Everything's Psychology

Bias: Spaghetti Sauce

Something different for Christmas. I share a short story based on a behavioural bias.This week, the story is called Spaghetti Sauce and is about choice overload. Choice is a paradox. We convince ourselves that we want it, and certainly rebel when it’s taken away from us, but when we get too much of it, we regularly struggle to make a choice. This story follows a young girl in Atlanta as she struggles with the choices of daily life, with dire consequences.Spaghetti Sauce was written by me, Paul Davies, and forms part of a book I'm writing called ‘Bias: Twelve Tales of Influence’.Would I love your feedback? Hmm? If it's positive or constructive, then I think so. If you don't like it, that's of course fine, but please keep it to yourself and don't break the little writing confidence I have. More interview episodes will be coming in the New Year.Send us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

The Psychology of Time

In this episode of Everything’s Psychology, I sit down with Richard D. Gross, author of The Psychology of Time, to unpack how our minds construct the very thing we live inside of: time. From internal body clocks and ‘mind time’ to cultural attitudes and our awareness of mortality, we explore why time can race, crawl, or seem to stand still.You’ll learn why your brain is always half a second late, yet your experience still feels live and continuous.You’ll hear how extreme situations – from car crashes to psychedelic trips – can make seconds feel like minutes, and why the memory of an event, not the event itself, often stretches time.You’ll discover why age, culture, and even gender can reshape your sense of time – and what that means for how you plan and live your life.Grab a copy of The Psychology of Time here:From Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/The-Psychology-of-Time/Gross/p/book/9781032696195From Amazon (UK): https://amzn.eu/d/gwqdR92From Amazon (US): https://a.co/d/b3MSis7This episode is sponsored by At My Best: www.atmybest.comUse code Everything10 to get 10% off all At My Best tools.Send us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories

Was the moon landing mankind’s giant leap, or was it Hollywood's greatest special effect? Was the global vaccine rollout an elaborate scheme by Bill Gates to implant microchips in all of us? And do the condensation trails you see behind aeroplanes in the sky contain chemicals to keep the population docile?Let's be honest, a small part of us loves a good conspiracy theory. They’re exciting. They make the world feel a little less random. But why are these ideas so sticky? What makes us want to believe the unbelievable, and is there a fine line between enjoying a wild theory and falling down a rabbit hole of misinformation?With me to discuss the psychology of conspiracy theories is Professor Jan-Willem van Prooijen, who is Head of Social Psychology at Free University Amsterdam. The second edition of his book, The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories is out in December published by Routledge.LinksOrder The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories – https://www.routledge.com/The-Psychology-of-Conspiracy-Theories/vanProoijen/p/book/9781032868585Find out more about Professor Jan-Willem Van Prooijen – https://www.janwillemvanprooijen.com/Play the online fake news game – https://www.getbadnews.comSend us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

The Psychology of Sport

What makes a great athlete? Why do some sports professionals rise to the occasion, while others crumble under pressure? Do the lessons from sports transfer to other areas of our lives, such as business or parenting?With me to discuss the psychology of sport, is Dr Jim Taylor.Jim holds a PhD in Psychology, has written 18 books including The Complete Guide to Cycling Psychology and Train Your Mind for Athletic Success, and he is the co-founder of Mindto, a start-up developing an app that empowers athlete performance, well-being, and mental health.www.drjimtaylor.comwww.mindto.ioThe Complete Guide to Cycling Psychology (Amazon UK)Send us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

The Psychology of Podcasts

Why do people start a podcast? I chat with host of the Growth Mindset Psychology podcast, Sam Webster Harris, about his motivations for launching a podcast and why, after 500+ episodes, he's still doing it. We chat about the psychology of motivation, self-determination, signalling theory, and whether there's a hierarchy of influencers.Listen to the Growth Mindset Psychology website on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2rQ6Aug8EBudJMSBYTi8nM?si=5db3dfbf082943ccCatch Sam's new podcast, How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT?si=8a7d052ef9704634Send us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology