Yoel and Alexa chat with Jennifer Cox and Lauren Kois, co-directors of the Southern Behavioral Health and Law Initiative. Established in 2020, the initiative was created to address the dearth of mental health resources for people who become involved with the legal system. Jennifer and Lauren walk our co-hosts through common scenarios that can occur when a person with mental illness encounters the legal system, some of which involve long waits in understaffed state hospitals with little access to basic mental health resources. They also describe various efforts to ameliorate these problems, including their own work to optimize use of the 988 mental health emergency line in Alabama. In the process, they offer hope for researchers who aim to effect policy change without becoming mired in political polarization. And, they challenge future guests to a deadlifting contest.Special Guests: Jennifer Cox and Lauren Kois.Links:Two Psychologists Four Beers on UntappdSOUTHERN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND LAW INITIATIVE - WelcomeStanding tall: A new stage for incompetency casesYoel Romero - WikipediaTomberlin - stoned [Official Audio] - YouTube
Independent researcher Aella joins Yoel and Alexa to talk about her experiences doing freelance social science. Their discussion touches on some far-ranging topics, from the upsides of Twitter microfame to the humbling experience of questioning one's faith. At one point, they consider the compromises - good and bad - that come from catering to one's critics. Aella also discusses a recent funded research project where she asks people about their sexual fetishes. Special Guest: Aella.Links:Two Psychologists F. on UntappdKnowingless – In pursuit of an internally consistent annihilationerodynamicsAll The Twitter Polls (@aella_girl) - Google Sheets
Mickey returns with the hot takes you know and love. He joins Yoel and Alexa to discuss Jonathan Haidt's recent Atlantic article, "Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid." Haidt claims the answer is social media, but the cohosts aren't fully convinced. To shed a bit more light on the matter, they turn to an article by Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski which provides a rigorous analysis of the relationship between social media use and well-being. In the end, Mickey admits to being a hypocrite, and Alexa makes a plug for Big Potato. Links:Two Psychologists F. on UntappdWhy the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid - The AtlanticOrben & Przybylski (2019)Response from Twenge, Haidt, Joiner, & CampbellResponse to the ResponseUS TikTok User Data Has Been Repeatedly Accessed From China, Leaked Audio ShowsThe Welfare Effects of Social Media - American Economic AssociationWindows of developmental sensitivity to social mediaCorrupting The Youth: Teaching of Psychology | RSS.com
Earlier this year, the last of five "Many Labs" projects was accepted for publication at Collabra: Psychology, representating the culmination of a nearly-decade long series of multi-lab replication efforts. In this episode, Alexa and Yoel consider what they've learned from Many Labs 1 through 5, including insights about replication, expertise, and the impact (or lack thereof) of small effects. They also discuss their own connections to the project - Yoel as an original author, and Alexa as a researcher examing psychologists' reactions to the findings. Although the co-hosts deny they have any existential fear of death (see Many Labs 4) they do share their most recent life-threatening experiences. Links:Two Psychologists F. on UntappdMany Labs 1Many Labs 2Many Labs 3Many Labs 4Many Labs 5PsyArXiv Preprints | Psychologists Update their Beliefs About Effect Sizes After Replication StudiesBurlington Farmers Market
Originating within the behavioral sciences, "nudging" has received attention as a way to achieve broad societal change by promoting small, individual adjustments. We're told, for instance, that if we all do our part reduce our carbon footprints we can stave off climate change. In today's episode, Yoel and Alexa consider a critique of "nudging" offered by Chater and Loewenstein. These authors argue that individual-level interventions often fail to accumulate to impressive societal change, and meanwhile distract from much needed system-level solutions. Also, Yoel claims to be less relatable than Alexa.Sponsored By:FindingFive: FindingFive is a non-profit web platform where academic researchers can create and run online behavioral research studies in the cloud. Promo Code: FF-US-2P4BFindingFive: Link and promo code for users in the European Union Promo Code: FF-EU-2P4BLinks:Two Psychologists F. on UntappdThe i-Frame and the s-Frame: How Focusing on Individual-Level Solutions Has Led Behavioral Public Policy Astray by Nick Chater, George Loewenstein :: SSRNSleaford Mods - Nudge It Ft. Amy Taylor - YouTubeWhy 'Nudges' Hardly Help - The AtlanticClimate Change Is a Crisis We Can Only Solve Together | The Nation(5) Oleg Urminsky on Twitter: "Some slightly cranky comments on the "nudges can be a harmful diversion" discussion. " / TwitterWhat nudge theory got wrong | Financial Times
Yoel and Alexa discuss a recent study that examines the facial features that people perceive as "smart," "dorky," "trustworthy," or a number of other traits. The study quickly captured a lot of attention, eliciting both fascination and anger. The cohosts turn to Twitter, and to Alexa's undergraduate students, to attempt to gain a deeper understanding of the criticisms and suspicions expressed about the work. In the process, they consider whether glasses make you look smart, and whether babies can be trusted.Sponsored By:FindingFive: FindingFive is a non-profit web platform where academic researchers can create and run online behavioral research studies in the cloud. Promo Code: FF-US-2P4BFindingFive: Link and promo code for users in the European Union Promo Code: FF-EU-2P4BLinks:Two Psychologists F. on UntappdDeep models of superficial face judgments | PNASAbeba Birhane on Twitter: ""trustworthy", "smart" & "privilege" are not things that can be read off faces. this is nothing but a...
