Behavioral Change Isn't Always Easy feat. Art Markman

Cognitive science is kind of like the new philosophy. These days, the cognitive scientists are the ones that we look to figure out what the heck is going on.

And people like Art Markman are not just simply academically studying things, but they are actually offering up a lot of tools, advice and wisdom too. 

Art Markman is the Vice Provost for Continuing and Professional Education and New Education Ventures at the University of Texas at Austin. Before this role, he was a professor of psychology and marketing at the university. 

Beyond the UT Austin campus, he is probably best known as the co-host of KUT’s “Two Guys on Your Head” radio show and podcast, where he and Butler School of Music professor Bob Duke explore the human mind with a unique mix of research, humor and everyday relevance. 

Art & Greg talk in this episode about explore vs exploit tradeoffs, consciously choosing our habits, motivation and reward systems.

Episode Quotes:

The value of trying new things, like learning a new instrument:

No matter what age you start, you sound terrible at first. But realizing you can sound terrible to make those mistakes and the world doesn't end is also valuable, right? Because you realize actually you can make mistakes in all sorts of environments and the world doesn't end, you just do better the next time. And so practicing that even after you become really proficient at one thing is helpful because it reminds you: I can actually take on a new thing and yes, I'll screw it up, but it's okay.

Structuring work environments

As we begin to transition back to hybrid work environments and other things, this is a chance to think about how do I want to structure both my home and my work environments to be better able to achieve some set of goals. 

On failure:

One of the things I do is when people think about changing behavior, one of the first things you have to do is to ask yourself, where are my sources of failure? And in particular, where are the sources of failure that are a signal that something has to change? Because there are really three kinds of failures and only one of them is bad.

Show Links:

Guest Profile:

• Faculty Profile at University of Texas Austin
• Professional Profile at Psychology Today
• Podcast: Two Guys on Your Head | KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station
• Art Markman on LinkedIn
• Art Markman on Twitter
• Art Markman on Facebook
• Two Guys on Your Head Podcast

Guest Work:

• Art Markman on Google Scholar
• Smart Thinking Book Website
• Bring Your Brain to Work: Using Cognitive Science to Get a Job, Do it Well, and Advance Your Career
• Brain Briefs: Answers to the Most (and Least) Pressing Questions about Your Mind
• Smart Change: Five Tools to Create New and Sustainable Habits in Yourself and Others
• The Habits of Effective Leadership: Discover the essential tools to become an outstanding, successful manager 
• Smart Thinking: Three Essential Keys to Solve Problems, Innovate, and Get Things Done

Other Resources:

• Human Dimensions of Organizations
• Yerkes–Dodson law
• KFC Will Start Offering Beyond 'Chicken' – But Not for Vegetarians

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