This election matters - and so does your voice! This is a re-release of a 2018 episode that covers the motivation behind whether people choose to vote or not, and it is just as important now as it was 2 years ago. Take a listen, and then make a plan to vote. 

This election matters - and so does your voice! This is a re-release of a 2018 episode that covers the motivation behind whether people choose to vote or not, and it is just as important now as it was 2 years ago. Take a listen, and then make a plan to vote.

Voting & Motivation

There is a rule in sales - if you want the customer to pay one price for a product, always tell them first that the price is much higher. Want to know why? The answer lies in the psychology of compliance. Compliance is a change in behavior as the result of a request. We are asked to do things countless times each day...so why do we comply with some of them?

There is a rule in sales - if you want the customer to pay one price for a product, always tell them first that the price is much higher. Want to know why? The answer lies in the psychology of compliance. Compliance is a change in behavior as the result of a request. We are asked to do things countless times each day...so why do we comply with some of them?

Compliance: The Art of the Request

The world is in a crisis. The coronavirus pandemic is affecting millions around the globe. As of today in the US, over 125,000 have been infected (that we know of) and over 2,000 have died. Our healthcare system is about to break under the pressure. And everything is cancelled. Life as we know it has stopped for a while. But here is the real mystery - why is everyone hoarding toilet paper? Since when did paper products become like gold? What is up with all the weird behavior that we are witnessing during this pandemic? Here is the psychology behind it.

The world is in a crisis. The coronavirus pandemic is affecting millions around the globe. As of today in the US, over 125,000 have been infected (that we know of) and over 2,000 have died. Our healthcare system is about to break under the pressure. And everything is cancelled. Life as we know it has stopped for a while. But here is the real mystery - why is everyone hoarding toilet paper? Since when did paper products become like gold? What is up with all the weird behavior that we are witnessing during this pandemic? Here is the psychology behind it.

Special Episode: Psychology of Pandemic Behavior

Remember all those stupid trends you went along with in high school? There's a reason why you did it. Conformity is when we behave or think in certain ways because we feel like we should, because we want to "fit in" with a social group. No one told you to wear that cliche' Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt or use all that AquaNet in your hair, but you did it...and social psychology says that you are in the majority.

Remember all those stupid trends you went along with in high school? There's a reason why you did it. Conformity is when we behave or think in certain ways because we feel like we should, because we want to "fit in" with a social group. No one told you to wear that cliche' Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt or use all that AquaNet in your hair, but you did it...and social psychology says that you are in the majority.

Conformity & Fitting In

You aren't supposed to "judge a book by it's cover" and yet, you find yourself making instant assumptions about who someone is based on their initial appearance and first impression. Are you a bad person? Nope - according to social psychologists, you are engaging in a normal psychological phenomenon known as "person perception." And while this snap judgement about a person's characteristics might be inaccurate, there is an explanation for why it happens.

You aren't supposed to "judge a book by it's cover" and yet, you find yourself making instant assumptions about who someone is based on their initial appearance and first impression. Are you a bad person? Nope - according to social psychologists, you are engaging in a normal psychological phenomenon known as "person perception." And while this snap judgement about a person's characteristics might be inaccurate, there is an explanation for why it happens.

Person Perception

This episode reviews the two main approaches to treating psychological disorders: psychotherapy and biomedical treatment. While each has its own pros and cons, understanding the goal of each approach is important. *Side note: This episode does not intend to give treatment suggestions or advice to any listener - it is simply an informational overview*

This episode reviews the two main approaches to treating psychological disorders: psychotherapy and biomedical treatment. While each has its own pros and cons, understanding the goal of each approach is important. *Side note: This episode does not intend to give treatment suggestions or advice to any listener - it is simply an informational overview*

Treatment Basics

Autism is the most misunderstood, yet fastest growing, spectrum of disability in the US. It is a developmental delay based disorder with specific symptoms that are important to recognize early. It is often represented by an image of a puzzle piece, because trying to understand, decode and treat autism is like a mysterious puzzle. This is an important (and longer) episode because this is an important topic. And - spoiler alert - NO, vaccines do not cause autism.

