Two Guys on Your Head

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...

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...

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 fir...

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 fir...

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 -- Podcast...

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 &amp...

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 &a...

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 S...

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 Stud...

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 -- Podcast...

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 Psyc...

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 -- Podca...

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 --...

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: Administra...

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...

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...

In the moment, threatening punishment to see behavior change might seem like a good idea, but does it work? It turns out it depends on your goal. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of punishment and reveal why scolding, […] The post Threatening Punishment appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

It can be frustrating to be in conversations that get you nowhere, often because one party knows what they want already and is not interested in hearing the other side. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the all too common practice of […] The post Reasoning From The Desired Conclusion appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -...

Our culture, personal reflection, and life experiences shape how we understand our value within larger systems, and this, in turn, affects how we see our role in creating change. In the third and final installment in our Two Guys on Your Head series on the psychology of apathy, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and […] The post Apathy and Value Systems appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -...