Two Psychologists Four Beers

Yoel is joined by a mysterious pseudonymous duo called Slime Mold Time Mold, who are proposing a new paradigm for psychology based on principles from cybernetics. This means thinking of the behavior as the result of "governors" (think drives) that are trying to reduce the distance between a set point and the state of the world by motivating you to do stuff. So when you are thirsty, you are highly motivated to drink, and when you need to pee, you are highly motivated to find a toilet. Those are simple examples, but can we use the same principles to explain more complex phenomena like emotion, motivation, personality, mental illness, and more? That is what my guests on this episode are proposing.Special Guest: Slime Mold Time Mold.Sponsored By:Statistical Horizons: Use the promo code for 20% off any seminar today! Promo Code: BEERSLinks:Angel's Envy Bourbons - Kentucky BourbonsSLIME MOLD TIME MOLD – Mad Science BloggingThe Mind in the WheelReview of B. F. Skinner’s Verbal BehaviorA Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again - WikipediaI Palindrome I - YouTube

Returning guest Spencer Greenberg joins the show to talk replications, what psychologist think of terror management theory (and other controversial topics), and a machine-learning tool he developed to predict correlations between psychological traits and survey questions. In this episode, we talk about what Spencer has learned by replicating studies from recent publications in psychology, the decline of p-hacking, and what other threats to validity psychologists should be worried about.Special Guest: Spencer Greenberg.Sponsored By:Statistical Horizons: Use the promo code for 20% off any seminar today! Promo Code: BEERSLinks:Transparent ReplicationsPersonalityMap | Explore 1 million human correlations spanning personality, demographics, behaviors, psychology, and beliefsAI can outperform humans in predicting correlations between personality items | Communications PsychologyWhat do we know for sure about human psychology? (with Simine Vazire) | Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg — the podcast about ideas that matterCareer science, open science, and inspired science (with Alexa Tullett) | Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg — the podcast about ideas that matterBroncho - "Get Gone" (Official Video) - YouTube

It's been a tumultuous time for DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) efforts in higher education. Whether due to political pressure, internal arguments, or both, many prominent institutions are revamping their DEI offices (or even eliminating them altogether) and rethinking DEI policies that once seemed unquestionable. Amori Mikami from the University of British Columbia re-joins the show to talk about the changes and what she thinks universities ought to be doing (as well as what she thinks we can do better). Along the way, Yoel and Amori talk about the use of race and gender in hiring, diversity statements, October 7 and the Gaza war, and institutional neutrality (in short, this episode touches every third rail imaginable). There's some debate and some agreement, but most importantly we both finish our beers.Special Guest: Amori Mikami.Links:Amori Mikami - UBC Department of Psychology — Associate Head, Equity, Diversity and InclusionThe rise of citational justice: how scholars are making references fairerLos Macuanos - Pasado y Presente ft. Lucrecia Dalt (Official Music Video) - YouTube

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.