All In The Mind

Jessica Pan was a life-long shy introvert and for the most part she was happy with this aspect of her personality – until the loneliness crept it. This week on All in the Mind, the first of two episodes exploring introversion and extroversion. The benefits and downsides of each, how these traits impact our mental health and whether we change, if we want to. This episode was first broadcast in August 2022.

1 in 10 dads experience perinatal depression and anxiety, and more seem to be willing to reach out for help. Chris Jephcott wishes he'd been one of them. If this episode raises any issues for you, you can reach out to: Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) 1300 726 306

Nature is good for our wellbeing. But how much green space does a community need, before you can see a wellbeing boost? And how do we encourage people to spend more time outdoors?

A bank heist, a hostage drama and a dubious diagnosis. It's 50 years since the robbery that inspired the term 'Stockholm Syndrome', and today we explore the origins of the proposed condition  - and probe the many problems with that label.

Chris Hadnagy’s job involves breaking into break into banks. But he’s not after money, gold or jewels. He’s searching for weaknesses – in systems, in security, and in people.  And he doesn’t use weapons or threats of violence to get past guards and into vaults. He uses a smile - and a few tricks from his toolbox of psychology and social engineering techniques. Chris is the founder and CEO of Social Engineer LLC and lectures about social engineering around the globe. On All in the Mind this week, the psychology of influence and what makes some people more vulnerable to being ‘hacked’ than others.  This episode was first broadcast in August 2021.

A founding member of the band Gang of Youths. A single mum from Adelaide. A dad of two in Brisbane. What do all these people have in common? They all have young kids, and they all sing to them constantly! As part of our exploration of sound and noise for Science Week, we ask: why do babies turn us into non-stop singing machines? Where does this instinct come from and what purpose does it serve? For more Science Week stories, head to abc.net.au/science

Fashion can embody a lot: status, identity, belonging... A great outfit makes us feel confident, but the fashion industry can be harmful to our self esteem.  So what does fashion say about us? And why as humans do we even care about clothes?

For years, psychologist Patricia Harney avoided true crime podcasts and docos. They hit too close to home. Recently she's been testing the waters, and noticing these whodunnit shows often leave out a crucial element of the story.

We're urged to stay positive and keep up a cheerful disposition ... but sometimes things are just awful, aren’t they? On All in the Mind this week we look at why we engage in toxic positivity, why it's so damaging when we do and whether something called 'tragic optimism' could be the antidote. This episode was first broadcast in February 2022.

In your mind's eye, can you see yourself achieving your dream goal? Can you imagine what it would feel like? Who you'd be talking to when you achieve it? Turns out the more you can imagine, the better your shot at achieving you goal. But that's not the whole story… This is part two of our two-parter on performance psychology.

What does it take to go from second place, to first? Good, to great? This is part one of our two parter on performance psychology.

What's your favourite smell? And why is it your favourite? Maybe it reminds you of a special moment, a particular place or a loved one. But can you use these scents to make yourself… Happier? And what happens if we lose our sense of smell altogether?

Whether you're 19 and never given it a thought, or 40 and starting to wonder, menopause is an unavoidable part of life for half the population. But many of us are shaky on the details of what to expect — apart from hot flashes/flushes, maybe. Former model Ali Daddo was one of those people: totally unprepared, and caught off guard when it hit. She's on a mission to make sure other women are more informed – and therefrom more empowered – than she was. Just a heads up, this episode touches on mental health struggles and suicide. Please take care while listening.

Sky diving. Racing cars. Abseiling. Jumping into an ice bath. Depending on who you are, those activities either delight or horrify you. High sensation seekers love the thrill, and that leads some to extreme sports, others to crime. Marley Duncan can tell you first hand: option one is way better. Just a note, this episode contains strong language and swear words.

Spicy food, scary movies, BDSM … why do humans sometimes chase painful experiences and how are they linked to pleasure? This episode was first broadcast in March 2022.

