Two Guys on Your Head

Some of our behaviors tend to get in the way of goals we would like to achieve or even the lives we want to live, but changing our behavior can be more complicated than we think. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke, talk about the psychology of […]

In April, we celebrate National Poetry Month, and in honor of this beautiful commemoration, we wanted to revisit our show on writer’s block! That phrase might induce panic and a recollection of a familiar experience. It’s a widespread phenomenon. So what is it? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explain […]

A classic study found that individuals eat less soup when they have a visual cue of how much they have eaten, thus demonstrating the power of external cues about eating. However, this research, done by Brian Wansink and his colleagues in 2005, was called into question by the lead researcher’s demonstrations of scientific misconduct. A […]

Nobel laureate and behavioral psychologist Daniel Kahneman passed away on March 27th, 2024, at the age of 90. Kahneman was not only a giant in the fields of psychology and economics, but as Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke talk about in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head he was also kind, generous, open-minded, and […]

Building in hedges to a sentence is a natural thing most of us do without thinking too much about it, but when we can’t form a sentence without “really” or “like ya know” it might be time to take a pause. That said, as we explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, […]

Dr. Art Markman explains how he advises organizational leaders about critiquing behavior.

Many psychological elements go into the idea of changing or remaking oneself, so Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke decided to record a series on the psychology of change. Our third and final episode delves into the words we use to describe ourselves and others and why and how they matter.

Many psychological elements go into the idea of changing or remaking oneself, so Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke decided to record a series on the psychology of change. Our second episode in the series looks at what we believe about who can change, how people change, and why it matters.

Many psychological elements go into the idea of changing or remaking oneself, so Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke decided to record a series on the psychology of change beginning with the different intellectual lines on the idea of personal change.

There is a lot of psychology that goes into how, when, and why we part with our money, and to be sure marketers know this very well. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of the freebie and how to take control of what we spend.

Have you ever wondered about something but didn’t ask about it because you thought it was something you should already know about? You may have worried someone might think less of you for not knowing. It turns out that that happens more often than we’d like to admit mainly because of subtle judgments we may […]

Being a curious person and finding out about things that interest us is a wonderful element of what it means to be human. In the first part of our look at the psychology of curiosity with Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about why we should be open to curiosity, and […]

How we understand, assess, and determine what risks we are willing to take can change depending on many variables, but what we might not consider is that much of this is happening below our conscious awareness. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke conclude their series on risk by looking […]

How we understand, assess, and determine what risks we are willing to take can change depending on a variety of variables, but what we might not consider is that much of this is happening below our conscious awareness. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss the influence desire has […]

How we understand, assess, and determine what risks we are willing to take can change depending on a variety of variables, but what we might not consider is that much of this is happening below our conscious awareness. With this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke begin our series on the […]

According to the According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of Americans say tipping is expected in more places today than it was five years ago. It seems everywhere you make a transaction the swiveling iPad is urging you to choose a percentage to tip before you sign. This cultural shift This cultural shift in […]

Have you ever wanted to tell a friend about a book you just discovered by saying, “I’m reading…” then you have to qualify that by saying, “Actually I am listening to it.” Maybe you feel a bit like a cheat or an imposter? Well, you should not! Listening is different than reading because our brains […]

A lot of times when we think of or refer to common sense it is because we think someone may be lacking it. However, for our society to function we need to have some consensus, but how do we learn and teach this, and what exactly is common sense? In this episode of Two Guys on […]

Grades serve as a proxy to measure if we’ve learned what we need to learn, but emphasizing the grade over the value of learning is done more often than not to our detriment. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the importance of teaching the value of learning.

Many times we think that if we set up the correct consequences for negative behavior children will learn to do the right thing, but as Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about as we continue our series on the psychology of teaching with Two Guys on Your Head, it’s not that simple.

