Two Psychologists Four Beers

Arguably, the last 25 years of moral psychology have been about people's judgments of "purity violations"--ostensibly harmless acts that "are disgusting or degrading to one’s spiritual nature." From sex with (dead) chickens to pet-eating to baby Jesus buttplugs, moral psychologists have been fascinated by purity transgressions. Moral psychologist and purity expert David Pizarro joins the show to talk about the concept of purity and recent critiques arguing that it's a concept too broad to be useful. Along the way, we also discuss how often to shower, getting into bed in your outside clothes, and ritualistically washing your dad's feet.Special Guest: David Pizarro.Links:How disgust affects social judgments - ScienceDirectThe Problem of Purity in Moral Psychology - Kurt Gray, Nicholas DiMaggio, Chelsea Schein, Frank Kachanoff, 2023Two Psychologists Four Beers Episode 90: Freelance Kinkology (with Aella)Very Bad Wizards podcast

On-again off-again co-host Mickey Inzlicht joins the show to debrief about the recent SPSP (Society for Personality and Social Psychology) conference. We then dissect a new paper purporting to show working memory deficits in heavy cannabis users, including a deep dive into the preregistration. Finally, we discuss a recent Op-Ed in the Guardian that argues that research on AI empathy is fatally flawed.Links:Brain Function Outcomes of Recent and Lifetime Cannabis Use | Child Development | JAMA Network Open | JAMA NetworkOSF Registries | Verbal Memory and Language Processing in Young Adults who Use Cannabis: An Analysis of the Human Connectome ProjectAI is ‘beating’ humans at empathy and creativity. But these games are rigged | MJ Crockett | The GuardianTunde Adebimpe - Magnetic (Official Video) - YouTube

Moin Syed, a cultural and developmental psychologist and McKnight Presidential Endowed Professor at the University of Minnesota, dives into the intersection of ideology and scientific research. He discusses how ideological biases can shape psychology, advocating for transparency and reflexivity in research. Moin debunks myths about preregistration, emphasizing its value for creativity rather than stifling it. The conversation balances serious topics with local beer culture, weaving humor throughout while addressing the ongoing challenges in academia.

Occasional co-host Mickey Inzlicht joins the show to talk about the 2024 election, Bluesky, and his crusade against yard signs. We discuss prediction markets, Democratic declines with non-college voters, and whether Bluesky is a political bubble (and if so, if there's anything wrong with that). Also, Mickey explains his problem with yard signs and defends his beer snobbery.Links:How the Trump Polymarket Whale Correctly Called the Election, and Made Nearly $50 Million - WSJYard Wars - by Michael Inzlicht - Speak Now Regret LaterMelenas - Bang (Official Video) - YouTube

Paul Bloom, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto and a Yale emeritus, makes waves with his bold assertion that much of developmental psychology is not worth pursuing. He delves into where psychology excels and critiques the progressive biases in social science. The conversation also navigates the tricky waters of warning friends about toxic relationships, loss aversion, and the importance of skepticism in research. Bloom's wit and sharp insights keep it engaging while tackling serious issues in the field.

Researcher and writer Adam Mastroianni joins the podcast to talk about why he left academia, what conventional scientific research might be missing, and how he ended up writing a succesful science blog instead of more journal articles. Plus: what is a Science House? How do we know that psychology is making progress? And should scientific fraud be a crime?Special Guest: Adam Mastroianni.Links:Experimental History | Adam Mastroianni | SubstackPsyArXiv Preprints | Things could be betterThe first transmissions from Science HouseGood ideas don't need bayonets - by Adam MastroianniIs psychology going to Cincinnati? - by Adam MastroianniThe Order of Death - YouTube

Amori Mikami, an ADHD expert and professor at the University of British Columbia, dives into the complex world of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The conversation explores how perceptions of ADHD have evolved, highlighting the impact on childhood social experiences and education. Mikami discusses misconceptions shaped by social media, emphasizing the need for personalized understanding and approaches. The dialogue also covers the stigma surrounding ADHD medication and the importance of comprehensive diagnostics, making the topic accessible and engaging.

Mickey joins Yoel for the first new episode in nearly a year. We talk what's been up with the show, plans for the future, and what it feels like to briefly be (almost) internet-famous. In the second half of the show, we talk about expertise and prediction. When social scientists make predictions about the future, should we listen? How much should failures of prediction make us distrust expert advice more generally, and if so, how skeptical should we be?Links:D.E.I. Statements Spark Debate at UCalifornia and Other Universities - The New York TimesAmericans harbor much less favorable explicit sentiments toward young adults than toward older adults | PNASOn the accuracy, media representation, and public perception of psychological scientists' judgments of societal change - PubMedWhen expert predictions fail - ScienceDirectAmyl and The Sniffers - "U Should Not Be Doing That" (Official Music Video) - YouTube

Andrew Devendorf, clinical psychologist specializing in mental health research, discusses the prevalence of mental health difficulties within the field and the harmful taboos against speaking openly about them. The conversation explores common misconceptions about mental illness, strengths of self-relevant research, and ways to be more supportive to those facing mental health challenges.

Playing devil's advocate, Yoel and Mickey mount a criticism against the scientific study of mindfulness. What is mindfulness? Can we measure it? Is mindfulness-based therapy effective? Can mindfulness improve the quality of attention beyond the meditation cushion? Are effects of mindfulness mostly placebo effects produced by motivated practitioners and adherents? Should we be impressed by mindfulness meditation’s supposed effects on conceptions of the self? Is mindfulness, in all its complexity, amenable to scientific study? Bonus: Is the value of diversity and inclusivity a core part of open science? This is a re-release of an episode first released on August 7, 2019.Links:Burdock BreweryLunch Money | Collective Arts BrewingPsyArXiv Preprints | Will this time be different?Opinion | Can We End the Meditation Madness? - The New York TimesThe benefits of being present: mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being - PubMedMind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation - PubMedArgentine tango dance compared to mindfulness meditation and a waiting-list control: a randomised trial for treating depression - PubMedMeditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | Complementary and Alternative Medicine | JAMA Internal Medicine | JAMA NetworkMindfulness training affects attention--or is it attentional effort? - PubMedMeditation, mindfulness and executive control: the importance of emotional acceptance and brain-based performance monitoring - PubMedCognitive effects of MBSR/MBCT: A systematic review of neuropsychological outcomes - PubMedMindfulness training as cognitive training in high-demand cohorts: An initial study in elite military servicemembers - PubMedA randomised active-controlled trial to examine the effects of an online mindfulness intervention on executive control, critical thinking and key thinking dispositions in a university student sample | BMC Psychology | Full Text