Laura would spend weeks feeling normal — even happy. But like clockwork, every month, suddenly she would feel intense depression, making her unrecognisable to herself and friends. It took her nearly two decades to identify what was causing this rollercoaster of mood: PMDD, AKA Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. So what is it about hormones that make some people feel such intense emotions? And why is PMDD still so misunderstood? This episode touches on the topic of suicide. Please take care while listening.

What's the most catchy song you can think of? Is there a moment that makes you suddenly pay attention, mesmerised by the melody or beat? You're probably reflecting on a song's hook. But why do hooks capture our minds and memories? A music psychologist and musicologist share their thoughts on the power of hooks. In this episode you'll hear Tim and Jadey cover pop songs which Sana credits at the end of the episode. To see the written credits, head to our website.

Lynne Malcolm is used to being in the host's seat, but today, the tables are turned. She's back on All in the Mind to discuss her new book, appropriately titled All in the Mind. So what did she learn through 9 years of interviews? How did the show help her process her own mental health? Lynne reflects on her expansive career at the ABC and the personal connections she made along the way.

This episode was first broadcast in September 2021. Have you heard of ASMR? Whispery, clicky, crinkly videos are massive on YouTube - racking up millions of views. The idea is that these sounds elicit a certain tingly, calming sensation in some people. So what is ASMR and what does the science tell us about it? Is it real … or pseudoscience? And why do some people get the opposite reaction – irritation rather than these pleasant tingles?

This episode deals with descriptions of abuse. Please take care while listening. Michael Baldwin cycled through seven therapists over 22 years. No one could help him overcome the trauma of his childhood — until he tried EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy). But why would eye movements help a person process their trauma? It sounds fantastical. Is it?

It's human nature to form groups — families, friends, online communities. We love to be surrounded by people similar to us. But that can also make us discriminatory and defensive. And social media makes that instinct worse. In this episode, we look at how our brains evolved to connect and divide, and what that means for the problems we face in our modern world.

A magical kingdom with ogres and fairies. A post-apocalyptic world ruled by machines. An underwater monster that resembles a dragon. These fictional worlds might only be described by words, but the images they create in our minds feel so real. Why are our brains so good at creating imaginary images? Producer Rose Kerr explores how an author's words translate into the mind's of readers.

Journalist Elfy Scott grew up in a loving and tight knit family, but there was one topic they never spoke about, for a long time: her mother's schizophrenia. Now, Elfy is sharing her family's story, and interrogating why stigma so often silences conversations about complex mental health disorders.

This episode was first broadcast in June 2021.  Have you ever tried a self-help book? Did it… well, help? On All in the Mind this week, why self-help sometimes falls short ... and the problem with pop psychology more generally.

A lot of us would like to think we could spot a scam a mile away. Spelling errors, suspicious email addresses and requests for money… all tip offs that something isn't right. But none of us are immune to scammers' psychological tricks – not even psychologists. In this episode, forensic neuropsychologist Dr Stacey Wood reveals the tricks and techniques scammers use, and what makes us most vulnerable to their tactics.

Do you wake up each morning refreshed and well slept? Or are you the kind of person who tosses and turns for ages before falling asleep, ruminating on all of your missteps and stresses from the day? If you chose option two, this episode is for you. We get advice on making nighttime more restful — beyond the standard 'don't look at your phone before bed.' (Though that's important too).

Doing something that goes against your beliefs feels pretty bad, right? But what if those beliefs are stopping you from doing something good for you? Producer Rose Kerr investigates the role cognitive dissonance plays in our lives: how it can lead to some creative mental gymnastics, and when it can be harnessed for good.

ARIA-nominated musician Parvyn knows what it's like to lose touch with reality. Delusions, mania, psychosis — she's experienced it all, often while on tour. Despite processing these experiences on her debut solo album 'Sa', she's never spoken publicly about her mental health — until now.

This episode was first broadcast in February 2022.  Most of us have an inner voice – it reminds you to pick up milk on your way home, helps problem solve, or rehearse what you’re going to say. But there are times that helpful voice veers into harmful chatter.

As a teen, Hunter Johnson wanted to be the best at sport, the best at getting girls, and the best at getting attention. But one moment would change everything for him — forcing him to rethink his ideas about masculinity. Now, he's paying it forward. Last week, we explored why toxic masculinity is tricky to talk about. Today, we hear from someone having that conversation daily — shifting the focus from toxic behaviours and beliefs … to emotional intelligence.

Do you get defensive when you hear the term toxic masculinity? You wouldn't be the only one, if so. In this episode, we follow one dad's attempts to understand where internet algorithms are sending his son… and ask, how do we deal with toxic masculinity, when the very term has become contested?

From phantom limbs to Alice in Wonderland syndrome — why does the brain sometimes mess up its awareness and understanding of the body it belongs to? Neuroscientist and author of Body Am I, Moheb Costandi explains.

Sex, scandal, money and misdeeds. All elements of good gossip. So why do we love the gossip, but not the gossiper? And why are we invested in the secrets of celebrities, even though they're strangers?

Where do you draw the line between brainwashing… and influence? Thought control… and mere suggestion? From the Korean War, to The Beatles, to current day, we trace the sometimes scary/sometimes weird history of brainwashing.

This episode was first broadcast in September 2022.  You might not think of yourself as a negotiator but big or small we all negotiate daily. Getting better at it could make your life easier. So what's the most effective way to negotiate? Is playing hardball ever a useful strategy? And what do you do when you're at a power disadvantage?

This episode was first broadcast in May 2022.  On All in the Mind this week, the early history of autism. With historian of science Professor Marga Vicedo we learn about the blame that was cast on mothers, the fight to get adequate help and support for families, and the movement that one mother, Clara Park, helped spark.

This episode was first broadcast in March 2022.  Why do we laugh, and what makes something funny? A psychologist, a neuroscientist and satirist Mark Humphries weigh in on humour and the brain.

Over summer, we're sharing some of our favourite episodes of the year. This one was first broadcast in April 2022.  Anxiety and alcohol misuse are a common pairing. How do the two egg each other on and what can be done to halt the cycle? Plus, the personality traits that shape our likelihood of harmful alcohol use.

This summer, we're sharing some of our favourite episodes of the year. This episode was first broadcast in April.  What are the constructive things our minds do when they wander? And when does mindwandering cross over … into not-so-constructive territory? Guests: Professor Moshe Bar Cognitive Neuroscientist, Bar-Ilan University; Author, Mindwandering: How It Can Improve Your Mood and Boost Your Creativity Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Roi Huberman

As a toddler, Nicole's son was extremely aggressive. As he got older, his behaviour worsened. In our final episode of the year, we examine 'callous unemotional traits' — the early warning signs of psychopathy that emerge in childhood.

This episode was first broadcast in November 2021.  Are your colleagues rude? Do people regularly ignore each other or dismiss opinions in meetings? Ever gotten an all caps email? On All in the Mind this week, we examine the toxic effects of rude behaviour. And are we getting more rude as a society?

If you open any social media app, you're likely to eventually come across videos of people discussing trauma.  The hashtag TraumaTok has billions of views...   So how did trauma take over the internet? And what effect is it having on our mental health? Technology Reporter Ariel Bogle investigates.

When you get nervous, can you feel it in your stomach?  The gut-brain connection is something many of us have experienced but probably not given much thought to.  Research into this connection has led to the rise of a seemingly unexpected treatment for IBS: hypnotherapy.  Producer Danni Stewart investigates how Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be treated.

If the only certainty is uncertainty, how do we manage our anxieties about the unknown? Today we explore why the mind struggles with uncertainty and what we can do to manage it.

Before she was Dr Alix Woolard, Alix was a teenager grappling with a traumatic event in her family. It would affect her mental health dramatically, leaving her unsure of her path ahead. Now, Dr Alix Woolard researches childhood trauma and it's lifelong impacts. This episode deals with mental health and discusses suicide. Please listen with care.

Have you ever thought, I wonder what it's like being famous? Maybe it's something you've always dreamed of, or maybe it's your worst nightmare. Being famous is something many people aspire to, but the reality can be isolating. This week, producer Jennifer Leake looks at what fame does to a person's psychology.

