Speaking Of Psychology

More than one-third of young adults ages 18 to 23--the older members of Gen Z--said that their mental health was worse right now than at the same time last year, according to APA's Stress in America survey. That's a higher number than any other age group. Emma Adam, PhD, a developmental psychologist at Northwestern University, discusses why the stresses of 2020 are hitting young adults so hard, why the pandemic's effects on teen stress seem to be more mixed, and how stress may affect this generation's health and development.    Music Used in this Episode "Expressions of the Mind" by ShadyDave via freesound.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you open the newspaper, turn on the nightly news or scroll the Internet, is what you are reading and seeing true? How do you know? What is “fake news” and why does it seem to be everywhere? Dr. Dolores Albarracin explains why fake news is so compelling, and what it takes to counteract it. "Countdown News Intro" by chimerical via Freesound.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scientists are racing to develop a safe, effective, vaccine for COVID-19 – but will people be willing to take it when it's available? We already have a flu vaccine, but less than half of Americans get it each year. Gretchen Chapman, PhD, a cognitive psychologist who studies health behavior, discusses why people choose to get vaccinated–or not–and how policymakers can encourage vaccination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Americans see this as the most consequential election in recent American history. What will shape voters’ decisions and actions this year? Jon Krosnick, PhD, director of the Political Psychology Research Group at Stanford University, discusses the psychological forces at play when people decide whether to vote and whom to vote for. He also talks about his recent research that finds Americans are increasingly concerned about climate change. Links: Jon Krosnick, PhD Credits: Music bed "Dramatic Scroller" by FoolBoyMedia, freesound.org (CC BY-NC 4.0) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among the thousands of apps that aim to help people with everything from stress to anxiety to PTSD to sleep problems, how many are based on solid scientific research? How many live up to what they promise? And how can you choose from among all the options? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With U.S. Senator Kamala Harris as the Democrats’ choice for vice presidential nominee, the challenges faced by female political candidates are back in the news again. This year is the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote in the United States, but true equality for women remains elusive in politics, business and many other areas. Alice Eagly, PhD, an emeritus professor of psychology at Northwestern University, discusses her research on the psychology of gender, including sex differences and similarities in leadership and how the public’s views on women in leadership roles have changed over time.  Links Alice Eagly, PhD Music Unpretentious Reveal by Drakensson via Freesound.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the 2020 election cycle heats up, so will conversations among family, friends and acquaintances on opposite ends of the political spectrum. The United States may be more politically polarized than ever, but political disagreements don’t have to devolve into shouting matches and ideological one-upmanship. For people who want to engage in meaningful dialogues with those who disagree with them, Dr. Tania Israel, a professor of in the department of counseling, clinical and school psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara, has some practical advice to offer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Compared with other animals, dogs are brilliant in one important way: They can understand and communicate with us, their human companions. Brian Hare, PhD, of Duke University, talks about what we know about canine cognition and how studying dogs’ evolutionary journey from wild wolves to domesticated pets can teach us more about humanity’s history as well.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the start of the 2020-2021 school year just weeks away, politicians, parents, health officials, school officials, teachers’ unions and other groups are debating whether it’s safe for students to return to physical classrooms. Heidi Schweingruber, PhD, a developmental psychologist and director of the Board on Science Education at the National Academies of Sciences, discusses a report on how school districts can balance the risks and rewards of reopening – and why schools should prioritize reopening for younger students. Links: Reopening K-12 Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prioritizing Health, Equity, and Communities Heidi Schweingruber, PhD, Bio Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psilocybin, LSD and other psychedelic drugs were once considered promising treatments for depression, anxiety and other mental health ailments. Now, after a decades-long lull, researchers are once again looking into the therapeutic potential of these drugs. Roland Griffiths, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, discusses new research on using psychedelics to treat depression, PTSD, and even alcohol and tobacco dependence. Links: Usona Institute Compass Pathways Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The protests against racial injustice that have made headlines over the past month may be prompting some white Americans to consider—perhaps for the first time--the advantages they've benefited from all their lives. Brian Lowery, PhD, a senior associate dean at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, studies the psychology of racial privilege in the United States. He discusses the factors that drive many white Americans to ignore and even deny that white privilege exists, and what he believes needs to be done to combat racial injustice. Episode Links: Brian Lowery, PhD Follow Brian Lowery, PhD on Twitter Washington Post Opinion | To my white friends, the time for talk has passed Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the past several months, millions of newly remote workers have found themselves juggling work and family responsibilities from hastily improvised home offices. Kristen Shockley, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Georgia, discusses her research on how these new teleworkers are adapting and talks about what the pandemic may mean for the future of remote work. Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than a week, protestors have filled the streets of cities and towns across the United States and even around the world, demanding an end to racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Lauren Duncan, PhD, a professor of psychology at Smith College and an expert on the psychology of protest and collective action, discusses why this is happening right now and what motivates people to come together to demand change. Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are some people more susceptible to conspiracy theories than others? Do people actually panic during disasters, like the pandemic? And are the brains of liberals and conservatives physiologically different? Dr. Jay Van Bavel, who directs NYU’s Social Perception and Evaluation Lab, answers these and other questions. Episode Links Jay Van Bavel, PhD APA COVID-19 Resources Speaking of Psychology Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we enter month No. 3 of living under the COVID-19 lockdown, parents and their kids may be getting on each other’s nerves. Parents working from home may be battling with their children – and each other - for computer access. As youngsters try to finish their school year via remote learning, they may be upset that there will be no summer camp this year, and certainly no big out-of-town vacation. Dr. Earl Turner, an expert on child psychology, offers more tips for coping, keeping families safe and handling the relentless drumbeat of coronavirus news. Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With most of us still following shelter-in-place rules, getting mental health care for people who need it can be a challenge. Fortunately, many psychological practitioners have been offering telemental health services for years, using electronic and telecommunications technologies to engage in psychotherapy virtually or by phone. APA’s Dr. Jared Skillings explains how to get this care and discusses how it compares to traditional face-to-face therapy. Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The coronavirus is keeping us from experiencing some of the deepest and most meaningful rituals of our lives, from graduations to weddings to funerals. What is this doing to us psychologically? How important are rituals to our mental health and well-being? Dr. Michael I. Norton, a professor of business administration at the Harvard Business School, talks about the many rituals he has studied and their roles within our lives. Episode Links APA COVID-19 Information and Resources Michael I. Norton, PhD Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

College and university students around the country are dealing with distance learning as their campuses have been forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Sian Beilock, a psychologist and president of Barnard College in New York, explains how her school is helping students finish the academic year and prepare for the fall. For instances, classes are being offered multiple times a day to accommodate students in different time zones and a small number of students have been allowed to shelter in place on campus. She also offers tips for parents with younger kids at home. Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting new and unforeseen pressures on all of us. Whether it’s trying to telework while the kids are screaming in another room or dealing with the loss of a job, this new normal is taxing our inner resources. Dr. Ann Masten, a professor in the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, has spent more than 40 years studying human resilience. She offers insights and tips on how to tap your inner resilience and build it in your own family. Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While we do not have a complete national picture, data from a few states and cities are showing that COVID-19 is disproportionately infecting African Americans and Latinos. Why is this so? And what can we do to alleviate these skewed proportions and flatten the curve. Listen to what APA’s Dr. Brian Smedley has to say about the underlying reasons for these disparities and what we need to do to mitigate them. Join us online August 6-8 for APA 2020 Virtual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices