Speaking of Psychology

Psychologist Daniel Wann discusses the psychology of sports fans, highlighting the mental health benefits of fandom, team selection, fair-weather fans vs. underdog supporters, changing fandom among younger generations, and the potential influence of supportive crowds on game outcomes.

Rachel Wu, a researcher at the University of California Riverside, discusses the importance of lifelong learning for cognitive health, how adults can learn like kids, the role of feedback and failure in learning, and the types of learning opportunities to seek out.

Louis Schlesinger, a psychology professor, discusses the motivations and methods of serial killers, the complexities of defining serial sexual murder, the emotions of remorse and false confessions among killers, the disconnect between violent fantasies and actions, the role of DNA evidence in solving crimes, and women's fascination with serial killers.

Dr. Lucy Blake, author of “No Family is Perfect,” discusses the complexities of family estrangement, including its causes, societal stigma, and ways to find support. She explores the impact of therapy, differences between parent-child and sibling estrangements, challenges of reconnecting, and navigating grief in estranged relationships.

Clinical psychologist and kids’ friendship expert, Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, discusses kids' evolving friendships, handling mean behavior, supporting shy children, and navigating friendship dynamics during COVID. She emphasizes the importance of empathy, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence in helping children build positive relationships.

Exploring generational diversity in the workplace, debunking stereotypes and emphasizing the strengths of age diversity. Contrasting perspectives on work ethic and respect between baby boomers and millennials. Navigating feedback dynamics to bridge the generational gap, especially with Gen Z employees. Impact of Gen Z on remote work culture and work-life balance.

Discover how expressive writing can enhance mental health as Dr. Pennebaker discusses its therapeutic origins. Explore gender differences in language use and how social media analysis can reflect psychological insights. Learn about emotional impacts of significant life events and how politicians' word use reveals personality traits.

Discover how music, memory, and emotion are intricately connected as Elizabeth Margulis, PhD, explores the reasons behind our strong attachment to music from our teen years, the universality of music perception, the intrigue of repetition in music, the mystery of earworms, and the therapeutic power of music.

Explore new research on cats' cognitive and social abilities, debunking the myth of cats as standoffish pets. Learn about the emotional bonds between cats and humans, ways to enrich your cat's life, and how to prevent them from scratching your furniture. Discover the surprising social cognitive skills of cats compared to dogs and the different methods of cat training and behavior insights.

Jenny Roe, PhD, from the University of Virginia discusses designing cities for better mental health by incorporating nature, community spaces, and equity in urban planning. Topics include restorative cities, impact of city design on social interactions, environmental influences on mental health, creating restorative cities in lower socioeconomic countries, and research focus on cities for mental health improvement.