What makes people do evil things? Psychologist Stanley Milgram wanted to understand if people could be led to do awful things, just by being told to do them. The experiment he would devise to test this would become one of the most infamous examples of unethical studies in the field of psychology: The Milgram Shock Experiment. But Professor Alex Haslam says that's not the full picture… And the findings are misunderstood.

Learning chess with his young daughter kickstarted a life-long journey of learning for Tom Vanderbilt. Here's what he discovered about being an adult beginner, its benefits, and how kids and adults learn differently.

With relatively benign intentions, Wendell Johnson devised an experiment that would go on to be dubbed the Monster Study, inflicting terrible harm on a group of vulnerable and unsuspecting children.

Popular culture is endlessly fascinated with cults, and they have to capacity to make ordinary people do unthinkable things. So how do cults reel people in and what does it take to leave?

What goes on in the multilingual mind? And what does it mean to 'lose' your language?

You might not think of yourself as a negotiator but big or small we all negotiate daily and getting better at it could make your life easier.

Addiction has long been a problem for humans, but smart phones and the internet have changed the game. So how can we find balance in a dopamine overloaded world?

You've probably heard of unconscious bias but how are they formed and what can we do to stop the damage they can cause?

What does neuroscience and psychology tell us about how these traits are developed?

Are you outgoing or shy? there are pros and cons of each but is it possible to switch sides?

Few sensations are as primal, as fundamental to our very survival, as pain. But for a fifth of Australian adults, that useful protective mechanism lingers as chronic pain — persistent aching, searing, stabbing sensations, which can be incredibly stressful and debilitating.  What if you could dial down that pain — or even extinguish it altogether — by retraining your brain?

Anastasia Woolmer explains the techniques memory athletes use, and how you can apply them to everyday life.

How many times in a day are you doing just one thing? Or is it more common that you’re multitasking – maybe texting and walking? Reading while listening to music? We all multitask to some degree, but do any of us do it well? And is that even possible? This week on All in the Mind, we look into the science of multitasking – why we struggle to do it, why some of us are better at it than others – and how to do it effectively if you must. First broadcast 19 December 2021.

Would you be able to tell the difference between a bargain bin red and a top drop? Or how about what separates a duck paté … from one made of dog food? Perception is everything when it comes to marketing, and decades of neuroscience and psychology research have given businesses ever greater insights into how we can make decisions and how they can subtly shape our expectations so that yes – even dog food paté can become appealing. But the ramifications of this power may be pushing companies into unethical territory. First broadcast on 22 August 2021.

Over the past two decades, our cultural understanding of autism and what it means to be autistic has grown - though we have a long way to go. But there are entire generations of people who grew up when the popular conception of autism was a far cry from how it’s now understood. It meant a whole host of people who grew up feeling like they didn’t fit in, but never quite knowing why. They were autistic, but undiagnosed. And when a diagnosis did come as an adult – it was often revelatory and life-changing. On All in the Mind this week, 'hidden histories’ of late-diagnosed autistic adults. First broadcast 8 August 2021.

Guilt and shame are often used interchangeably, but researchers in emotion and psychology say they are distinct – and often motivate people into very different paths of behaviour. For the feeling of guilt, at least, that might even push you into making unexpected positive changes.

Our brains are easily distracted or overwhelmed. And that can make getting stuff done harder than it needs to be. This week, we look at methods and strategies for avoiding unnecessary stress by managing your priorities, your focus, and your energy with organisational psychologist Dr Amantha Imber.

Imagine getting a diagnosis in adulthood that suddenly made so much of your life make sense. It explains why you’ve always had trouble being on time, starting things you don’t finish, avoiding difficult projects. Producer Jennifer Leake explores the impact of an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood.

Michael Slepian researches the psychology of secrets. But what he didn't know — until about a decade ago — was that his family had a major secret they were keeping from him. One they planned never to reveal. Until …

In the uncertain times we live in, how exactly are we meant to make up our minds? How do we weigh up pros, cons and risk factors, and how do stress and fear bear on our capacity for critical thinking? And how often are we even aware of the decisions we’re making? On All in the Mind this week, a special panel discussion recorded at the Sydney Writers’ Festival.