There are many elements of being in a classroom that are difficult to navigate. It’s not only tough to teach, it’s hard to be an attentive student in an environment where we are stuck in our chairs for most of the day. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about […]

Why is it hard to have just one of those delicious slices of pound cake over the holidays? Well, it turns out it has less to do with the creamy butter and more to do with the way our brains react to those sweet white grains of sugar. In this edition of Two Guys on Your […]

We may all count on our fingers, but we are not all counting on them the same way. In a 2012 issue of Cognition, German researchers Andrea Bender and Sieghard Beller argue that the extent of cultural diversity in finger-counting has been hugely underestimated. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head,  Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca […]

It can be really stressful to try to make the holidays a happy time. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head,  Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about what psychological ingredients can help ensure more meaningful connections.

When it comes to theories about behavior change if it seems too good to be true it probably is. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head,  Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the popular “Nudge” theory and why it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

There is playoff fever around the country and things are particularly hot here in Texas. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head,  Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of why playoffs are so engaging.

Studies of charisma suggest that there are two key dimensions of a charismatic person that researchers have called “affability” and “influence.” Affability reflects how likable someone is and influence relates to people’s leadership ability and likelihood of motivating others to do something. We know not everyone possesses such traits but what is less obvious is that […]

Some new research suggests that there is a lot more we consider when deciding to tell a fib or not. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head,  Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about what’s on “the lying brain” and why it matters.

A midlife crisis is a time of transition when we might question what we’ve accomplished, done, or not done, and ask things like the Talking Heads do of our “Once in a Lifetime.” But what is a midlife crisis psychologically? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and […]

The way we respond to deadlines varies quite a bit. Some people fall apart when they’re up against a deadline while for others deadlines help them focus, and then there are those for whom deadlines don’t seem to matter at all. So, as with most things in science, the answer to the question about if […]

Feeling a bit nervous before an exam is normal and sometimes can even help to focus your attention. But as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about in this edition of Two Guys on Your Head,  test anxiety, can interfere with your test-taking performance, and hence not really demonstrate your aptitude for […]

When it comes to taking tests, like college prep tests for example, why does how fast you complete the test matter? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about why speed matters when taking tests, but also why it’s not the best way to […]

Recognition is important, but it can be a double-edged sword if it’s not thoughtful and honest. In fact, it might often be counterproductive when trying to cultivate self-motivation. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about intrinsic and extrinsic rewards.

Recognition is a big deal. When we are not recognized for the things we do that are important to us we can feel invisible. However, there are many elements to recognition that we might not, well, recognize. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk […]

We have so many wonderful apps and gadgets that help us stay on track with our lives and goals so why would anyone still use a piece of paper and pen to make a list? It turns out there is a lot more to list-making than meets the eye. In this edition of Two Guys […]

In psychology, the “Dark Triad” refers to narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. How do we identify those who are “high in the Dark Triad” and why is it important? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss the Dark Triad.

We might feel like we’ve been duped when we believe a lie someone has told us, and we may want to crawl into a hole when we share “fake news” on Facebook. But in actuality, we have evolved to trust vs. to question, which is why our tendency toward credulity is easily taken advantage of. […]

Making judgments based on merit is a common practice in our society, but how do we determine what counts when it comes to merit, and is it the best way to judge skills and ability? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy ask if there […]

Why don’t we lie to get what we want? We may think that if we are in a situation where we need something we don’t have we would do almost anything to get it, including lying, but as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about in this episode of  Two Guys on […]

Self-Determination Theory suggests that there are three fundamental psychological needs humans have in order to thrive: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. But what do those things mean in terms of our day-to-day lives? In the third and final installment of our Two Guys on Your Head series on Self-Determination, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy […]

Self-Determination Theory suggests that there are three fundamental psychological needs humans have in order to thrive: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. But what do those things mean in terms of our day-to-day lives? In part II of our Two Guys on Your Head series on Self-Determination, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy discuss competence.

Some people may feel constrained, unmotivated, or alienated, while others are curious, and feel vital and self-motivated. It turns out that these differences are not just biological but have a lot to do with social context. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy discuss Autonomy; part […]

When it comes to assessing risk and preventing calamity, as humans, we’re not so great. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke, we talk about why it’s important to structure our environment in a way that protects us from ourselves.

