Podcasts · Education · Health & Fitness

Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files

Michael Britt

300 episodes

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.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. What Makes a Dad Joke Funny? Science Weighs In

    · 41 min

    I'm known in my family for bad dad jokes. I text them to relatives and get the eye-roll emoji back. So when two psychologists published a paper this year on what makes a dad joke funny, I had to look. Paul Silvia and…

  2. One Simple Habit for a Happier Marriage? Not So Fast

    · 13 min

    A new study of about 1,700 married couples found that partners who exercise together, usually by walking, tend to have stronger marriages, and the headlines quickly turned that into "one simple habit for a happier…

  3. I'm Not the Person I Used to Be (and Why Your Brain Wants You to Believe That)

    · 22 min

    Why do your good deeds feel like "still me" while your bad ones feel like "a different person back then"? Research from Felipe De Brigard's lab at Duke University, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology:…

  4. You've Got Dopamine Backwards (and I Can Prove It On Piano)

    · 25 min

    What do a false ending to the Star Spangled Banner, a food delivery website where nothing ever arrives, and a monkey waiting for a squirt of juice have in common? In this episode I sit down at the piano to demonstrate…

  5. Science Corrects Itself: The Embodied Cognition Story

    · 41 min

    What is embodied cognition, and did it survive the replication crisis? This episode of The Psych Files examines the famous embodied cognition and social priming studies — power posing, the hot coffee study, the Macbeth…

  6. The Secret to a Good Joke Is Silence

    · 16 min

    This episode looks at why comic timing works, using a 2026 study from Yuxi Ma, Yongqian Peng, and colleagues at Peking University, presented at the Cognitive Science Society. The researchers analyzed 828 professional…

  7. AI: Mixed Feelings, Cognitive Dissonance, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves

    · 24 min

    Most of us who use AI tools live with a quiet contradiction: the tools are genuinely useful, and using them raises real ethical problems — work that might have gone to a person, the energy and water that data centers…

  8. Why Nobody Pushed the Button: The Psychology Behind a Subway Tragedy

    · 15 min

    Why did more than a dozen people walk past Steven McCluskey as he lay trapped in a Boston subway escalator? On the surface it seems to refute the newest research on bystander intervention — Richard Philpot's…

  9. Why People Step Out of the Plane — and Go Back Up the Next Day

    · 11 min

    Why would anyone step out of an airplane — and why, after a fatal accident, would they go back up the very next day? In this episode I talk through that question using a recent New York Times feature on a brutal…

  10. Does Your Cat or Dog Need Closure? Pet Grief and the Psychology of Loss

    · 26 min

    We hear the word "closure" everywhere — in true crime shows, in news coverage of trials, and in the well-meaning advice of friends after a loss. But where did this idea come from, and does the research actually support…

  11. Home Alone: The Hidden Cost of Remote Work

    · 12 min

    I've worked from home for about fifteen years, and I like it. I'm a writer, I'm fine being on my own, and I've got the cats for company. But there's one thing I miss, those little water-cooler conversations with…

  12. "I'm Getting Old" — And That Thought Might Be Killing You

    · 18 min

    Do you catch yourself saying "I'm getting old" more than you'd like to admit? Turns out, that habit might be doing more damage than you think. Psychologist Becca Levy of Yale has spent decades studying how our aging…

  13. Actors Don't Really Memorize Lines!

    · 9:58

    Why do some people remember things effortlessly while others repeat information over and over and still forget it? In this episode, Michael looks at what research on actors reveals about how memory really works.…

  14. Latest Research: Anthropomorphism and Dementia

    · 18 min

    In this episode of The Psych Files, I explore anthropomorphism—our tendency to attribute human characteristics to non-human entities—drawing from Justin Gregg's new book "Humanish." I discuss both helpful and harmful…

  15. The Surprising Psychology Behind Effortless Line Memorization

    · 10 min

    When I receive a new script, my first step surprises people. I create an audio recording of every scene I'm in – not just my lines, but everyone's lines. Using apps like LineLearner, I record each cue line followed by…

  16. Why Are We So Polite to AI?

    · 11 min

    When we say "please" or "thank you" to ChatGPT, we're witnessing the remarkable power of human social psychology in action. Our brains have developed such deeply ingrained social scripts over millions of years that…

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

    · 12 min

    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…

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

    · 4:54

    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…

  19. Lost in the Click: Exploring the Browser Doorway Effect

    · 3:05

    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…

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

    · 3:42

    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…

  21. Paralyzed by Fear: Exploring Tonic Immobility in Sexual Assault

    · 10 min

    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…

  22. Cloning Voices: Scary Maybe, But Also Therapeutic?

    · 12 min

    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…

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

    · 44 min

    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…

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

    · 4:18

    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…

  25. From Insane Asylum to Psychiatric Center: A Brief History

    · 32 min

    When we look back at the history of psychiatric care, it's evident that practices and treatments have evolved tremendously over the years. Dr. Roger Christenfeld, the Research Director of the Hudson River Psychiatric…

  26. Episode 104: Can Positive Affirmations Improve Your Self Esteem?

    · 21 min

    Can positive affirmations help raise your self esteem? People use daily affirmations and money affirmations to help them feel more confident, build their self esteem and bring positive events into their lives. But do…

  27. Episode 64: Self Help Book - How To Tell if It's Any Good

    · 31 min

    Self Help books: why are there so many out there? How do you choose? Can they cure depression? Help you lose weight? Stop smoking? Can they replace psychotherapy? Find out how to weed out the best self-help book from…

