Two Guys on Your Head

In a forthcoming paper in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Eskreis-Winkler and colleagues describe what they call “the failure gap” — the consistent finding that outside observers dramatically overestimate how often people succeed after failing. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy […] The post The Failure Gap & Its Discontents appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

In a forthcoming paper in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Eskreis-Winkler and colleagues describe what they call “the failure gap” — the consistent finding that outside observers dramatically overestimate how often people succeed after failing. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, describes the study and implications of […] The post The Failure Gap appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

One of the greatest features of our brains is that we can forget things, but why is it so difficult to forget some things but not others? It turns out, our brains absorb information before we ever get a chance to evaluate it — and once something is in there, there’s no delete key. In […] The post The Psychology of Memory appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Ever caught yourself saying “I’m reading a great book” only to awkwardly correct yourself with “…well, actually I’m listening to it”? That guilty pause says a lot. But you have nothing to feel bad about. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy break down […] The post Reading vs. Listening (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Dignity is core to our humanity and woven into our sense of agency, authenticity, and the way others treat us, yet what it looks and feels like shifts across cultures, circumstances, and relationships. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the psychology behind […] The post Dignity appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

People high in the Big Five personality trait of neuroticism generally experience more negative than positive feelings each day. In this final episode of our three-part series on the psychology of neuroticism from Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of support. Big Five […] The post Neuroticism Part III: Support appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

People high in the Big Five personality trait of neuroticism generally experience more negative than positive feelings each day. In this second episode of our three-part series on the psychology of neuroticism from Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the impact of social media, the […] The post Neuroticism Part II: Social Media and Personality Tests appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

People high in the Big Five personality trait of neuroticism generally experience more negative feelings and fewer positive feelings each day. In this first episode of a three-part series on the psychology of neuroticism from Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy discuss some new research that explores […] The post New Research in Neuroticism appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We may think that giving someone a compliment just makes them feel good, yet as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy discuss in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, the benefits of complimenting others reach far beyond the expression of praise or admiration. The post Compliments appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A theory serves as an analytical tool to explain “why” and “how” events occur, rather than just describing them. Yet, all too often, the way we use the idea of a theory obfuscates the real value of what a theory is: a structured, evidence-based explanation for natural or social phenomena, constructed using the scientific method […] The post Theory appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

There is a difference between being safe and thinking you are safe, and the bridge between those two things is built on trust. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the difference between psychological safety and the psychology of safety and how […] The post Psychological Safety, Safety, and Trust appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Compensation is about more than just a paycheck. It’s about feeling valued, secure, and supported, but we don’t always think about it that way. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of compensation. The post Compensation appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Why do things that once felt exciting, delicious, shocking, or even frightening start to feel… ordinary? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of desensitization and how motivation, memory, and context shape what we see, feel, and react to, often […] The post Desensitization appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Working toward goals can give our lives direction and meaning. But psychology shows that when we focus too narrowly on outcomes, we can undermine both our well-being and our performance. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the importance of staying mentally […] The post The Psychology of Healthy Ambition appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

If your child shows exceptional talent early, it may be tempting to cultivate it immediately. However, an overload of lessons and practice may not be the most effective approach. This episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the perils of specializing early. Bloom, Benjamin […] The post Early Specialization? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Someone once said, “I like to do nothing if I can avoid doing something.” For many of us, doing nothing is surprisingly hard. It asks us to generate our own thoughts rather than constantly reacting to Instagram, email, and an ever-expanding stream of stimuli. But when we allow ourselves the space to be bored, to […] The post Protecting Your Boredom (Re-broadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We often use the word stupidity to cover a wide range of mistakes. But on closer inspection, what makes something “stupid” may have less to do with what “stupid does” and more to do with what it ignores. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca […] The post Stupidity appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

For many of us, the holidays bring us back to our families and the traditions we’ve carried through the years. And while that can come with its fair share of stress, it can also offer something unexpectedly beautiful: a chance to re-center ourselves and reconnect with the version of us we knew in childhood. In […] The post Are Holiday Traditions The Fountain of Youth? (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

When we are grieving, having a supportive work environment can be helpful, but what about when we are working remotely or in a gig job? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about how to support your co-workers and the importance of building […] The post Grief, Work and The Gig Economy appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Grief is difficult, exhausting, and slow, but our daily routines, including work, still continue during the grieving process. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about how we can show up with compassion for colleagues who are grieving, and how we can prepare […] The post Grief and Work appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Making big decisions is never easy, and the higher the stakes, the harder it can feel to trust our own judgment. So in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore what actually helps us make better choices, and how we can support others in […] The post Tips On Making Decision appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

When it comes to making really tough decisions, like deciding where to go to college or where to work, we may think we should lay out all the options and weigh the pros and cons, but as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke and Rebecca McInroy talk about in this episode of Two Guys on […] The post Complex Decision Making appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Join the Two Guys on Your Head team, Rebecca McInroy, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke, for this special live recording celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UT School of Social Work and the 85th anniversary of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. Featured Guests: In This Episode: Recorded before a live audience, this […] The post SPECIAL: Celebrating 75 Years of The School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

New research on the psychology of overconfidence reveals that even when people get clear feedback about their actual abilities, their confidence doesn’t budge. The finding might not surprise you, but as we explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, with Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy, the way researchers […] The post Overconfidence appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

When it comes to luck, we often focus on the good kind, but what about bad luck, superstition, and the strange rituals we turn to for comfort and control? On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about how these beliefs and behaviors can […] The post Bad Luck, Superstitions, and Safety Behaviors appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Chance may favor the prepared mind, but if you’re only looking for a lucky break, you may miss out on something much more important. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of luck. The post Luck appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Popularity shapes our choices every day, but in today’s world, what we perceive as “popular” is often steered by algorithms, targeted ads, push notifications, and the constant pull of social media; forces we may not fully recognize. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy […] The post The Weighted Vest: an update on popularity appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We often assume our choices reflect personal taste: selecting the “best” products, enjoying the movies we “want” to see, and listening to the music we believe is “good.” Yet underlying these decisions is the powerful influence of popularity. It doesn’t just affect what we buy—it informs how we evaluate ideas, people, and beliefs. In this […] The post The Psychology of Popularity appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Humans may take the card we swipe for granted at the grocery store when we buy food, or look at our bank balance and not even think of how unique it is that we can translate those little numbers into experiences and things. It’s merely one of the benefits of having big brains. In this […] The post How We Determine Value (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Every day we’re surrounded by a flood of negative headlines, and it can take a real toll on our mental health. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy share practical ways to protect your well-being and stay mentally strong in the midst of all […] The post Mental Health in the Media Storm appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

To resist or not to resist? That is the question. And the answer is—shocker to no one—it depends. But what it depends on matters a lot. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the fine line between resistance as healthy self-preservation versus resistance […] The post The Psychology of Personal Resistance appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We spend an increasing proportion of our time online, and, given the importance of social media to human welfare, the external factors that shape online behavior are important to consider. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore social media use and the weather. […] The post The Weather and Social Media Use appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We often blame the weather when we’re feeling low, or give it credit when we’re feeling great. But research shows our moods aren’t actually driven by sunshine or storms. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the surprising psychology of weather and emotion. […] The post The Weather and Your Mood appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Discoveries can make a lot of money, so can you enhance the discovery process with more money? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore a new study that examines this exact question. The post Does Money Motivate Discovery? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

When our actions hurt someone or lead to a bad outcome, it can be uncomfortable to acknowledge that we’re at fault, yet as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, taking responsibility for our actions can yield long-term psychological benefits we shouldn’t overlook. The post Retroactive Justification appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We all know someone who seems to dislike everyone, until they decide they like you. But what happens next? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the psychology behind people who hate everyone. The post Why We Like People Who Hate Everyone appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The way we dress can say a lot about who we are, especially when it comes to rank. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore how what we wear conveys our agency, power, and autonomy. The post The Psychology of Style: Power appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The way we dress, whether to stand out or blend in, can say a lot about who we are. But what influences that choice? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore how uniforms can shape our identity, behavior, and sense of belonging, and […] The post The Psychology of Style: The Uniform appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

What we wear not only expresses who we are, it also shapes how we see and interpret the world around us. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the surprising psychology of style. The post The Psychology of Style appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Turns out that understanding the why and how of play in our everyday lives is a serious business, and a lot of fun! In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Rebecca McInroy, Art Markman, and Bob Duke join Alison Preston, Kirk Lynn, and Sarah Abraham from a special presentation at the Texas Science Festival on the psychology, science, and performance of play! Listen to […] The post The Psychology of Play appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

You don’t need to be wildly witty or irresistibly charming to give a great talk; you just need to be yourself. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke share why authenticity matters most, along with a few practical tips that can take your speaking skills to […] The post How to Give a Great Talk (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

How do you bring human-centered design into systems that weren’t built with humans in mind?In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore how small, thoughtful changes, even in complex, rigid systems, can prevent problems and demonstrate that people matter. The post Human-Centered Design: Prevention appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Have you ever been forced to sit through hours of training because someone in another department made a mistake that has nothing to do with you? This “fire hose” approach that organizations sometimes take to address problems is surprisingly common. In our first episode of a series on the psychology of human-centered design, Two Guys […] The post Human-Centered Design: Administration appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

If threatening punishment is not an effective way to change behavior or motivate people, why do we continue to do it? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy wrap up their exploration of the psychology of punishment by examining why we rely on threats and why they still […] The post Why We Continue To Threaten Punishment appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Not all punishment is created equal. While punishment can serve many purposes, it’s not always effective when it comes to changing behavior, especially if the goal is simply to avoid getting punished. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy continue their exploration of the psychology of punishment, focusing […] The post Signal Value and Punishment appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.