Find out something new about psychology while you sip your morning coffee. If you like the show, tell a friend, post an episode to social media, or consider supporting us at www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
Finding meaning and satisfaction as we age
Here's the insight that may help us find meaning and fulfillment as we get older. If you love the show, get your copy of the 'Psychology in 10 Minutes' Book! http://book.psychologyin10minutes.com
11/27/2023 • 9 minutes, 29 seconds
How music alters our moods and perceptions
There's no question that music can alter our mood. But new research is showing it might do much more.
10/17/2023 • 6 minutes, 23 seconds
Surprising Psychology Facts: Motivation Edition
Research shows that some surprisingly simple motivation hacks can also be surprisingly effective. Here are three insights from motivation science that might surprise you. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming a patron! patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
10/3/2023 • 10 minutes, 22 seconds
Emotional and physical pain are more similar than you think
Imagine if, someday, you could take a pill that would help with loneliness as readily as Tylenol helps with a headache. If you like the show, buy me a coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/psychologyin10minutes
9/19/2023 • 7 minutes, 15 seconds
Why human memory is far from perfect
I came to believe my own lie. Here's how, and what it tells us about human memory. If you like the show, buy me a coffee (or two!) at https://buymeacoffee.com/psychologyin10minutes
9/5/2023 • 9 minutes, 47 seconds
The psychology of travel: Part 2
Why travel--especially when it involves experiences within cultures different from our own--can help us be more creative and flexible in our thinking.
8/22/2023 • 7 minutes, 52 seconds
The psychology of travel: Part 1
Here's why experiences--like travel--generally boost our happiness more than material objects, like the latest gadget or fancy pair of shoes.
8/10/2023 • 9 minutes, 3 seconds
What is forgiveness?
You've probably heard the saying "forgiveness is a virtue." Is it really? And, what exactly is forgiveness, anyway? - If you enjoy this episode, please consider becoming a patron of the show! patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
4/28/2023 • 9 minutes, 30 seconds
Why it’s hard to make decisions
Freedom of choice is a great thing. But, it's also easy to get overwhelmed by choices and psych ourselves out. Here's what psychologists know about why making decisions can be hard. - Consider becoming a patron of the show! patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
4/12/2023 • 11 minutes, 6 seconds
Loving someone with a terminal illness
When a loved one has a serious illness, it's hard to know how to provide emotional support. Here are four tips that may help. (Consider becoming a patron of the show: patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes)
3/30/2023 • 10 minutes, 15 seconds
Why do we procrastinate?
Though procrastination is a common and disruptive problem, some surprisingly simple solutions might help.
3/16/2023 • 9 minutes, 5 seconds
Can people ”manifest” positive outcomes?
Why #LuckyGirlSyndrome and other versions of "the power of positive thinking" may not be helpful for everyone.
3/9/2023 • 10 minutes, 30 seconds
Is artificial intelligence the future of psychotherapy?
How is artificial intelligence going to change psychotherapy? Let's find out what ChatGPT thinks. If you enjoy the show, consider becoming a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
3/2/2023 • 10 minutes, 4 seconds
Why nostalgia is on the rise
People are once again snapping Polaroids, adopting Tamagotchis, and revisiting TV shows of yesteryear. Here's what's good about it, what's not, and why. If you enjoy the show, consider becoming a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
2/23/2023 • 8 minutes, 49 seconds
Why do friends make us happy?
We're wired for relationships. But, what exactly is it about our relationships that makes us happy? The answers may be simpler than you think. If you enjoy the show, consider becoming a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
2/16/2023 • 6 minutes, 58 seconds
What if everything you believed about love was wrong?
According to new research, love may be a more expansive experience than you think. If you enjoy the show, consider becoming a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
2/9/2023 • 5 minutes, 40 seconds
Does life get more or less meaningful as we age?
Who do you think perceives their lives as more meaningful: new high school graduates or people about ready to retire? The answer may surprise you... If you enjoy the show, become a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
7/22/2021 • 5 minutes, 36 seconds
Three things people say that annoy psychologists
I often dread telling people I'm a psychologist. Here's why... If you enjoy the show, become a patron! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
7/6/2021 • 10 minutes, 20 seconds
How marketing unconsciously manipulates us
The forces behind impulse purchases are often hidden. Here's how we can help get control of them. If you like the show, you can now support us! www.patreon.com/psychologyin10minutes
6/24/2021 • 6 minutes, 34 seconds
The power of gratitude
The practice of gratitude may help us to overcome our natural human tendency to focus on the negative. Here's why.
6/7/2021 • 8 minutes, 42 seconds
Mindfulness and self-compassion for a difficult year
We're all hard on ourselves. But, according to new research, it's possible to "rewire" our brains for greater self-compassion.
5/17/2021 • 9 minutes, 43 seconds
Two reasons it’s not good to be happy all the time
Research shows that living a good life is about more than pleasure, and happiness may cause us to miss the most meaningful experiences of all.