Autism is the most misunderstood, yet fastest growing, spectrum of disability in the US. It is a developmental delay based disorder with specific symptoms that are important to recognize early. It is often represented by an image of a puzzle piece, because trying to understand, decode and treat autism is like a mysterious puzzle. This is an important (and longer) episode because this is an important topic. And - spoiler alert - NO, vaccines do not cause autism.

Autism Spectrum Disorders 

Ah, the teenage years - so full of drama. According to Piaget, there is a reason why. Adolescents think differently than adults, despite being more advanced in reasoning than younger children. This episode wraps up the Piaget Series and covers the last stage in his Theory of Cognitive Development - Formal Operational thinking.

Ah, the teenage years - so full of drama. According to Piaget, there is a reason why. Adolescents think differently than adults, despite being more advanced in reasoning than younger children. This episode wraps up the Piaget Series and covers the last stage in his Theory of Cognitive Development - Formal Operational thinking.

Piaget Series Pt. V: Formal Operational Stage

It's 5 o'clock somewhere...but according to a child in the Concrete Operational Stage of Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development, it is really only 4:58pm. This episode covers how children think from ages 7-11 and why they tend to reason as if they were stubborn scientists. 

It's 5 o'clock somewhere...but according to a child in the Concrete Operational Stage of Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development, it is really only 4:58pm. This episode covers how children think from ages 7-11 and why they tend to reason as if they were stubborn scientists.

Piaget Series Pt. IV: Concrete Operational Stage

Children say some pretty funny things - and if you understand Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development, it makes sense why. Children in the Preoperational Stage think differently than adults - they believe in animals coming to life, they have trouble with impulse control and they don't understand why everyone in their class really isn't a "friend." This episode goes over some of the basic qualities that occur in thinkers from ages 2-7.

Children say some pretty funny things - and if you understand Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development, it makes sense why. Children in the Preoperational Stage think differently than adults - they believe in animals coming to life, they have trouble with impulse control and they don't understand why everyone in their class really isn't a "friend." This episode goes over some of the basic qualities that occur in thinkers from ages 2-7.

Piaget Series Pt. III: Preoperational Stage

Welcome to Psych Segments - all kinds of psychology knowledge in tiny segments. It’s like having a general psychology course in podcast form. Hosted by your personal psychology professor and made for curious minds. A podcast even your mom would approve of...just ask Freud.

Babies are pretty cute - but they are also super curious and actively thinking from the day that they are born. This episode discusses the first stage in Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development. It also helps to explain why toddlers are so bad at hide and seek!

Babies are pretty cute - but they are also super curious and actively thinking from the day that they are born. This episode discusses the first stage in Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development. It also helps to explain why toddlers are so bad at hide and seek!

Piaget Series Pt. II: Sensorimotor Stage

The basics of how sensation works – nothing fancy, nothing complicated. This episode is a review of the four main terms used to understand how we sense physical stimuli. Also, it contains the elusive explanation as to why the first 10 minutes of a concert are not nearly as "good" as the rest of it.

The basics of how sensation works – nothing fancy, nothing complicated. This episode is a review of the four main terms used to understand how we sense physical stimuli. Also, it contains the elusive explanation as to why the first 10 minutes of a concert are not nearly as "good" as the rest of it.

Sensation 101

You thought you were signed up for a psych class, but now you have to learn about the complicated workings of the body’s nervous system. While you are patiently waiting to get to the chapter on personality disorders, take a listen to this episode on the nervous system and how it breaks down in to specific divisions. As intriguing as learning about sociopaths? Probably not. But will it be on your psych exam? Most likely. Confused? Help is here.

You thought you were signed up for a psych class, but now you have to learn about the complicated workings of the body’s nervous system. While you are patiently waiting to get to the chapter on personality disorders, take a listen to this episode on the nervous system and how it breaks down in to specific divisions. As intriguing as learning about sociopaths? Probably not. But will it be on your psych exam? Most likely. Confused? Help is here.

