotivated” person, and the merits and drawbacks of strategies like rewards, competition and praise. ... Read more

12 Jun 2024

36 MINS

36:58

12 Jun 2024

#325

The benefits of solitude, with Thuy-vy Nguyen, PhD, and Netta Weinstein, PhD

The average American adult spends up to one-third of their waking hours alone. Psychologists are exploring how those hours spent on our own affect us – including the potential benefits, as well as the challenges, of solitude. Thuy-vy Nguyen, PhD, and Netta Weinstein, PhD, discuss the difference between solitude and loneliness, how solitude affects our emotions and stress levels, why some people crave solitude more than others, and why the stigma against solitude can make us uncomfortable with being alone. ... Read more

05 Jun 2024

45 MINS

45:31

05 Jun 2024

#324

Which countries are happiest and why? With Lara Aknin, PhD

The 2024 World Happiness Report, which ranks the happiness levels of countries around the world, found that young Americans are less happy than their peers in many other countries. Psychology professor Lara Aknin, PhD, an editor of the report, talks about how the report defines happiness, why young people’s happiness levels may have dropped in the U.S, what drives happiness, and why being generous makes people happy – even when they don’t have much to spare. ... Read more

29 May 2024

31 MINS

31:31

29 May 2024

#323

Choosing to be child free, with Jennifer Watling Neal, PhD

A growing number of adults in the U.S. are choosing not to have children. Jenna Watling Neal, PhD, of Michigan State University, talks about her research that’s found 1 in 5 adults are child free, why people are choosing not to have kids, the stigma child-free adults face, whether people who decide not to have kids early in life usually stick with that choice, and how the prevalence of child-free adults in the U.S. compares with other countries. ... Read more

22 May 2024

31 MINS

31:23

22 May 2024

#322

How to cope with political stress this election season, with Brett Q. Ford, PhD, and Kevin Smith, Ph...

If the thought of the upcoming election sends your stress level through the roof, you’re not alone. Psychologist Brett Q. Ford, PhD, and political scientist Kevin Smith, PhD, talk about how political stress affects people’s well-being; what high levels of political stress mean for people’s lives, for the U.S. and for democracy; and how to stay politically engaged while still maintaining your mental health. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the <a href= "https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology">Speaking of Psychology Homepage</a>. ... Read more

15 May 2024

35 MINS

35:40

15 May 2024

#321

How Sesame Street teaches kids about emotional well-being, with Rosemarie Truglio, PhD

Sesame Street has entertained and educated generations of children. Developmental psychologist Rosemarie Truglio, PhD, Sesame Workshop’s senior vice president of curriculum and content, talks about why the show has a new focus on young children’s emotional well-being; how Sesame Street translates complicated concepts into stories that young kids can connect with; the research that underpins all of the content on Sesame Street; and why the Sesame Street characters still resonate with so many adults. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the <a href= "https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology">Speaking of Psychology Homepage</a>. ... Read more

08 May 2024

34 MINS

34:38

08 May 2024

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