Everything's Psychology

The Psychology of Habits (Archive Episode)

Do habits really take 66 days to form? Should you rely on willpower? How does a psychologist approach overcoming their own bad habits and starting good ones?Professor Ben Gardner leads me through the intricate world of habits, exploring their definitions, the distinction between habits and routines, and the psychological mechanisms behind habitual behaviour. Find out more about Ben's work at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/benjamin-gardnerSend a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

The Psychology of Search Engines (Archive Episode)

Going back to the very first episode of Everything's Psychology, where I talk with Professor Robert Epstein about the psychological techniques Google employs in its search engine. Are you being manipulated by search engines?What is Google's policy on human manipulation?What can you do to protect yourself?Send a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

Bias: Present Bias

My final short story on behavioural biases. This week, the story focuses on the power of today over tomorrow by looking at present bias.Present bias describes our tendency to give greater weight to rewards available now, while undervaluing the costs those choices impose on our future. And, in this story, I try to take this idea to its extreme.I hope these little psychological stories have been enjoyable for you. I'm taking a little break now to organise and record more interviews. Coming up in Season Two of Everything's Psychology will be: The psychology of the menopause, the psychology of watches, and the psychology of dogs as well as many more.Over the next few weeks, I'll re-upload the most popular episodes from Season One and then be back in the spring with Season Two.Send a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

Bias: Revenge

Another short story involving a behavioural bias. This week, the bias is revenge.Maybe not considered by behavioural scientists as one of the core cohort of behavioural biases, revenge certainly fits the bill. It makes people act irrationally and often behave against their own self-interest.While I did write this week's story, it is a retelling of Roald Dahl's short story "William & Mary." I used Dahl's original story to practice my own writing, using the narrative of the original as scaffolding for my modern adaptation. If you have never read the original, I urge you to buy the book “Kiss Kiss” where this, and many other wonderfully imaginative stories, were originally published.Thanks for listening.Send a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

Sticking to New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year! Have you set yourself a resolution? If so, in this episode, I share how a behaviourist psychologist would approach sticking to them and sailing past Quitters Day on January 17th.The principles are taken from a book called Self-Help Without The Hype by Professor Robert Epstein. I was honoured to have written the foreword to the new edition last year, in which I reflect on how the world has changed since the book's original release in 1996, yet the general lessons within the book remain unchanged.The new edition is currently on offer for the new year.Grab a copy for your Kindle on Amazon.Amazon (UK): https://amzn.eu/d/flAlEYlAmazon (US): https://a.co/d/6naeckROr you can buy a printed version here: https://books.by/pauldaviesSend a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology