Everything's Psychology

In this shorter episode, I discuss my interview with David Cohen on the psychology of vampires and delve a little deeper into the groups of people who identify themselves as real-life vampires or drink blood.– – –The Psychology of Vampires by David Cohen (Routledge Publishing)Psychologists on Psychology by David CohenLaycock, J. (2010) Real Vampires as an Identity Group: Analyzing Causes and Effects of an Introspective Survey by the Vampire Community https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2010.14.1.4Kendegar, A. (2021). From the urge to see one’s own blood to the urge to drink it: Can hemomania be specified as an impulse control disorder? Two case reports. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2021.1897200Send us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

Why are we so obsessed with vampires?In this episode, I'm joined by psychologist and author David Cohen. We chat about his book The Psychology of Vampires (Routledge, 2019) and David unpacks what vampires really represent in the human mind—from repressed desires and forbidden sexuality to our deepest fears about death, power, and emotional dependency.We delve into how Freud, Jung, and modern psychological theories help explain the vampire’s grip on our imagination—and why this mythical figure has evolved from a terrifying predator to a tortured, seductive anti-hero in today’s pop culture.You can order a copy of the Psychology of Vampires directly from RoutledgeFind out more about David's books and films hereAnd you can contact David on dcpsychologynews@gmail.comSend us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

If you haven't listened to the previous interview episode with Dr Janina Scarlet on the idea of Superhero Therapy then instead get the cheat sheet with all the best bits here. Also, I extrapolate from Superhero Therapy to Bandura's Bobo doll experiments from the 1960s, behavioural noise from Daniel Kahneman, and I also share a couple of super resources for you to dive into.ResourcesSuperhero Therapy for Anxiety and Trauma by Dr Janina Scarlet: https://amzn.eu/d/1SX8xbvBandura's Bobo Doll Experiment: https://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.htmlNoise by Daniel Kahneman: https://amzn.eu/d/jjm6eorOur Superheroes, Ourselves by Robin Rosenberg: https://amzn.eu/d/d4SVYXUOxford Risk study (2021) into decision noise for financial advice: https://www.oxfordrisk.com/blog-posts/adviser-noise-in-retirement-income-adviceHero Cards: www.loveherocards.comSend us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

In this episode, discover the innovative concept of superhero therapy with Dr. Janina Scarlett. Her work with military personnel, adults, and children integrates pop culture heroes into evidence-based therapy to help individuals cope with anxiety, trauma, and other mental health challenges.Links from the episodeDr Janina Scarlet's website: https://www.superhero-therapy.com/The Superhero Therapy podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NLrbC0hDBF4TPZe5t8G4aDr Scarlet's online courses on Pesi.com Paper on the effectiveness of Avatar Therapy in people with psychosisSend us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

This is the first of shorter episodes to sit in-between the main interview episodes. It means you'll now get an Everything's Psychology episode every week.Here, I dig a little deeper into the psychology behind the Hero's Journey and share a couple of academic studies which reveal the power of storytelling.– – –Here's some links which I mention:Christopher Vogler's 7-page memo on the relevance of the hero's journey in screenwriting: https://livingspirit.typepad.com/files/chris-vogler-memo-1.pdfEgan, L.C., Santos, L.R. and Bloom, P. (2007) ‘The Origins of Cognitive Dissonance’, Psychological Science, 18(11), pp. 978–983.Kirkpatrick, L. A., & Epstein, S. (1992). Cognitive-experiential self-theory and subjective probability: Further evidence for two conceptual systems. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(4), 534–544. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.63.4.534McAdams, D.P. (2001) ‘The Psychology of Life Stories’, Review of General Psychology, 5(2), pp. 100–122. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.5.2.100.McAdams, D.P. (2019) ‘“First we invented stories, then they changed us”: The Evolution of Narrative Identity’, Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture, 3(1), pp. 1–18. Available at: https://doi.org/10.26613/esic.3.1.110.Send us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

Eliane Glaser, a writer and radio producer known for her insights into culture and modern life, dives into the fascinating structure of the Hero's Journey. She discusses why stories of transformation resonate with us, linking heroic narratives to deep psychological drivers and cultural escapism. Glaser critiques the repetition of this storytelling formula, suggesting it reflects a desire for stability amid chaos. They explore how modern narratives can reinforce or subvert traditional arcs, encouraging a rethink of the stories we live by.

Dr. Paul Sacher, an AI and behavioral scientist from Imperial College London, dives into the fascinating interplay between AI and psychology. He discusses why people fear AI and the misconceptions surrounding its capabilities as a tool. From how AI aids in healthcare to its role in supporting socially anxious individuals, he shares insights on patient reactions to AI health assistants. Sacher also explores the balance between AI benefits and misuse, while highlighting AI's potential to foster sustained behavior change in health care.

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 us through the intricate world of habits, exploring their definitions, the distinction between habits and routines, and the psychological mechanisms behind habitual behaviour. Professor Gardner shares insights from his extensive research, highlighting the importance of instigation habits that trigger actions and the role of willpower in habit formation and the need for a nuanced understanding of habits to effectively implement behaviour change in daily life. Find out more about Ben's work at: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/benjamin-gardnerSend us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology

In this engaging discussion, Claude Béata, an animal behavioralist and author of 'The Interpretation of Cats and Their Owners,' delves into the fascinating dual role of cats as both predator and prey. He emphasizes the significance of positive reinforcement in understanding their behavior. Key topics include the emotional landscape of cats, litter box preferences, the indoor vs outdoor debate, and the impact of breeding practices on health. Béata also highlights the challenges and joys of adopting rescue cats, making it a must-listen for any cat enthusiast!

What is vulnerability and how does it affect people differently? How should consumer organisations, such as banks be catering for people with characteristics of vulnerability?I chat with Dr Chris Fitch from the Money Advice Trust about the impact of being vulnerable and some of the innovative ways organisations are changing to be inclusive and accessible.Find out more about the Money Advice Trust hereListen to Chris's podcast ‘Vulnerability Matters’ on Soundcloud or search for Vulnerability Matters wherever you listen to your podcasts.Send us a textYou can watch the video of this episode on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingsPsychology