Implicit and Explicit Biases with Dr. Jordan Axt

In Episode 41 we are joined by Dr. Jordan Axt, director of the McGill Intergroup Cognition Lab to talk about the application of social cognitive processes in an intergroup context. Jordan shares with us how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are shaped by the distinction between “us” and “them,” and how these are manifest implicitly and explicitly. What are implicit and explicit biases and how do they differ? How do scientists measure implicit and explicit bias? What does the implicit and explicit bias look like outside of the laboratory and how are physically attractive individuals disproportionally benefited by bias? All this and much more in Implicit and Explicit Biases with Dr. Jordan Axt!

References

Axt, J. R., Nguyen, H., & Nosek, B. A. (2018). The judgment bias task: A flexible method for assessing individual differences in social judgment biases. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 76, 337-355. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2018.02.011

Axt, J. R., Casola, G., & Nosek, B. A. (2019). Reducing social judgment biases may require identifying the potential source of bias. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45(8), 1232-1251. doi:10.1177/0146167218814003

Kurdi, B., Seitchik, A. E., Axt, J. R., Carroll, T. J., Karapetyan, A., Kaushik, N., . . . Banaji, M. R. (2019). Relationship between the implicit association test and intergroup behavior: A meta-analysis. The American Psychologist, 74(5), 569-586. doi:10.1037/amp0000364

Playful Relationships with Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk

In Episode 40 we are joined by Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk from the Positive Activities in Intimate Relationships Lab at Carleton University to chat about how play and positivity can stave off boredom in long term intimate relationships. Cheryl shares with us how the leisure activities we participate in with our partner can improve relationship satisfaction and how exploration plays a critical role in making activities less boring. What is relational boredom? What can you do to promote play and fun in your intimate relationships? What is the perfect date? All this and much more in Playful Relationships with Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk!

References

Muise, A., Harasymchuk, C., Day, L. C., Bacev-Giles, C., Gere, J., & Impett, E. A. (2019). Broadening your horizons: Self-expanding activities promote desire and satisfaction in established romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 116(2), 237-258. doi:10.1037/pspi0000148

Harasymchuk C., Cloutier, A., Peetz, J., & Lebreton, J. (2016). Spicing things up?: Relational boredom and shared couple activities. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 0265407516660216.

Posttraumatic Growth and Secrets with Dr. Chris Davis

In Episode 39 we are joined by Dr. Chris Davis from Carleton University to learn about posttraumatic growth following trauma. Chris shares with us how individuals make cognitive and emotional adaptations that promote personal growth and health following traumatic life events. Plus, we get a sneak peek at new work from Dr. Davis’ lab about the psychological costs of keeping secrets from your partner! What is posttraumatic growth? After an individual experiences a trauma, how does that change their philosophy towards life? Is it possible to elicit posttraumatic growth and should clinicians try? How do expectations about positive life events moderate personal growth outcomes? All this and much more in Posttraumatic Growth and Secrets with Dr. Chris Davis!

References

Davis, C. G., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Larson, J. (1998). Making sense of loss and benefiting from the experience: Two construals of meaning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(2), 561-574. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.75.2.561

Davis, C., & Novoa, D. (2013). Meaning-making following spinal cord injury: Individual differences and within-person change. Rehabilitation Psychology, 58(2), 166-177. doi:10.1037/a0031554

Researching Pornography with Dr. Taylor Kohut

In Episode 38 we are joined by Dr. Taylor Kohut from the University of Western Ontario to discuss pornography, its consumption, and the consequences of pornography on relationships. Taylor shares with us how pornography makes us feel, think, and behave, and why it is important to understand the intersection between porn users and pornographic preferences. What is pornography? Does pornography consumption lead to sexual violence or other anti-social behaviours? How does consuming pornography effect your sexual satisfaction and how you perceive your partner? All this and much more in Researching Pornography with Dr. Taylor Kohut!

References

Balzarini, R. N., Dobson, K., Chin, K., & Campbell, L. (2017). Does exposure to erotica reduce attraction and love for romantic partners in men? independent replications of Kenrick, Gutierres, and Goldberg (1989) study 2. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 70, 191-197. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2016.11.003

Bogaert, A. F. (2001). Personality, individual differences, and preferences for the sexual media. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 30(1), 29-53. doi:10.1023/A:1026416723291

Kohut, T., Balzarini, R. N., Fisher, W. A., Grubbs, J. B., Campbell, L., & Prause, N. (2019). Surveying pornography use: A shaky science resting on poor measurement foundations. The Journal of Sex Research, , 1-21. doi:10.1080/00224499.2019.1695244

Social Perspective Taking in Children with Epilepsy with Kathie Bailey

In Episode 37 we are joined by Kathie Bailey from Queen’s University and Trent University to chat about social problem solving and perspective taking in children with epilepsy. Kathie shares with us how the language ability of children with epilepsy contributes to difficulties in social perspective taking. How does epilepsy impact social cognitive processes and development in children? Why is language ability important in social perspective taking? What interventions are effective for assisting the social problem solving of children with epilepsy? All this and much more in Social Perspective Taking in Children with Epilepsy with Kathie Bailey!

Into the Weeds: Researching Cannabis with Dr. Zach Walsh

In Episode 36 we visit with Dr. Zach Walsh from the University of British Columbia Okanagan to chat about how social and cultural attitudes towards cannabis have changed with its legalization. Zach shares with us how research has shaped, and will continue to guide, changing norms and uses of cannabis - particularly surrounding its use medicinally. What barriers exist to understanding the advantages and disadvantages of cannabis medicinally and clinically? How can we integrate cannabis with other psychotherapies in the treatment of anxiety? What does cannabis research in human populations look like? All this and much more in Into the Weeds: Researching Cannabis with Dr. Zach Walsh!

References

University of British Columbia Department of Psychology Colloquia

The Unique Brain with Dr. Kathleen Gates

In Episode 35 we are joined by Dr. Kathleen Gates from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to chat about how each brain is unique and what that means for psychological research. Kathleen shares with us how measuring brain processes over time enables researchers to tease apart differences in psychological functioning and predict future psychological outcomes. How do differences in brain processes explain the uniqueness of human behaviour? If each brain is different, can we build personalized psychological treatments? What does The Lion King have to do with psychological research? All this and much more in The Unique Brain with Dr. Kathleen Gates!

References

Dr. Kathleen Gates (Sept 26, 2019) - UBC Psychology Colloquia 2019-2020

Debiasing Training with Dr. Carey Morewedge

In Episode 34 we are joined by Dr. Carey Morewedge from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University to chat about bias in decision making. Carey shares with us how biases, such as anchoring or confirmation bias, contribute to decision making and what can be done to mitigate these biases. What happens when biases effect our decision making? Can we be trained to be less susceptible to bias? If so, how long can the effects of debiasing training interventions last for? All this and much more in Debiasing Training with Dr. Carey Morewedge!

References

Sellier, A., Scopelliti, I., & Morewedge, C. K. (2019). Debiasing training improves decision making in the field. Psychological Science, 30(9), 1371-1379. doi:10.1177/0956797619861429