PsyberSpace: Understand Your World

The Paradox of Progress: Why We Forget What Works

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the 'Paradox of Progress,' a psychological phenomenon explaining why society and individuals often dismantle the systems that made their successes possible. The episode explores this paradox in various realms including public health, civil rights, economics, and climate policy. The discussion reveals how our brains...

The Cognitive Cost of AI: A Deep Dive into Learning and Development

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping cognition, particularly in education. The discussion focuses on the developmental impact of AI on children and the cognitive trade-offs associated with relying on AI tools. The episode delves into the science behind why traditional methods like handwriting a...

Empathy Under Fire: Understanding Its Crucial Role and Strategic Erosion

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychological phenomenon of empathy, distinguishing it from sympathy and underscoring its pivotal role in moral reasoning, cooperation, and human survival. The episode explores the three types of empathy—cognitive, emotional, and compassionate—and how they are neurologically grounded. Les...

The Power of Language: Unveiling the Psychology of Linguistic Control

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychology behind the control and censorship of language, examining how it impacts us psychologically, socially, and politically. The discussion touches on historical and contemporary examples, including the strategic choice of words in South American dictatorships, the erasure of terms like...

Unearthing Psychology's Shadow: A Critical Examination

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the dark history of psychology, exploring its entanglements with colonialism, racism, sexism, and eugenics. The episode sheds light on how psychological theories and practices have upheld oppressive systems and sometimes caused harm. Poston emphasizes the importance of acknowledging these historical abuses to ...

The Dangers of Trivializing Fascism: How Memes Shape Our Politics

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the often overlooked impact of political memes on our digital and real-world environments. While memes may seem harmless or even humorous on the surface, they can trivialize serious issues such as authoritarianism and fascism, thereby dulling societal urgency and fracturing crucial coalitions. Leslie...

Navigating Uncertainty: Understanding Its Impact on Decision Making

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the complexities of uncertainty and its effects on decision-making. Leslie explores the psychological and physiological responses to uncertainty, including the role of the amygdala and the concept of Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU). The discussion encompasses cognitive biases like the availability...

Unraveling Fan Psychology in Social Movements: Insights from the Hands-Off Protest

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the intersection of fan behavior and social movements, using her early research and the recent Hands-Off protest as case studies. Poston digs into the mechanisms behind successful progressive movements, highlighting the power of collective identity, symbolism, and anti-fandom in mobi...

 Marketing and Propaganda Unveiled

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the pervasive challenge of marketing and propaganda, drawing parallels between commercial and ideological influence. She discusses the psychological mechanisms behind effective marketing and propaganda, including social proof, scarcity, authority, and identity-based persuasion. The episode explores real-world examples, such as th...

Enhancing Workplace Dynamics: The Critical Role of Psychological Safety

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the concept of psychological safety in the workplace. She explains its definition, importance, and methods to cultivate it amidst personal and corporate politics. Drawing on insights from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and social learning theory, Leslie discusses how psychological safety ...

The Psychology of Digital Friendships: Navigating Connections in the Digital Age

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the profound psychological mechanisms underlying friendships in the digital era. The episode digs into how technology affects emotional labor, reciprocity, and vulnerability in relationships. Highlighting research by Dr. Jeffrey Hall, Dr. Sherry Turkle, Dr. John Cacioppo, and others, L...

Why Humans Struggle with Risk Assessment: Understanding Our Cognitive Biases

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the complexities of human risk assessment. Despite relying on this critical cognitive skill every day, humans often misjudge risks due to emotional biases, misinformation, and stress. From relationships and work to financial decisions and global crises like Covid-19, Leslie explores how a...

The Psychology of Changing Minds: Unpacking Cognitive Barriers and Strategies

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs deep into the complex psychology behind changing minds in a divided society. The episode, which runs longer than usual at 60 minutes, explores how cognitive dissonance, confirmation bias, and identity protection influence our resistance to belief revision. Leslie discusses the neurological di...

The Hidden Power of Disgust and Shame: Unveiling Ancient Emotions in Modern Society

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychological forces of disgust and shame, exploring their ancient roots and modern implications. The episode sheds light on how these emotions shape our identities, enforce social norms, and influence political and social landscapes. Through neuroimaging studies and research f...

Navigating and Transforming Toxic Workplaces

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the pervasive issue of toxic workplaces. The discussion covers identifying toxic behaviors such as micromanagement, harassment, and discriminatory practices and their detrimental effects on mental and physical health. The role of leadership, particularly toxic leaders, and their impact on workplace culture is highlighte...

Extinction Burst: The Desperate Ways Extremists and their Movements React When Losing Ground

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the concept of extinction bursts—predictable patterns of intensifying behavior when long-standing negative behaviors lose effectiveness. Drawing on examples from political, social, and historical contexts, the episode explains how these bursts manifest in both individual an...

Harnessing Small Actions for Big Change in Overwhelming Challenges

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how to take meaningful actions when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Through insights from various psychological studies, Leslie explains why our brains often shut down when faced with massive issues, and how small, strategic steps can break this paralysis. The episode dives into concepts...