Mind, Brain, and Value

Health

How Our Internal Monologue Impacts Our Mental Health

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on August 2, 2021

What is the relationship between our thoughts and our mental health? Dr. Diana Hill Weighs in.

What is the relationship between our thoughts and our mental health? Dr. Diana Hill Weighs in.

Psychology

The Psychology of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on June 21, 2021

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)? And how does it relate to other psychological perspectives, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness?

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)? And how does it relate to other psychological perspectives, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness?

Affective Forecasting

How Affective Forecasting Can Influence Your Future Self

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on May 11, 2021

People tend to see their future selves as distant strangers. Connecting with their future selves can lead to better decision-making.

People tend to see their future selves as distant strangers. Connecting with their future selves can lead to better decision-making.

Media

How Cultural Anthropology Can Address Media Fragmentation

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on April 25, 2021

How can an anthropological perspective help us better understand the current state of atomization? Design anthropologist Adam Gamwell weighs in.

How can an anthropological perspective help us better understand the current state of atomization? Design anthropologist Adam Gamwell weighs in.

Memes

How Cultural Anthropology Helps Unlock Social Taboos

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on April 21, 2021

How can we uncover cultural assumptions, linguistic nuance, and unspoken social taboos? Cultural anthropology may provide an important perspective.

How can we uncover cultural assumptions, linguistic nuance, and unspoken social taboos? Cultural anthropology may provide an important perspective.

Psychology

The Psychology of Jeff Bezos and the 10,000-Year Clock

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on April 12, 2021

How does thinking about the very long-term future impact our psychology?

How does thinking about the very long-term future impact our psychology?

Psychology

The Psychology of How Luck Made the Self-Made Man

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 30, 2021

Recognizing the role of luck presents a fuller picture of our own success. This perspective isn’t just more comprehensive - it’s also good for us.

Recognizing the role of luck presents a fuller picture of our own success. This perspective isn’t just more comprehensive - it’s also good for us.

Psychology

The Psychology and Mythology of The Self-Made Man

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 27, 2021

We tend to assume that if someone becomes wealthy, it reflects something about them as a person, and not something about their circumstance. Should we question this assumption?

We tend to assume that if someone becomes wealthy, it reflects something about them as a person, and not something about their circumstance. Should we question this assumption?

Psychology

The Psychology of the Urban Mystique

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 23, 2021

Cities are one of the most important features of human civilization, and they shape our lives in profound and mysterious ways.

Cities are one of the most important features of human civilization, and they shape our lives in profound and mysterious ways.

Psychology

The Face-Down Phone: The Psychology of Digital Discontent

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on March 16, 2021

Why do we feel the pull of our phones even when we're not using them? It all comes down to the psychology of digital discontent.

Why do we feel the pull of our phones even when we're not using them? It all comes down to the psychology of digital discontent.

Conformity

The Psychology of Hipsters and Ironic Anti-Conformity

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on February 23, 2021

Love it or hate it, hipster culture poses a key question: Why do attempts to be different all end up looking the same?

Love it or hate it, hipster culture poses a key question: Why do attempts to be different all end up looking the same?

Psychology

How the Psychology of Irony Influences How We Spend

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on February 16, 2021

Why would someone wear a Justin Beiber shirt to a death metal show, or a "Vegan" hat to a steakhouse? The answer comes down to the strange psychology of irony.

Why would someone wear a Justin Beiber shirt to a death metal show, or a "Vegan" hat to a steakhouse? The answer comes down to the strange psychology of irony.

Psychology

Why Do We Love Underdog Stories? Psychology Weighs In

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on January 28, 2021

Across cultures and across time, the underdog story is simply irresistible. Why is the psychology of the underdog so captivating?

Across cultures and across time, the underdog story is simply irresistible. Why is the psychology of the underdog so captivating?

Coaching

The Psychology of Executive Coaching and Business Leadership

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on January 12, 2021

What is executive coaching? An opportunity to uncover new dimensions of problem-solving, cultivate new skills, and overcome hurdles as part of a tailored plan of growth.

What is executive coaching? An opportunity to uncover new dimensions of problem-solving, cultivate new skills, and overcome hurdles as part of a tailored plan of growth.

Motivation

The Power of Intrinsic Motivation

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on January 5, 2021

Intrinsic motivation is the drive that comes purely from within, pushing us forward regardless of any external reward. How can we harness this?

Intrinsic motivation is the drive that comes purely from within, pushing us forward regardless of any external reward. How can we harness this?

Persuasion

How Product Names Influence How We Think and Spend

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on December 15, 2020

What sounds more appealing: Patagonian toothfish or Chilean seabass? Goosefish or monkfish? It all comes down to the name.

What sounds more appealing: Patagonian toothfish or Chilean seabass? Goosefish or monkfish? It all comes down to the name.

Psychology

How the Psychology of Essentialism Influences Movies and Art

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on December 8, 2020

The film industry has always tried to use data to better anticipate the audience's response. But now in the era of big data, does this trump an appreciation for human creativity?

The film industry has always tried to use data to better anticipate the audience's response. But now in the era of big data, does this trump an appreciation for human creativity?

Neuroscience

What's the Connection Between Art and Science?

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on December 1, 2020

People with unique skill sets force us to question the supposed divide between art and science. Dr. Radhika Patnala helps us understand this transformation.

People with unique skill sets force us to question the supposed divide between art and science. Dr. Radhika Patnala helps us understand this transformation.

Psychology

The Psychology of the Physical Bookstore Experience

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on November 24, 2020

There is one aspect of book-buying that e-commerce can't touch: the psychology of the bookstore experience. Can it save bookstores?

There is one aspect of book-buying that e-commerce can't touch: the psychology of the bookstore experience. Can it save bookstores?

Ethics and Morality

How To Think About the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on November 17, 2020

As AI becomes more advanced, ethical questions become more important. How should this power be wielded? A tech ethicist can help us navigate this space.

As AI becomes more advanced, ethical questions become more important. How should this power be wielded? A tech ethicist can help us navigate this space.