Beat Your Genes Podcast

A recent study published in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology* attempts to tackle understanding the stress of decision making.  Nate G goes over the article and Dr. Lisle offers his take.  Can the stress of decision making be explained solely by the personality trait conscientiousness?   Dr. Lisle and Nate discuss.    The next topic stems from a listener's question:  "Can we choose who we want the most esteem from?  Is there a way I can care less about the esteem from some people? It is sometimes exhausting to try to please everyone."   *PDF of the JPSP article : http://blogs.cuit.columbia.edu/mayarossignacmilon/files/2018/08/Chen.Rossignac-Milon.Higgins.JPSP_.2018.pdf

In this episode, we review a new study in the science of happiness. The first, by Bruce Headey called, Happiness and Longevity: Unhappy People Die Young, Otherwise Happiness Probably Makes No Difference, explains what effect happiness has on our longetivity.  The first listener question is from a young man whose short love life has allowed him to feel the moods of happiness while in a relationship. Since the most recent breakup, he feels as though he has low self-esteem and is curious about whether this low self-esteem is due to his need to seek validation from others.   The next question is about evolutionary mismatch and whether happiness may come from correcting as many evolutionary mismatches as possible.   To finish out the show, we have a live caller asking about how to fine tune his diet & lifestyle and get over the proverbial "hump" after losing some motivation.

We start the show with a question about whether a higher extroversion individual would act more introverted due to status loss.  Then, we move on to a question about why & what to do when getting ignored or constantly interrupted in an academic setting.   Then we move on to a quesiton about whether we have natural, genetic discipline and ambition.  Dr. Lisle shares his opinion about a recent book, Blueprint by Robert Plomin.

Ben Franklin effect, Burying feelings, Bottling up emotions, Internet trolls

Does casual mating doom pair bond chances? Evo psych & spiritual experience, sibling rivalry

Being cheap, Loaning money, Alcoholic husband, Influencing others

On-air session with a lady who has questions about how to spot casual mating

Advice for an indecisive man, Advice for a teacher, Delusional friends

Is knitting a sexual display? Is sexual inexperience a turn off?

Finding a dream job, Drama at work, Helping parents find happiness