The way you talk to other people (and yourself) can reduce dysregulation and distraction--and lead to better decisions.
Maryellen MacDonald is the Donald P. Hayes Professor (emerit) of Psychology and Language Sciences at the University of Wisconsin−Madison. She is a cognitive scientist with a focus on psycholinguistics, the study of how we comprehend, produce, and learn languages. Her latest book is More Than Words: How Talking Sharpens the Mind and Shapes Our World.
In this episode we talk about:
- The hidden benefits of talking, including self-talk and writing
- How talking helps focus attention and clarify your thinking
- Why talking can help regulate emotions and improve decision-making
- Why talking is actually harder than listening
- Why we shouldn't rush to finish other people's sentences
- How deliberate talking can help protect against dementia
- Why understanding something doesn't necessarily mean you've learned it
- How talking about new information helps your brain remember it
- Why explaining things to other people deepens your own learning
- Why kids need chances to talk and not just watch screens
- Why you shouldn't judge people by how they talk
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