The Brain

Values-Alignment Interventions Part II

In part one of our exploration of values-alignment interventions Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke of Two Guys on Your Head discussed a recent study by Dr. David Yeager, Dr. Cintia Hinojosa,  and Dr. Christopher Bryan that demonstrates how interventions that attach certain behaviors to already existing values held by participants can be very effective.

In part II we go a bit deeper into understanding just what values-alignment is and how it works.

 

 

How To Say “No” And Why It’s Important

We’ve done shows on the importance of being open to new opportunities; in short, saying yes. And while saying yes is very important, we might be too prone to saying yes to things when we should be saying no.

Why is hard to say no? Why don’t we take into account the opportunity cost when we’re considering our options?

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about how to practice saying no, and why it matters.

 

Memory, Imagination, and Happiness

When it comes to imagination and happiness, it turns out there’s a lot going on. If you think, as William Arthur Ward said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it,” you might be in for a surprise when it comes to well-being.

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about why it’s important to manage our exceptions and goals and enjoy the moments in the process of becoming, in order to live happier lives.

Imagination and Change

Have you ever been in a situation that you just can’t see your way out of? Have you ever been stuck on a path you did not want to follow? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about how we can practice gaining experiences that can help us imagine different possibilities for a future we never knew we wanted, to get out of a present we’re not happy with.

Math, Music, and The Brain

There are some things that just feel like they’re true. For example, the idea that people who are gifted musicians are also good at learning math, or vice versa.

However, there isn’t any data that suggests that there are any links in the brain between these proclivities. As Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about in this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, we underestimate the role emotions play in what we believe to be true.

Protect Your Boredom

It seems that people today carry with them the constant mantra, “I’m so busy.” And as it can be tough to juggle work, kids, and life in general, a lot of that feeling of being overwhelmed may be our own fault.

In this edition of Two Guys on Your HeadDr. Art Markaman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the value of boredom, and how to get the most out of your downtime to feel more in control and less stressed.

Why We Love Our Pets

Having a pet is a big responsibility. Pets can be expensive, wake you up in the middle of the night, limit your travel plans, and bring home gifts that aren’t quite what you asked Santa for. Yet, we love them, they bring us joy, and they are really wonderful for us psychologically.

In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the reasons why pets are so important to our mental health.