Two Guys on Your Head

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May 29, 2014

Theory of Mind

By: Rebecca McInroy

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.


Episodes

March 27, 2019

The Replication Crisis

A psychological study with null results is less likely to be published than one with surprising results, so it’s no wonder researchers tailor and conduct experiments with a preferred outcome in mind. So why is it so difficult to replicate a popular study around the time of its initial publication? In this episode of Two […]

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March 22, 2019

Value in the Moment

As tax day nears, it’s not a bad idea to look at our spending habits. Typically when we experience a windfall, we tend to spend more. When we come up short, we spend less. So although objectively we should maintain an average amount of spending, our financial habits continue to be influenced by how much […]

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March 15, 2019

Asymmetry: Past & Future

Dating back to when we were kids, two weeks into the future seems a lot longer than two weeks in the past. Even as adults we know two weeks is the same length regardless of when it takes place and yet we still experience this asymmetrical mindset. In this episode of Two Guys on Your […]

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March 8, 2019

Signal Detection (Part Two)

We’ve covered what signal detection theory is, so how does it come up when we assign labels to behaviors that could be considered “micro aggressions”? Are there significant benefits to these labels? In the second episode of this two-part conversation on Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke continue their discussion on signal detection. […]

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March 1, 2019

Signal Detection (Part One)

When thinking about the concept of a “micro aggression”, what we’re really doing is subscribing to signal detection theory. What is the theory and how does it come into play when we’re dissecting the behaviors of others? In the first episode of this two-part conversation on Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss […]

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February 22, 2019

Actions and Intentions

We judge our own actions on our intentions, yet we take other people’s behaviors at face value. Is it acceptable to do something virtuous in light of ill intent? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss actions and intentions.

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February 15, 2019

24 Hour News Cycle

We live in an era with push notifications and all-day news coverage, but is keeping up to date with the latest development really that important? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss 24 hour news cycle.

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February 8, 2019

Occam’s Razor

From seeing a UFO to advancing a conspiracy theory, often the simplest explanation is the most likely one. Yet we still tend to fancy convoluted ideas with lots of moving parts, just because they sound good to us. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss Occam’s Razor.

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