Roy Baumeister, a leading psychologist renowned for his work on willpower and self-control, dives into the unique psychological challenges men face. He discusses societal pressures affecting male self-esteem and the risk-taking behaviors that differ from women. The conversation explores the importance of social connections and the impact of isolation on mental health. Baumeister also touches on 'ego depletion' and how unhealthy coping mechanisms can be replaced to cultivate resilience, urging a focus on meaningful achievements to build true self-esteem.

Roy Baumeister, a social psychologist and expert on sexual interactions, reveals captivating insights into the complexities of female sexuality. He explores why women's sexual drives differ from other species, how they often shape male behavior, and the reasons behind shifting sexual desires in relationships. Delving into the evolutionary dimensions, he discusses the paradox of male sexual attraction and the intriguing concept of 'post-nut clarity.' Baumeister's research highlights the cultural implications that affect sexual satisfaction and behavior in modern society.

Roy Baumeister, a renowned psychologist, dives into the complexities of free will and self-control. He discusses how our beliefs about free will profoundly shape our behaviors and emotional health. The conversation explores the importance of self-regulation and how willpower can be strengthened through practice. Baumeister shares insights on the psychological impact of social rejection and the nuances of human relationships, revealing surprising links between self-discipline and social dynamics.

Dr. Roy Baumeister is widely considered to be one of the most influential and cited psychologists of our time. He's also a wonderful conversationalist, full of interesting research to share with our listeners! In this first half of our two part series with Roy, we learn about how he came to study the diverse array of fascinating topics that have characterized his career. We discuss how people determine their identity, the effects of self-esteem on behavior, and how people find a sense of meaning in life. There's a palpable sense of excitement in this episode as these two experts really "nerd out" about some of the biggest questions of the human condition. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! To learn more about Dr. Roy Baumeister, visit roybaumeister.com Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roy Baumeister brings the methods of social psychology to bear on some of life’s deepest philosophical problems. In the second part of this two part series (see Part I), we cover the psychology of self-control, evil, sex differences, and free will. In addition to Roy responding to the critics of his “ego-depletion” model of self-control, he also offers some practical strategies to improve willpower for goal attainment, looking at how successful people set up habits that deplete less energy. We also speak to him about the four root causes of violence, looking at research on why perpetrators commit atrocities, and we discuss his controversial research on sex differences and some of the ways that society uses men and women differently. Lastly, we discuss whether humans are special in a way that makes us exempt from the natural laws of causality. We’re appreciative of having had the opportunity to speak with Roy and regardless of whether you agree or disagree with his views (we encourage diverse perspectives on the show), we hope these two episodes (this week’s and last week’s) offer a great deal of value to our listeners. Enjoy the show and visit thegreatcoursesplus.com/psych to get your free trial and access to over 8,000 free online lectures. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.