Originally, Yoel and Alexa set out to discuss a study examining stress and decision-making during the pandemic. However, they get sidetracked by the ways that data are packaged - first by APA, and then by NPR - into a newsworthy account that may not tell the whole story. They identify ways in which the summary statements and headlines may exaggerate or twist the data into a more interesting narrative. Despite their skepticism, they consider NPR's advice about how to improve day-to-day decision-making. In a particularly humble moment, Yoel concedes that he should have known better than to buy a car without air conditioning.Sponsored By:FindingFive: FindingFive is a non-profit web platform where academic researchers can create and run online behavioral research studies in the cloud. Promo Code: FF-US-2P4BFindingFive: Link and promo code for users in the European Union Promo Code: FF-EU-2P4BLinks:Two Psychologists F. on UntappdAndrew Heiss on TwitterA ‘Stunning’ Level of Student DisconnectionStress and decision-making during the pandemicSharpen your decision making skills : Life Kit : NPRTalking Heads - Tentative decisions - YouTube
Alexa and Yoel fight some more, this time over whether or not science should be value free. They consider a position taken by W. E. B. Du Bois, who argued that social change was only possible if scientists focused solely on finding truth. In the process, they consider whether scientists should ever keep findings to themselves, and discuss the merits of leaving the value judgments to the politicians. In the end, they somehow conclude that it is fine that they never justify their alphas. Next time, Alexa promises to find out what's happening on UA frat house lawns.Sponsored By:FindingFive: FindingFive is a non-profit web platform where academic researchers can create and run online behavioral research studies in the cloud. Promo Code: FF-US-2P4BFindingFive: Link and promo code for users in the European Union Promo Code: FF-EU-2P4BLinks:Two Psychologists F. on UntappdDu Bois’ democratic defence of the value free ideal | SpringerLinkThe SAT Isn’t What’s Unfair - The Atlantic
Yoel and Alexa discuss the "grand challenges" of psychological science, as identified in a recent survey of APS members. While usually nauseatingly agreeable, the two find many points of contention when it comes to psychology's shortcomings - from the kinds of diversity worth wanting to the value of decolonizing your syllabus. In the end, they make amends by agreeing that psychological science is, unfortunately, unlikely to solve climate change. And, along the way they express their appreciation for winter sports, tax advice, and alcoholic seltzers without artificial sweeteners.Sponsored By:FindingFive: FindingFive is a non-profit web platform where academic researchers can create and run online behavioral research studies in the cloud. Promo Code: FF-US-2P4BFindingFive: Link and promo code for users in the European Union Promo Code: FF-EU-2P4BLinks:Two Psychologists F. on UntappdThe Grand Challenges of Psychological Science – Association for Psychological Science – APSSpring Break: Family Friendly Things To Do In HoustonRETRACTED ARTICLE: The association between early career informal mentorship in academic collaborations and junior author performance | Nature CommunicationsMerchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes & Erik Conway — BURDOCK BOOK COLLECTIVETwo Psychologists Four Beers Episode 58: Sexism and Racism on Campus (with Anne Wilson)Andrew Bird - Souverian - YouTube
Yoel and Alexa embrace their credulous sides and consider concepts from psychology that have importance for people in their private and public lives. Each of us lists the three social psychological ideas that we think are most relevant to people's lives - the kinds of things we would teach if we could give just one lecture. There are areas of consensus, but at some point Alexa wonders what Yoel has against insurance. We also discuss our inability to meaningfully discuss international politics.Sponsored By:FindingFive: FindingFive is a non-profit web platform where academic researchers can create and run online behavioral research studies in the cloud. Promo Code: FF-US-2P4BFindingFive: Link and promo code for users in the European Union Promo Code: FF-EU-2P4BLinks:Two Psychologists F. on UntappdWhat do economic scholars consider powerful economic knowledge of importance for people in their private and public lives? Implications for teaching and learning economics in social studiesHow dozens of managers were conned into illegally strip-searching their employees - VoxPersonal experiences bridge moral and political divides better than facts | PNASModest Mouse - Float On (Official Music Video) - YouTubeSazerac Rye