  28. How to Remember Names

    · 18 min

    It's hard to remember names - here's how to do it. You'll use your imagination and some weird imagery - but this works. Here's another great use of mnemonics. I'll give you a bunch of people's names and describe the…

  29. Part 2: How Do Actors Memorize All Those Lines?

    · 31 min

    Here is part 2 of my interview with author and actor Jared Kelner. In this episode he tells how he uses the DSM (Diagnotic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in his work as an actor. We also talk a little more…

  30. How Do Actors Memorize Lines? Interview With Jared Kelner

    · 33 min

    You have no doubt asked yourself this question after watching a play: "How did those actors memorize all those lines?". In previous episodes of The Psych Files I have discussed a few of the techniques actors use to do…

  31. Do Brain Training Games Work?

    · 14 min

    You've probably heard about these Brain Training games. Do they really help you keep your mind sharp? Will they prevent cognitive decline as you get older or will they slow the effects of Alzheimer's disease? In this…

  32. How Actors Use the "Number-Shape" Mnemonic Technique

    · 4:50

    Another of my episodes on mnemonic techniques you can use for just about any purpose. I recently discovered a pegword system in a great book called, "Line?". It's a book for actors that was written by a memory expert…

  33. Questionable Research - With A Famous Psychologist Involved

    · 34 min

    Might you be able to rid yourself of an illness by "turning back the clock"? That is, by immersing yourself in a time in your life when you were not ill? We know that thinking about things in a positive way - which we…

  34. Actors Use Keywords to Memorize Lines

    · 4:36

    I explain how the keyword mnemonic technique can help actors memorize their lines. It's an effective and fun strategy you can use in the beginning when you're first learning lines, or during performance if something…

  35. Human Emotions: The Two Factor Theory

    · 16 min

    Where do our emotions come from? From our thoughts? Or do they begin somewhere else – like in our bodies? This week we look at the work of James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, and Schachter and Singer. Also, I review two classic…

  36. Games and Videos as Therapeutic Tools: Dr. Anna Vagin (part 2)

    · 28 min

    In part 2 of my interview with Dr. Anna Vagin, she talks about some of the videos she uses to help kids and teens better understand the emotions and challenges of characters in the videos and how those characters dealt…

  37. Using TableTop Games and Videos in Therapy: Interview with Anna Vagin

    · 20 min

    In part 1 of my interview with Anna Vagin, Ph.D. we talk about how she uses games and videos as part of her work with children and adolescents. I think you'll be surprised how Dr. Vagin uses short videos she finds on…

  38. How Psychology Gets You To Slow Down While Driving

    · 13 min

    How can we use a little psychology to get you to slow down when you're driving? You'd be surprised. Very often road signs like "Slow" or a posted speed limit of, say 20 mph does not work. Drivers go past these signs…

  39. The TV Show Luther, Logical Thinking and Crinkly Plates to Lose Weight

    · 22 min

    Here's a new piece of weight-loss advice: eat on a crinkly plate! Um…sounds weird. It is kinda, but we'll explore why this might be a good bit of advice. We'll also take a minute and a half sound byte from the TV show…

  40. The Psychology of Tipping

    · 28 min

    How can waiters increase their tips? Would you believe psychologists have devoted a great deal of research to this question? We've looked at the effect of smiley faces, touching, crouching, telling jokes, giving…

  41. How Smart Do You Want Your Fitness Tracker to Be?

    · 30 min

    Fitness tracking devices are getting smarter. They're going to have to get a lot smarter if they are going to be powerful tools in your quest to be fit. But how much more "smart" do we really want them to get? Today…

  42. How to Prevent Violence in Your Neighborhood

    · 11 min

    Passengers on an airplane spring to action when a stewardess needs help – but a neighborhood in New York City does very little when a woman is attacked. What's different ? How can we take what we learn from the…

  43. Adele Faber Interview on Parenting (Part 2)

    · 36 min

    In part 2 of my interview with Adele Faber, co-author along with Elaine Mazlish of "How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk" we talk about what do do when you've got nothing left emotionally to…

  44. Adele Faber Interview on Parenting (Part 1)

    · 26 min

    Are you familiar with Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish's classic book "How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk"? You should be. It's not just for parents. The ideas in this book and in their other…

  45. Racial Divide: Why Does It Happen? How We Can Fix It

    · 30 min

    Why does conflict emerge as it did in Baltimore among the police and the African-American community? Is it caused by poor parenting? Poverty? Joblessness? I provide a psychological perspective on the situation. I look…

  46. What is Music Therapy?

    · 38 min

    Interested in Music Therapy? Music therapy, which is 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…

  47. What Can We Do To End Anti-Gay Bullying in Schools?

    · 32 min

    What can we do to end bullying against gays? There is a shocking increase in the number of young homosexuals who are commit suicide. Many anti-bullying programs don't work and in this episode I talk to Dr. Elizabeth J.…

  48. How To Create a Human-Like Voice

    · 20 min

    Have you used Siri, Hey Google, or Alexa? These voice-enabled digital assistants are pretty cool and getting smarter, but why do some of them sound more like a "person" than others? What is it about your voice that…

  49. Want to Swap Bodies?

    · 22 min

    What if you could swap bodies with someone else? What would it be like to be someone of the opposite sex? A different race? We're getting darn close to being able to do that with new techniques like the Rubber Hand…

  50. Manhood: Are You A "Real Man"?

    · 23 min

    Why does it seem that males in many cultures have to prove their manhood? Do women have to prove their womanhood? Why is this and what happens when men feel like they are less than a man? In this review of a recent…

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