The Psych Files - Michael Britt

Latest Episodes:

Ep 216: Working Remotely - the Psychological Advantages and Disadvantages Mar 09, 2014

Show notes

The idea of working from home sounds great - but be aware of the downside. In this episode of The Psych Files I talk about what factors influence your job satisfaction and motivation when you work from home. I also discuss the interesting concept of "emotional labor" - what is it like when you know your boss is watching you and judging whether you are "acting happy" to customers? What's the cost to you of acting in a way that is contrary to how you actually feel?

Ep 215: What Was Life Like in an Asylum? Feb 19, 2014

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Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a patient in an "insane asylum"? "Asylums" changed names over the years (including "State Hospital" and "Psychiatric Center") and so did the treatment of the mentally ill. Hear from Dr. Jennifer Bazar how we went from chaining people up to hydrotherapy to sexual surgery and finally to what is called "moral treatment". A fascinating walk down the history of psychology with an engaging psychology historian.

Ep 214: Your Adolescence is Giving Me A Mid-Life Crisis Feb 03, 2014

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We all know that adolescence is a time of change and often a tough time for the teen. But what about the parent? Today's parents are often older than years ago, and today's parents are sometimes going through their own self-examination, their own doubts, their own exploration. What happens when you bring those two together? Sometimes a lot of yelling frankly. In this episode I talk about the changes going on in the adolescent and in the older parent and how parents can avoid the yelling and the accusations that only undermine what the teen is going through and how parents can step back and examine themselves. A little understanding can go a long way.

Ep 213: Leveraging Our Natural Curiosity for Learning and Blog Clicks Jan 16, 2014

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We don't have to pay you to get you to do things - you're already a curious person. How does our attraction to puzzles, questions, and unsolved mysteries get used to get us to click on videos or blog posts? And how can it be used to get students to want to learn? You'll find out that there are ways to get students excited about learning without having to pay them and there are ways to attract people to your content by tapping into their curiosity. Just don't overuse it (watch out UpWorthy) and don't fail to deliver! Hopefully this episode will deliver on introducing you to some new ideas to help you motivate others.

Ep 212: The Psychology of The Matrix Movie Jan 10, 2014

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What are the psychological themes in the movie the Matrix? In this episode I talk about connections between the Matrix and Jung's idea of the Collective Unconscious, Joseph Campbell's notion of the Hero's Journey and some recent research that explains why you experience Déjà vu. Also, can you change your whole world by thinking differently about it? Let's find out what psychologists (well at least me) think about this fascinating movie.

Ep 211: Is a Little Deception Okay? Paid Crowds and Native Advertising Dec 16, 2013

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We face more moral "dilemmas" in everyday life than maybe we don't realize. How do we resolve them? In this episode I discuss two interesting moral dilemmas: a) should you employ for-hire crowds of actors to attend your event in order to make it look like you're more popular than you really are? and b) should you place your advertisements on web and print pages in such a way that they don't really look like ads at all? I discuss the moral questions involved in "native advertising". You'll find some unique examples of Kohlberg's stages of moral development.

Ep 210: How to Memorize Kolhberg's Stages of Moral Development Nov 21, 2013

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Need to memorize Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development really quickly? This is what you're looking for - a brief audio podcast in which I give you some crazy images that will stick in your mind for a really long time. You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll have the six stages memorized. Some of my listeners have actually said that the mnemonics have stuck in the stuck in their head for years! Whether you are studying for a psychology test or a nursing exam, you will find this a fun and effective way to learn. I challenge you to listen to this episode and then quiz yourself a few hours later. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Let's memorize!
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Ep 209: If Freud Worked in Tech Support Nov 16, 2013

Show notes

In this actual fake recording we hear how Freud might have handled your call to an anonymous technical support service. Can you identify each of the following Freudian techniques in this episode?

Ep 207 (audio): The Psychology of Vine Nov 02, 2013

Show notes

Would you believe there's a lot of psychology you can fit into a 6 second vine? Well there is. In this video episode I show you a few of there vines I like and which are also good (unintended) demonstrates of a variety of psychological concepts. I think you'll have fun with this one.

Ep 206: What It's Like to Have Autism - Interview with Alex Lowrey Oct 22, 2013

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Its time to hear from someone who has been diagnosed with autism what life is like. Alex Lowery joins us to talk about growing up with autism - about the heightened sensations, the frustrations of not being understood and what has helped him get to where he is today. At 20, Alex gives talks about his life. I think you'll get some fascinating insights.

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