cognitive psychology

Tongue Twisters and Rhymes

Why rhymes are so appealing, and what makes for a good tongue twister, in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke.

Holiday Special

Join us for a holiday special as Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke take us through questions about the link between freewill and gratitude, why we feel so compelled to recreate traditions exactly as we remember them, and why yawning is contagious. Plus, we’ll take a trip to The Thinkery with Dr. Cristine Legare.

It’s the holidays so let’s celebrate with Two Guys on Your Head!

Procrastination

Procrastination is the all-too-familiar foe of productivity, but why do some wait until the last minute to even get a project started?

In this episode of “Two Guys on Your Head,” Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore the psychology behind procrastination, and how we can overcome factors that might be keeping us from getting started.

Senses and Perception

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore how our senses work together to perceive the world around us.

How Does Psychological Distance Effect Us?

The idea of distance conjures up many images in our minds. We might be thinking of how wonderful it will be when we are retired and have time to spend with our loved ones, do some traveling, or play 18 holes of golf on a weekday. Or perhaps when we think of distance, we think of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how far away the conflicts are from us.

For Art Markman and Robert Duke, how we process distance is particularly important, because it clues researchers in to how we think and make decisions as a result of distance.

Theory of Mind

Who knows what? Essentially, this is the basis of the complex concept of Theory of Mind, which is very misleadingly labeled. No, it’s not a theory that explains how mind works, as you might assume by the term, Theory of Mind. It’s a process within our minds that allows us to separate and distinguish between what we know ourselves and what we know that other people know, or don’t know. It’s a skill that is critical for accomplishing effective social interaction in the world. A better term might be Theory of Other’s Minds.

Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke do a wonderful job of explaining and dissecting this important skill in this week’s episode of Two Guys on Your Head. Have a listen and get smarter.

Why Can Being On Hold Be So Frustrating

Whether it’s the blah music or the never ending labyrinth of a phone tree, we’ve all experienced the frustrations of being on hold. Even when we are only on hold for a minute or so our blood pressure can rise when an automated voice answers the phone. Why is being on hold so annoying? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head Dr. Art Markman and Bob Duke take us through the good, the bad, and the ugly of on hold messaging.