Music is central to the human experience. We celebrate with it, commiserate through it - often some of our strongest memories are tied to it. On All in the Mind this week, how music affects us from the womb through the rest of our lives - and what new research tells us about its measurable impact on our mental health. Plus, the 'plink' test - how our musical memories can identify a track from just a sliver of song, and the power of music to shape our emotions.

On All in the Mind this week, the early history of autism. With historian of science Professor Marga Vicedo we learn about the blame that was cast on mothers, the fight to get adequate help and support for families, and the movement that one mother, Clara Park, helped spark.

Have you ever wanted to change your personality? Many people do - studies find we're keen to become more extroverted, more agreeable and more conscientious. But what does the evidence say about whether people do change? And can you tweak your personality deliberately?

Two disasters, two years apart - the ongoing mental health impact on survivors and what the research can tell us about the different ways people respond to these life-changing events.

The quirks of psychology that influence when we give to charity … and when we don't.

Dolls can tell us a lot about how kids see the world – especially when it comes to race. One American researcher spent months watching pre-schoolers play with dolls and what she observed shocked her. Plus, did you know the very first study of children and their thoughts about dolls actually changed the course of American history? First broadcast 4 April 2021.

Anxiety and alcohol misuse are a common pairing. How do the two egg each other on and what can be done to halt the cycle? Plus, the personality traits that shape our likelihood of harmful alcohol use.

Grief is deeply painful but it's something the majority of us …eventually … find ways to live with. But research is starting to emerge on how the pandemic may have changed the way we grieve - making the experience more intense, more debilitating.  As places like Australia and the US move on from the harshest restrictions of the last two years… is how we grieve returning to baseline? Or is it still too early to know? On All in the Mind this week, how the COVID pandemic has changed the nature of grief.

About one in five Australians experience a mental illness in any given year. But what about when mental health issues occur ... together? On All in the Mind this week, we look at a massive Scandinavian epidemiological study series which considers why having one mental illness puts you at greater risk of developing subsequent ones, and explore what that might mean for the treatment and prevention of mental health issues.

What are the constructive things our minds do when they wander? And when does mindwandering cross over … into not-so-constructive territory?

If you’re lucky enough to have fallen in love at some point in your life, you’ve  probably also had your heart broken. The experience can be excruciating, protracted, disorienting … but can it cause you lasting psychological – even physical – harm?

Chris Hadnagy’s job involves breaking into banks. But he’s not after money, gold or jewels. He’s searching for weaknesses – in systems, in security, and in people.  And he doesn’t use weapons or threats of violence to get past guards and into vaults. He uses a smile - and a few tricks from his toolbox of psychology and social engineering techniques. Chris is the founder and CEO of Social Engineer LLC and lectures about social engineering around the globe. On All in the Mind this week, the psychology of influence and what makes some people more vulnerable to being ‘hacked’ than others. [This episode originally aired on 01 August 2021]

Why do we laugh, and what makes something funny? A psychologist, a neuroscientist and satirist Mark Humphries weigh in on humour and the brain.

An excerpt from a new ABC podcast called What the Duck?! Each week the ABC's resident nature nerd Ann Jones explores the most unusual elements of our natural world — the ones that make you go What the Duck?!

Spicy food, scary movies, BDSM … why do humans sometimes chase painful experiences and how are they linked to pleasure?

Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, is tricky to pick up at the doctor's office and impossible to cure. And for those who live with the condition, their families and their carers, the situation can be very challenging. On All in the Mind this week, we hear from those people and a researcher who has spent decades working on the condition.

What happens when we let our most destructive emotion dominate? On All in the Mind this week, we explore why we get angry, how you might control aggression and whether it can ever be ... useful.

We're urged to stay positive and keep up a cheerful disposition ... but sometimes things are just awful, aren’t they? On All in the Mind this week we look at why we engage in toxic positivity, why it's so damaging when we do and whether something called 'tragic optimism' could be the antidote.

