Two Psychologists Four Beers

Nick Epley, behavioral scientist and professor at Chicago Booth and author of A Little More Social, explains why we misjudge the value of reaching out. He describes the train studies that launched his research. Short takes cover why we avoid talking, how acting more social lifts mood, practical openers like “What’s your story?”, and how habits, memory decay, phones, and design shape connection.

Instead of a new episode this month, we have one from the vaults that many newer listeners might not have heard (because it came out almost 7 years ago). But, especially since Paul has a new baby (see first link), re-releasing this one seemed fitting. And it's always been one of my favorites. We'll be back with new episodes in the coming months. Original Episode Description Yoel and Mickey welcome Paul Bloom to the podcast, who is not only a returning guest but also the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology at Yale University. We first give terrible advice on parenting. Does parenting affect happiness, relationship satisfaction, and meaning? Does parenting screw with prospective decision making because it leaves the decision maker utterly transformed? We next discuss perversity. Why do we enjoy doing transgressive things? Who is likely to be perverted? Is perversion ever a good strategy? Bonus: How would Paul rate Yoel on a scale of 1 to 5?Special Guest: Paul Bloom.Links:Small Potato - by Paul Bloom - Small PotatoesParenthood and Marital Satisfaction: A Meta‐Analytic Review - Twenge - 2003 - Journal of Marriage and Family - Wiley Online LibraryLong-term effects of pregnancy and childbirth on sleep satisfaction and duration of first-time and experienced mothers and fathers - PubMedIn Defense of Parenthood - S. Katherine Nelson, Kostadin Kushlev, Tammy English, Elizabeth W. Dunn, Sonja Lyubomirsky, 2013In Defense of ParenthoodWhat You Can't Expect When You're ExpectingIdealizing Parenthood to Rationalize Parental Investments - Richard P. Eibach, Steven E. Mock, 2011The Strange Appeal of Perverse Actions | The New YorkerSt. Vincent - Smoking Section (Official Audio) - YouTube

Many academics care about diversity in faculty hiring, but why? Azim Shariff joins the show to talk about his new paper where he describes rationales for diversity in hiring, and an as-yet unpublished study where he asked department chairs how much they actually care about those rationales. We also talk about the empirical evidence for the diversity rationales (it's mixed!), Paul Bloom's argument against viewpoint diversity, and the future of DEI policies in the U.S. Plus, Azim deviates from his long-standing practice of not drinking beer.Special Guest: Azim Shariff.Links:Taking faculty diversity seriously means asking why it mattersViewpoint diversity and its limits - by Paul BloomCAMP: Centre for Applied Moral Psychology – University of British Columbia | Psychology | Director: Azim Shariff, PhD

Mickey and Yoel talk about Canada's controversial euthanasia law (called MAID: medical assistance in dying). Since its introduction in 2016, an increasing number of Canadians are choosing euthanasia (in recent years, more than 5% of deaths in Canada were the result of MAID). We talk about the history of the law, criticism of it in Canada and abroad, and our own discomfort (or lack of) with legal euthanasia. Separately, we also discuss a new paper that claims to show robust ego depletion effects--but is it just showing fatigue by another name?Links:Congratulations, You've Discovered FatigueRevisiting Ego Depletion: Evidence from Multi-Lab CollaborationsCanada Gave Citizens the Right to Die. Doctors Are Struggling to Meet Demand. - The AtlanticSturgill Simpson - Make Art Not Friends (Official Video) - YouTube

Paul Litvak joins the show to talk about how AI tools can help us measure research quality and assess evidence in the scientific literature. His first project is a way to extract test statistics and p-values from papers automatically, with no manual coding needed. We also talk about Paul's non-profit dedicated to improving the reliability of scientific research, the legendary judgment and decision making scholar Robin Dawes (whose entirely algorithmic approach to graduate student selection once went terribly awry), and Paul's exit from academia. Plus, Yoel reveals a shameful secret about his use of AI.Special Guest: Paul Litvak.Links:What If Everyone Knew Which Science to Trust?evidence.guideThe Robyn Dawes Institute for the Improvement of ScienceWhy are so many professors conservative? - by Paul BloomScience is a strong-link problem - by Adam Mastroianni

Mickey is back and fired up about citation diversity statements. We talk about a recent editorial from Nature Reviews Psychology encouraging authors to include a "citation diversity statement" in their articles to "to draw attention to citation imbalances and confirm that they made efforts to cite publications from a diverse group of researchers." We discuss what we don't like about the editorial, as well as the strongest case for it. We also talk about SpringerNature's profit margins, posting on LinkedIn, and Mickey's extremely problematic beer views.Sponsored By:MindSampler: MindSampler provides a simple and powerful way to run Experience Sampling Method (ESM) and Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) research directly from your Qualtrics account. Promo Code: 2P4BLinks:Mickey's post on LinkedInCitation diversity statements | Nature Reviews PsychologyThe extent and drivers of gender imbalance in neuroscience reference listsScience must respect the dignity and rights of all humans | Nature Human BehaviourNature Communications retracts much-criticized paper on mentorship – Retraction WatchFeel Free - YouTube

David Tannenbaum (Associate Professor of Management at the University of Utah) joins the show to talk about one of Yoel's favorite papers: a massive field study of honesty in 40 countries that had some unexpected results. We talk about the promises and pitfalls of field studies, what happens when your results are not at all as expected, and how to deal with going viral (in a bad way). Also, we talk about our recent hiking trip and David actually drinks two beers.Special Guest: David Tannenbaum.Sponsored By:MindSampler: MindSampler provides a simple and powerful way to run Experience Sampling Method (ESM) and Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) research directly from your Qualtrics account. Promo Code: 2P4BLinks:Sunshine Coast Trail — Hut to Hut Hiking - Powell River BCCivic honesty around the globe | ScienceData and code for: Civic Honesty Around the Globe - Replication Data for: Civic Honesty Around the GlobeGreat Lake Swimmers - Pulling On A Line [Official Music Video] - YouTube

This is a re-release of Episode 95, which was recorded in September 2023. Paul Bloom joins Yoel and Alexa to talk about the glamour and humiliation of teaching psychology at the college level. They discuss how they've changed their approaches to teaching over the years, and whether they've become more skilled or more out of touch (or both). Alexa shares her experiences teaching about morality and evolution to a predominantly Christian student body, Yoel laments the fact that his students aren't more disagreeable, and Paul claims that critical thinking is overrated. In an era of increasing remote instruction, they claim that online courses can't do what they do. But, only Yik Yak knows for sure.Special Guest: Paul Bloom.Links:Paul Bloom's Teaching AdviceClearerThinking.org Podcast | Career science, open science, and inspired science (with Alexa Tullett)Teacher (On FIlm) - YouTube

This week, Paul Bloom, a distinguished professor of psychology, takes the mic to delve into the tricky task of knowing when to abandon a theory. He and the hosts discuss their shifting beliefs and what psychological findings have proven robust through the test of time. The conversation takes a turn to the cultural implications of Sidney Sweeney’s ad campaign, questioning its relationship to beauty standards and eugenics. It's a blend of humor and serious reflection on psychological theories and societal norms!

Yoel chats with the enigmatic duo behind Slime Mold Time Mold, who challenge traditional psychology by drawing on cybernetics. They propose a new understanding of behavior as driven by 'governors,' linking basic needs to complex emotions and motivations. The conversation reveals how personal experiences shape happiness and the role of discomfort in fulfillment. They explore the intricate dance of hunger signals, mental health, and substance effects on decision-making, all while advocating for innovative models to better grasp human behavior.