7/2/2020 • 8 minutes, 15 seconds
The Power of Rituals to Heal Grief
Rituals are an important way for people to find meaning when they lose a loved one. But, rituals don't have to be formal or complicated. Here are four questions to help you develop a personal healing ritual.
6/1/2020 • 9 minutes, 18 seconds
Building emotional intelligence isn’t as hard as you think
It can feel risky to get in touch with our feelings, let alone express them. But one psychologist argues that getting to know our feelings can be one of the best things we ever do.
3/8/2020 • 11 minutes, 55 seconds
Is optimism ever bad for us?
As children, many of us were taught to think positively. According to research, however, this isn't always good advice.
12/21/2019 • 6 minutes, 51 seconds
Is religion good or bad for us?
Research reveals three reasons religion and spirituality may be good for our well-being (and a few reasons they might not be).
10/8/2019 • 10 minutes, 42 seconds
Setting the conditions for hope to thrive in your life
According to research, hope begins when we set three simple conditions in our lives.
9/9/2019 • 10 minutes, 11 seconds
What do I say when someone is grieving?
If you’ve ever had a friend lose someone they love, you know how hard it is to figure out what to say. Here are four steps that might help.
8/2/2019 • 8 minutes, 56 seconds
Happiness for sale
Science shows that people's obsession with money runs deeper than you might think.
5/28/2019 • 10 minutes, 34 seconds
Three negative feelings that can sometimes be good
There may be a good reason that human beings evolved the ability to experience negative emotions: In measured amounts, they can protect us from harm and help us to be successful.
4/24/2019 • 10 minutes, 52 seconds
Is the secret to a good life to live like we’re dying?
The secret to a good life may be to live like we're dying. Here are five important lessons to help us do just that.
1/4/2019 • 10 minutes, 26 seconds
Is there an alternative to diagnosing mental illness?
For most of the history of modern psychology, therapists paid a lot more attention to people's deficits than their strengths. But this is changing. Now, some psychologists believe that therapists should pay more attention to clients' strengths.
8/23/2018 • 7 minutes, 23 seconds
Why incompetent people don’t know they’re incompetent
According to research, the least competent people often think they’re the best, leading to a cycle of poor performance. But there’s a simple antidote.
7/18/2018 • 7 minutes, 31 seconds
The paradoxical secret to finding meaning in life
The great psychiatrist Viktor Frankl actually warned against searching for meaning in life, because not searching for meaning may be the best way to find it.
6/3/2018 • 6 minutes, 11 seconds
Why do people blame the victim?
Even with the rise of the #MeToo movement, victim-blaming remains a tenacious problem. Could the tendency to blame the victim be programmed into the human mind at the most basic level? And how can we undo it?
4/27/2018 • 11 minutes, 17 seconds
Do dreams really mean anything?
To understand dreams, we must interpret them, as if they were written in secret code. But, what if there's no code, and we've been reading into a bunch of meaningless images?
2/7/2018 • 9 minutes, 56 seconds
The Psychology of Star Wars: The Dark Side Edition
Star Wars makes lots of assertions about our darker emotions. But are they accurate?
1/22/2018 • 11 minutes, 59 seconds
Why daydreaming is good for us
Though many of us were told by our grade-school teachers to get our heads out of clouds, recent research shows that this may not have been good advice. Certain kinds of daydreaming may actually help us be more successful in life.
1/3/2018 • 7 minutes, 25 seconds
How do I know if a therapist is right for me?
Although search engines make finding therapists simpler than ever, it's easy to suffer from information overload. Five questions can help you cut through the confusion.
11/15/2017 • 9 minutes, 55 seconds
Is psychology a real science?
Some people say psychology isn't a science. Are they right?
10/8/2017 • 7 minutes, 29 seconds
Why giving up can sometimes be good
As children, many of us were told, "Never give up." But new research shows that giving up on a dream can sometimes be the healthiest option.
9/29/2017 • 8 minutes, 35 seconds
Does what doesn’t kill us really make us stronger?
When tragedies happen, it's easy to wonder if there's any meaning to suffering.
9/17/2017 • 5 minutes, 55 seconds
Does the unconscious really exist?
Some psychologists think the unconscious mind is pure fiction.
7/25/2017 • 10 minutes, 23 seconds
Why the stages of grief are wrong
It's not true that grief proceeds in five stages. So what is true?
7/10/2017 • 10 minutes, 40 seconds
Are psychologists just rent-a-friends?
A lot of people doubt that therapy works. Are they right?
7/6/2017 • 7 minutes, 52 seconds
Why do people believe things that aren’t true?
In the face of our "post-truth" era of politics, it's hard to know what to believe. According to psychology research, whether we know it or not, most of us harbor false beliefs. Do you?
6/11/2017 • 8 minutes, 17 seconds
Is mental illness real?
Are mental illnesses real in the same way that HIV, cancer, or the flu are? Some psychologists say no.