In part one of our exploration of values-alignment interventions Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke of Two Guys on Your Head discussed a recent study by Dr. David Yeager, Dr. Cintia Hinojosa,  and Dr. Christopher Bryan that demonstrates how interventions that attach certain behaviors to already existing values held by participants can be very […]

Changing behavior and forming new habits can be difficult, however as Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head a recent study by Dr. David Yeager, Dr. Cintia Hinojosa,  and Dr. Christopher Bryan demonstrates how interventions that attach certain behaviors to already existing values held […]

We may think that we see with our eyes and hear with our ears, etc. but it turns out to be much more complicated. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head  Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore sense and perception.

New research suggests that the link between money and happiness could be more cohesive than previously thought. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head  Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore how more money can make you happier.

It takes a lot of confidence and humility to admit when we’re wrong, and that is especially true when it comes to science. So in the edition of  Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and  Rebecca McInroy are taking a moment to highlight one “Adversarial Collaboration” that could change the way […]

Laughter may be the best medician, but do we really understand why? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head  Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore the psychology of laughter.

We’ve done shows on the importance of being open to new opportunities; in short, saying yes. And while saying yes is very important, we might be too prone to saying yes to things when we should be saying no. Why is hard to say no? Why don’t we take into account the opportunity cost when […]

It’s summertime, and for some, that means it’s time for a vacation. But how do you get the most out of your time off and truly vacate? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about how to disconnect and why it’s important.

A new idea that matches our beliefs is easy to latch onto and one that contradicts us makes us try and find reasons why it’s false. In an age of information-seeking, how can we best judge “the facts”? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss accepting and dismissing […]

We may think creativity is being able to come up with a new idea no one has ever thought about before, but in reality, so many factors go into what it means to be creative and innovative. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, we revisit a 2016 SXSW event where Dr. Art […]

Predictions about the future can make us feel good, but only to a certain extent. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke discuss the psychology behind why and what we want to know when it comes to what’s coming up.

It turns out our relationship to the present has more to do with how we imagine the future than we might think. In this episode, Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of futurism.

Random unbidden thoughts can be unsettling, especially when they are persistent, perhaps frightening, and seemingly out of the blue. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke, demystify the phenomenon of intrusive thoughts.

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke, talk about The Imposter Syndrome. What is the real problem when you feel inadequate? How can you help yourself overcome it when you recognize it?

Many factors play into how we make sense of the world and our place in it. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about how the accessibility of certain explanations frames our understanding.

It turns out that our motivational system has a lot to do with how we present ourselves. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head,  Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology behind motivation and self-presentation and what that means when it comes to gender.

Writer’s block! That phrase might induce panic and a recollection of a familiar experience. It’s a very common phenomenon. So what is it? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explain the ins and outs of how and why we sometimes get stuck – and what […]

Turns out it is hard to change your mind, not to mention biologically expensive. But as Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about in this edition of Two Guys on Your Head there are many reasons we should learn how to do it better and more often.

We give for many reasons, and most of the time it feels pretty good. But when you’re on the receiving end of generosity, feelings can be mixed. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of giving and receiving.

You win some you lose some, right? It turns out that when it comes to the psychology of winning and losing there is a lot more at play. In part two of our series on the psychology of awards, Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke talk about Norm Theory.

Awards are a double-edged-sword; whenever someone wins someone else is left out. It turns out that there is a lot more than merit wrapped up in winning awards. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the social and psychological aspects of awards.

Many people chase after goals that seem to them important and promising—getting into the right college, getting the dream job, moving to a big house. But what do you really need to be happy? To have a sense of fulfillment and joy? And why is it important? Listen back to KUT’s Views and Brews recorded […]

When Millennials use a phrase like, “OK Boomer” to dismiss what older people say or do it, has deleterious on everyone; why is that? As Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, categorization is a double-edged sword.