Nervous System Basics

Ever wonder what we used to think the brain did? Want to know how Def Leppard and The Roots are related to mistakes in neuropsychology? Tune in for this entertaining look at how wrong we were about the causes and cures in mental health.

Ever wonder what we used to think the brain did? Want to know how Def Leppard and The Roots are related to mistakes in neuropsychology? Tune in for this entertaining look at how wrong we were about the causes and cures in mental health.

Mistakes on the Brain

The first episode of the new podcast series, Psych Segments, is here! Did you just enroll in a general psych course? Think you know what psychology is all about, but want to be sure? This episode is the perfect place to start. If you like the podcast, subscribe today! For more things psychological, visit the blog or follow on Facebook or Twitter @psychsegments

The first episode of the new podcast series, Psych Segments, is here! Did you just enroll in a general psych course? Think you know what psychology is all about, but want to be sure? This episode is the perfect place to start. If you like the podcast, subscribe today! For more things psychological, visit the blog or follow on Facebook or Twitter @psychsegments

What is Psychology?

Here's the first episode in a 5 part series that covers the basics of Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development and the respective stages. Piaget was a revolutionary when it came to understanding how children think, and his theories are discussed frequently in all types of psychology courses. This episode discusses some of the basics, like how we use mental scripts to organize information or why children consider all fuzzy, four-legged animals to be dogs. 

Here's the first episode in a 5 part series that covers the basics of Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development and the respective stages. Piaget was a revolutionary when it came to understanding how children think, and his theories are discussed frequently in all types of psychology courses. This episode discusses some of the basics, like how we use mental scripts to organize information or why children consider all fuzzy, four-legged animals to be dogs.

Piaget Series Part I: The Basics

The Locus of Control Theory of Motivation is a simple one – either you believe you can cause things to change, or you don’t. And depending on your belief, you are going to either be motivated at a high or low level. This is especially important to understand right now, as midterm elections are fast approaching. Want to know why some people vote and others don’t, and why you should? Look no further than your locus of control.

Locus of Control and the Voting Booth

Does drinking water cause you to die? No – but there is a strong correlation between people who die and people who have consumed water. Correlations show relationships, and this type of research is widely used in psychology. It is often widely misinterpreted because we commonly confuse correlation with causation. Check out this episode to learn the basics of correlational research and statistics. It won’t cause you to do better on your next psych exam…but it definately won’t hurt.

Does drinking water cause you to die? No – but there is a strong correlation between people who die and people who have consumed water. Correlations show relationships, and this type of research is widely used in psychology. It is often widely misinterpreted because we commonly confuse correlation with causation. Check out this episode to learn the basics of correlational research and statistics. It won’t cause you to do better on your next psych exam…but it definately won’t hurt.

Correlations

According to Maslow’s theory, human beings have a lot more in common than we think; we all have the same universal needs. Our needs are the driving force behind our motivation. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs outlines these universal needs, and despite what many people may believe, free WiFi connection is not on the list.

Maslow's Hierarchy 

There’s a reason why tutoring works – it involves learning through socialization. Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory of Development explains this, and it gives a lot more credit to our thoughts and abilities than previously considered. If we interact with people who can do or know more than us, we can achieve a lot more, a lot faster. Here’s why!

Vygotsky and the ZPD

Like a bottle rocket when I was a kid, this podcast is small in form but it packs a punch!

Incredibly helpful

Psych Segments

Looking for an entertaining book to read while relaxing by the pool? The DSM probably isn’t a good choice. But, it is the most important written tool used to diagnose disorders in mental health. It provides a universal language and symptom criteria for every condition in abnormal psychology. And while that may not sound thrilling, you will most likely need to know about it for your next psych test.

There's No "T" in DSM

The best podcast episodes on parenting. Interviewing experts and talking through common issues surrounding parenting. This topic is filled with important lessons and insights for anyone listening. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

OwlTail

Best Parenting Podcasts

The best podcast episodes of the most interesting stories and things. From skyping someone while they're in space, to tracking down and meeting a telephone scammer in person, to the story of a Galapagos. These episodes will keep you and all your friends entertained and captivated for hours. Learn something new in every episode! Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!