TED Talks Daily Are your coping mechanisms healthy? | Andrew Miki
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Aug 13, 2024 
Clinical psychologist Andrew Miki, who studies animal cognition and neuroscience, dives into the impact of coping mechanisms on mental health. He discusses how seemingly harmless habits like procrastination and scrolling social media can escalate anxiety and deplete energy. Miki emphasizes the importance of breaking these cycles to build self-confidence and resilience. Using parallels between human behaviors and animal learning, he encourages listeners to reflect on their mental habits and adopt healthier strategies for well-being.
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Pigeon Counting
- Andrew Miki trained pigeons to count by associating pecks on colored squares with light flashes.
- This demonstrates how learned behaviors, even complex ones, become ingrained habits through repetition.
Learned Coping Mechanisms
- Our brains, like the pigeons', reinforce coping mechanisms that offer temporary relief.
- Repeating these mechanisms without analyzing their long-term effects can lead to negative outcomes.
Natalia's Smartphone
- Miki used his knowledge of psychology to shape his daughter's musical taste and discourage smartphone use.
- He believed excessive smartphone use could negatively impact her self-confidence and mental health.