When it comes to the holidays, how important is the day, psychologically, that we celebrate? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the importance rituals in marking time, and the way in which we can alleviate stress in our lives by understanding that things […]

There is an observation in psychology that looks at how people behave when they have not lived up to the expectations they set for themselves; The What The Hell Effect. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke discussion about TWTHE and how it relates to identity, […]

There is an observation in psychology that looks at how people behave when they have not lived up to the expectations they set for themselves; the “What The Hell Effect.” In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke talk about, not only what it is, but why […]

We may underestimate the role that our emotions of an event play in our memory of that event. But it turns out there are ways to manipulate those memories and separate the emotion out; even from Flashbulb memories. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke talk […]

It turns out there is a lot to learn about when studying the psychology of near misses. One thing we learn is that the memories of these events–like the time you almost ran into a tree with your bike, or the time you stuck your head out of a moving train and then pulled it […]

Listen back to Two Guys on Your Head recorded live at The Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas for a Views and Brews, as KUT’s Rebecca McInroy talks with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke about the psychology of happiness. In this episode, we answer an audience question about money and happiness.

Listen back to Two Guys on Your Head recorded live at The Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas for a Views and Brews, as KUT’s Rebecca McInroy talks with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke about the psychology of happiness. Many people chase after goals that seem to them important and promising—getting into the right […]

***This episode references guns and suicide and may be upsetting for some of our listeners*** Data can be a tricky thing to bring into discussions around guns and suicide. As Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, being more critical about the way information is […]

Why can experiencing art in a museum be significant? It turns out there’s much more to it than just the pictures on the walls. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of museums and art.

It turns out the idea that women are better than men at multitasking is not true at all. In fact, men and women are equally bad at multitasking, however, why does this notion persist? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke take on multitasking and gender.

In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about how to rethink your approach to work for a happier life.

Why do we continue to believe in ideas that sound scientific long after they have been scientifically proven to be incorrect? That is the question that Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke take on in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head.

What is the real problem when you feel inadequate? How can you help yourself overcome it when you recognize it? In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about The Imposter Syndrome.

Our environment affects our thinking in ways beyond our conscious awareness; even if we happen to be scientists. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about science and society.

Most of us know what we need to do to be healthy, even if we don’t always do it. However, when a doctor prescribes a medication for what ails us we might take it more seriously. So what happens psychologically when a doctor prescribes a social activity to heal our ills? In this edition of […]

In light of recent events, we are rebroadcasting an edition of Two Guys on Your Head with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke about the psychology behind both sides of America’s ongoing debate about firearms and gun control.

We may be drawn to loud sounds in the environment, but do we really know why? On this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of volume.

Is empathy inherently a good thing? It turns out, not always. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of empathy.

From a Views and Brews recorded live at the Cactus Cafe KUT’s Rebecca McInroy talks with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke about the psychology behind how to interviewing for a job.

Listen back as KUT’s Rebecca McInroy talks with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke about the psychology behind how to interview for a job, manage tensions with peers, lead companies, and much more.

Growing pains are inevitable, and the frustration associated with them can often magnify existing issues or create new ones altogether. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of population – and why this all matters.

Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about some problems with research on embodied cognition and look at what it means and what it doesn’t.

We know our minds are our bodies, but as Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about on this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, how these connections work is more complex than we might think.

KUT’s Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the role of praise in motivating change.

KUT’s Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about when and why to say “thank  you.”

Mentorships can be helpful if they are set up well. Yet as Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke point out, so often they’re not.

There are many types of advice, some good and others not so good. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of giving and taking advice.

It turns out when it comes to magic it’s more about psychology than it is hocus pocus. On this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the role our perceptual system plays in understanding trickery.

We might think the idea of happiness and joy are interchangeable, but as Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss on this episode Two Guys on Your Head they are very different.

KUT’s Rebecca McInroy along with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about why it’s so important to diversify your interests. What is unhealthy about a one track mind? And why is it important to step outside our brain’s comfort zone?

Listen back to a Views and Brews discussion, recorded live at The Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas, about “The Psychology of Risk and Reinvention” with Two Guys on Your Head. Join KUT’s Rebecca Mcinroy along with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke to explore when and why we take risks, and what goes into […]

What is joy? That is the question that prompted this week’s edition of Two Guys on Your Head with Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke. You might vaguely understand the definition of joy, but when it comes to the psychology of joy the more know the better equip you are to set yourself up […]

Even though we know how unreliable our visual memory is, we still put a huge amount of stock into what someone says they saw. Why is an eyewitness account so important in legal proceedings and beyond, and why should we question the value of an eyewitness testimony? On this episode of Two Guys on Your […]