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The Cognitive Cost of AI: A Deep Dive into Learning and Development In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping cognition, particularly in education. The discussion focuses on the developmental impact of AI on children and the cognitive trade-offs associated with relying on AI tools. The episode delves into the science behind why traditional...

Empathy Under Fire: Understanding Its Crucial Role and Strategic Erosion In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychological phenomenon of empathy, distinguishing it from sympathy and underscoring its pivotal role in moral reasoning, cooperation, and human survival. The episode explores the three types of empathy—cognitive, emotional, and compassionate—and how they are n...

The Power of Language: Unveiling the Psychology of Linguistic Control In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychology behind the control and censorship of language, examining how it impacts us psychologically, socially, and politically. The discussion touches on historical and contemporary examples, including the strategic choice of words in South American dictatorships...

Unearthing Psychology's Shadow: A Critical Examination In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the dark history of psychology, exploring its entanglements with colonialism, racism, sexism, and eugenics. The episode sheds light on how psychological theories and practices have upheld oppressive systems and sometimes caused harm. Poston emphasizes the importance of acknowledging...

The Dangers of Trivializing Fascism: How Memes Shape Our Politics In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the often overlooked impact of political memes on our digital and real-world environments. While memes may seem harmless or even humorous on the surface, they can trivialize serious issues such as authoritarianism and fascism, thereby dulling societal urgency and fracturing...

Navigating Uncertainty: Understanding Its Impact on Decision Making In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the complexities of uncertainty and its effects on decision-making. Leslie explores the psychological and physiological responses to uncertainty, including the role of the amygdala and the concept of Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU). The discussion encompasses cognitive b...

Unraveling Fan Psychology in Social Movements: Insights from the Hands-Off Protest In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the intersection of fan behavior and social movements, using her early research and the recent Hands-Off protest as case studies. Poston digs into the mechanisms behind successful progressive movements, highlighting the power of collective identity, symboli...

 Marketing and Propaganda Unveiled In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the pervasive challenge of marketing and propaganda, drawing parallels between commercial and ideological influence. She discusses the psychological mechanisms behind effective marketing and propaganda, including social proof, scarcity, authority, and identity-based persuasion. The episode explores real...

Enhancing Workplace Dynamics: The Critical Role of Psychological Safety In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the concept of psychological safety in the workplace. She explains its definition, importance, and methods to cultivate it amidst personal and corporate politics. Drawing on insights from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and social learning theory, Leslie discusse...

The Psychology of Digital Friendships: Navigating Connections in the Digital Age In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the profound psychological mechanisms underlying friendships in the digital era. The episode digs into how technology affects emotional labor, reciprocity, and vulnerability in relationships. Highlighting research by Dr. Jeffrey Hall, Dr. Sherry Turkle, Dr. J...

Why Humans Struggle with Risk Assessment: Understanding Our Cognitive Biases In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the complexities of human risk assessment. Despite relying on this critical cognitive skill every day, humans often misjudge risks due to emotional biases, misinformation, and stress. From relationships and work to financial decisions and global crises like Covi...

The Psychology of Changing Minds: Unpacking Cognitive Barriers and Strategies In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs deep into the complex psychology behind changing minds in a divided society. The episode, which runs longer than usual at 60 minutes, explores how cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, and identity protection influence our resistance to belief revision. Leslie di...

The Hidden Power of Disgust and Shame: Unveiling Ancient Emotions in Modern Society In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychological forces of disgust and shame, exploring their ancient roots and modern implications. The episode sheds light on how these emotions shape our identities, enforce social norms, and influence political and social landscapes. Through neuroima...

Navigating and Transforming Toxic Workplaces In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the pervasive issue of toxic workplaces. The discussion covers identifying toxic behaviors such as micromanagement, harassment, and discriminatory practices and their detrimental effects on mental and physical health. The role of leadership, particularly toxic leaders, and their impact on work...

Extinction Burst: The Desperate Ways Extremists and their Movements React When Losing Ground In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the concept of extinction bursts—predictable patterns of intensifying behavior when long-standing negative behaviors lose effectiveness. Drawing on examples from political, social, and historical contexts, the episode explains how these bursts man...

Harnessing Small Actions for Big Change in Overwhelming Challenges In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how to take meaningful actions when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Through insights from various psychological studies, Leslie explains why our brains often shut down when faced with massive issues, and how small, strategic steps can break this paralysis. The...

The Psychological Power of Art and Creativity: Exploring Why We Create In this episode of PsyberSpace, hosted by Leslie Poston, we explore the profound psychological impact of art and creativity. Using examples like Dylan Thomas's poem 'Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night' and Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise,' the episode delves into why art moves us and how creativity nurtures our mental well-bein...

Understanding and Resisting Authoritarian Propaganda In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston looks into the mechanisms of propaganda used by authoritarian regimes. The episode covers the psychological strategies behind media manipulation, revisionist history, and language control intended to mold public perception and behavior. Using historical and contemporary examples, Leslie highligh...

Debunking Psychology Myths: From Brain Function to Vaccines In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston critically examines several long-standing psychology myths and their impacts. The discussion covers misconceptions such as the left-brained/right-brained theory, the myth that we use only 10% of our brain, the idea that opposites attract in relationships, and the belief that venting anger...

PsyberSpace S2E1: The Neuroscience of Wealth and Power In the season two opener of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how extreme wealth and power transform the human mind. The episode gets into neuroscientific research revealing that power and wealth can rewire neural pathways, decrease empathy, alter decision-making, and increase risk-taking behaviors. Examples from real-world events, incl...

The Psychology Behind New Year's Resolutions and Lasting Change In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the psychology behind New Year's resolutions and why many people abandon them by February. Discussing neuroscience and behavioral psychology, Leslie examines how our brains resist change and the significance of setting realistic, intrinsic goals. The episode highlights the im...

The Psychology of Holiday Consumerism: Understanding Impact and Wellbeing In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the timely subject of holiday consumerism and its various impacts on mental health, community well-being, and global issues. Through recent events like the Amazon workers' strike, the episode highlights the complex interplay of psychological, social, and economic fo...

Understanding Psychological Reactions to High-Profile Violence In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the complex psychological reactions to high-profile acts of violence, using a recent incident involving the death of a healthcare CEO as a case study. The discussion delves into the psychological phenomena of priming, scapegoating, and how media framing affects public sentimen...

Decoding Morality: Vertical vs. Horizontal Morality and Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivations In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the complexities of our moral compass by exploring the dimensions of vertical versus horizontal morality and intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. Through real-life scenarios and psychological theories, the episode examines how our upbringing, cu...

Understanding the Positive Impacts of Social Media on Youth In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston discusses the often overlooked benefits of social media for kids and teens. Through a review of recent research and peer-reviewed studies, the episode explores how digital platforms like Discord, Instagram, and TikTok serve as modern 'third spaces' for social interaction, support psycholo...