Dec 1, 2023
In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you will hear an insightful conversation between host Melina Palmer and guest Paul Bloom, a psychology professor and author. Throughout the episode, they delve into various aspects of psychology and behavioral science, offering valuable insights and practical applications. Paul shares his expertise on the writing process, the challenges facing academic research, and the importance of incorporating engaging elements into content.
He also highlights the spotlight effect, the study of children's behavior, and the need for curiosity and asking questions to gain a deeper understanding of human behavior. With Paul's extensive knowledge and expertise in the field, this episode provides psychology enthusiasts and behavioral science professionals with valuable insights to enhance their understanding and application of psychology principles. Whether you are interested in the writing process, the crisis in psychology, or gaining a comprehensive understanding of the human mind, this episode offers something for everyone. So, tune in to The Brainy Business podcast and gain valuable insights into psychology and behavioral science.
In this episode, you will:
00:00:00 - Introduction,
In this episode, Melina Palmer interviews Paul Bloom, author of the
book Psych. They discuss Paul's background and his interest in
developmental psychology.
00:05:01 - Innate Knowledge in Children,
Paul highlights the fascinating discoveries made in developmental
psychology, such as young babies' innate understanding of the
physical and social world. He emphasizes the importance of giving
developmental psychology more recognition.
00:07:25 - Humor in Children,
While not a focus of his research, Paul acknowledges the
significance of humor in children's development. He mentions that
incongruity and context play a role in what makes us laugh.
00:10:09 - The Origins of Psych,
Paul shares the history of his popular psychology class at Yale and
how it led to the creation of the book "Psych." He wanted to reach
a larger audience and provide more in-depth information than what
could be covered in the course.
00:11:21 - Writing Psych,
Paul explains that he wrote Psych based on his course materials and
transcribed notes. He aimed to make the book accessible and
informative, expanding on the topics covered in the course.
00:14:50 - The Writing Process,
Paul and Melina discuss their writing processes and how they
approach the task of writing. They touch on topics such as word
count, finding inspiration, and managing distractions.
00:16:00 - Different Approaches to Writing,
Paul and Melina compare their different approaches to writing. One
prefers to work in condensed chunks of time, while the other works
in shorter bursts with frequent breaks. They discuss the benefits
and challenges of each method.
00:18:20 - Making Writing Fun,
Melina highlights the importance of making writing fun and
engaging. They discuss the use of literary references, popular
culture, and anecdotes to make the writing process more enjoyable
and accessible to readers.
00:21:51 - Advice on Improving Business Communications,
Melina suggests two chapters from Paul Bloom's book that would be
relevant for improving business communications. These chapters
focus on reasoning and rationality, as well as finding fulfillment
and happiness in life.
00:23:05 - The Crisis in Psychology
Melina delves into the crisis in psychology where many studies have
failed to replicate and there have been cases of fraud. They
emphasize the need for caution when relying on research findings
and highlight the fragility of the science.
00:30:46 - The Future of Psychological Studies
Paul discusses the improvements in psychological studies, such as
larger sample sizes, preregistration, and more theoretically
grounded research. He also mentions the importance of meta-analyses
to get a clearer understanding of the overall findings.
00:32:06 - Challenges in Generalizing Psychological Findings
Paul acknowledges the difficulty in generalizing psychological
findings due to the vast individual differences and confounding
factors. He suggests that instead of expecting general principles,
we should consider that certain interventions may work for some
people but not others.
00:34:18 - Striking a Balance between Theoretical and Applied
Psychology
Paul discusses the balance between theoretical and applied
psychology. While applied work can still be done, he suggests that
a deeper understanding of the mind in abstract conditions may be
more achievable than practical advice due to the complexity of
human behavior.
00:35:08 - Unreliability of Memory
Paul highlights the unreliability of human memory and how memories
are often reconstructions based on experiences and expectations. He
mentions the impact of this finding on areas like eyewitness
testimony and emphasizes the need for caution when relying solely
on memory.
00:39:25 - The Complexities of Job Satisfaction
Paul discusses the complexity of job satisfaction, noting that it
goes beyond just high salaries or pleasant work environments.
Meaning, challenge, and the ability to make a difference are
important factors that contribute to job satisfaction, even in
lower-paying or less respected professions.
00:46:14 - The Spotlight Effect
Paul discusses how people tend to believe that they are the most
important person to others, but in reality, everyone is focused on
themselves. This phenomenon is known as the spotlight effect.
00:46:37 - Influence and the Spotlight Effect
The concept of the spotlight effect is further explored in Vanessa
Blonde's episode. The show notes provide more information on this
topic.
00:47:18 - Connecting with Paul Bloom
To connect with Paul Bloom and learn more about his books, visit
his website at paulbloom.net. He also recently started a Substack
called Small Potatoes for sharing his thoughts without going
through an editor.
00:47:46 - Announcing the Substack
Paul announces the launch of his Substack, Small Potatoes, where he
will be writing and sharing interesting thoughts and ideas.
00:48:04 - Conclusion,
Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you
while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come
share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as
@thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.
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