Two Guys on Your Head

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August 18, 2016

I.Q. Tests (Rebroadcast)

By: Rebecca McInroy

We value brains. We hold test scores in high esteem. We spend money and hours on brain training games and ginseng. But what does intelligence really mean? How do we define and gauge actual smarts? Does a high IQ predict success?

In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the history and development of intelligence tests; as well as what these tests can actually tell us about one’s ability to achieve.

It turns out that intelligence can be a dangerous label when thinking about the ongoing, dynamic, interconnected process that is our brain. Once we label something as intelligent we ignore that a lot goes into how we create, solve problems and overcome obstacles.

So next time you’re tempted (or forced) to take an intelligence test, don’t stress, they don’t tell the whole story of what you’re capable of.


Episodes

April 25, 2025

How To Combat Apathy

When the weight of the world feels overwhelming, tuning out can feel like the only option. But what happens when apathy becomes a habit, and how do we break free from it? In this episode, the second in our Two Guys on Your Head series on the psychology of apathy, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob […]

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April 18, 2025

Learned Apathy

When life feels like a nonstop barrage of problems we can’t fix, it’s natural to want to shut down. But apathy doesn’t make the problems go away, and it can leave us feeling even more stuck. In this episode—the first in our Two Guys on Your Head series on the psychology of apathy—Dr. Art Markman […]

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April 11, 2025

Spring

Spring is in the air in Austin, Texas, and on this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Art Markman and Bob Duke talk about why–psychologically–it’s important to enjoy the beauty of this moment.

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April 4, 2025

Conversation

Conversations change our minds. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Art Markman and Bob Duke explore the psychology of why and how that happens.

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March 28, 2025

Embodied Emotions (Rebroadcast)

Emotions are sometimes good to listen to when you’re trying to make a decision, but sometimes, they’re not so good. However, as Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, the more you know about how your brain works and what certain feelings may indicate, the more tools you have […]

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March 21, 2025

Bypassing

There is a lot of misinformation out there, and we might think that we just need more correct and factual information to combat it. While that can be true, it turns out that how and when we get information plays a huge role in what we believe. In this episode of Two Guys on Your […]

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March 15, 2025

Meritocracy

When it comes to deciding what is valued and what is not, we often proceed with an illusion of objectivity instead of an evaluation system that can showcase expertise and quality. So, what does it really mean to be “the best,” and who gets to decide? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Art […]

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March 7, 2025

Giving Up and Agency

One misconception about giving up is that it takes less energy, motivation, or stamina than sticking to something. However, in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Art Markman and Bob Duke discuss the agency and energy it takes to stop doing something and change course.

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