Most of us have an inner voice – it reminds you to pick up milk on your way home, helps problem solve, or rehearse what you’re going to say. But there are times that helpful voice veers into harmful chatter.

You’ve heard of adrenaline, oxytocin and cortisol, but what about glutamate and GABA? And how much do you really know about the chemicals coursing through your brain? On All in the Mind this week, we take a whistle stop tour through your brain to learn how various chemicals influence our behaviour.

Having a baby is supposed to be a joyous time, despite the sleep deprivation and constant crying. But for many women, it can be a dark time. We know one in six suffer post partum depression, but there's another condition that affects women during this period that you may not have heard of. It's called post-partum psychosis. It's rare, but for those who get it, it can be utterly debilitating. This episode was first broadcast on 25 April 2021.

It’s a condition which affects some patients who end up in intensive care …  and can continue after they’re released from hospital. People often experience paranoia and fear, sometimes believing doctors are trying to kill them or that ghostly figures have visited during the night. Disrupted sleep, bright lights, the endless beeping of alarms — all are thought to play a role in bringing on the condition. On All in the Mind this week, delirium in the ICU – and how our hospital system might be redesigned to reduce it.

The uncertainty, isolation, and danger posed by the Coronavirus pandemic affects the mental health of many people - but for those on the frontline, all of those feelings can be heightened. We talk to health professionals who have been managing their own panic attacks and anxiety.

Growing older is something we only get to do if we’re lucky, so why are so many of us unenthusiastic about the prospect of ageing? We speak to neuroscientist and author Dan Levitin about his new book The Changing Mind, which looks at the ways the brain actually improves as we age, and how we can help it.

Design and creativity really can work together. We talk with a design critic and a product design educator who both have an interest in toys - their history, and how they’re created and assessed in the real world. Get your blocks ready to play along.

There's a condition so bizarre and rare that most doctors haven't even heard of it - it's called Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome and it causes people to hear their blood moving, bones creaking, lungs breathing and even eyeballs moving. It can have a profound impact on a person's life and mental health. So can it be fixed? We go into a hospital operating room to learn about this little-known condition. Warning: this episode contains a description of a surgical operation.

Believe it or not … a Formula 1 car can be driven by someone just using their brain. We consider the neurogeneration: people who in the future are likely to be using some kind of brain-powered technology to do their job or to extend their knowledge. But we don’t leave the past behind, there’s also a peek into the brain collection of Cornell University.

We all know that certain diseases are contagious, but sometimes behaviour is contagious as well. We take a look at some historical examples—such as the Tanganyika laughter epidemic of 1962, and the 1518 case of uncontrollable dancing—and we consider what might drive copycat crimes. There's also the possibility of suicide contagion. Trigger warning: this episode touches on the subject of suicide, please take care while listening.

Habits are notoriously hard to change—exercising more often, practising calmness, getting healthy—it all takes time and effort. So perhaps you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a way to get habits into your routine. We talk with Bernard Balleine, Director of the Decision Neuroscience Lab at UNSW; and with B J Fogg, founder of the Behaviour Design Lab at Stanford University about his new book Tiny Habits.

How good are you at imagining or hearing music in your head? Can you think of the tune to ‘Happy Birthday’ and bring the notes to mind without actually singing? We consider the mind’s musical ear and what it reveals about us. And ... earworms—those pesky songs stuck in your head—where they come from and persuading them to leave.

When it comes to pseudoscience you might consider yourself to be a sceptic But don’t give yourself too much credit because we’re all vulnerable to believing dubious claims. This is because of powerful cognitive biases in the brain—and we could actually be satisfied with quite shallow explanations for things—and for being suckers for pseudoscience.

Indigenous people in Australia are having a very difficult time finding a psychologist who understands Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history. Sometimes Indigenous patients seeking treatment have been denied a voice, and the reality of their situation. There are about 800,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, but only 218 Indigenous psychologists. Australia needs more of them—and we look at what many mainstream psychologists fail to understand about Indigenous patients.