Something You Should Know

The Psychology of Infidelity & How to Improve Your Executive Function

Something You Should Know

Show Notes

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to lose their hearing gradually while insisting they hear just fine? It turns out this isn't simply denial or stubbornness. The way hearing fades can fool the brain into believing everything is normal—often delaying treatment until significant hearing has already been lost. Listen as I explain what's really happening and why recognizing the signs isn't nearly as easy as you might think. Source: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss

Few things are more painful—or more confusing—than discovering a partner has been unfaithful. Why do people risk everything for an affair? Is it simply a lack of self-control, or is something much deeper happening beneath the surface? And if infidelity comes to light, is the relationship automatically doomed, or can couples actually recover? Glenn Hutchinson, a clinical psychologist and behavioral researcher, joins me to separate myth from science and reveal what decades of research tells us about why people cheat, what their behavior really means, and what happens next. He is author of the new book Unfaithful Minds: The Science and Psychology of Infidelity (https://amzn.to/3UedjS8).

Why do smart, capable people forget appointments, lose their train of thought, make impulsive decisions, or struggle to stay focused—even when they know better? The answer lies in something called executive function, the remarkable system in your brain that quietly manages attention, planning, memory, emotional control, and decision-making. When it works well, life feels easier. When it doesn't, the consequences can show up everywhere. Adrian Owen, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Western Ontario, explains how executive function shapes nearly everything you do—and, more importantly, what you can do to strengthen it. He is author of the new book Think Before You Think: Understanding and Mastering Executive Function (https://amzn.to/4fGvlFd).

Why do so many projects seem to fly along at first... only to crawl painfully toward the finish line? Whether you're remodeling a house, writing a report, or tackling a long to-do list, there's a surprising psychological reason the last stretch often feels endless. Once you understand what's happening, you'll have a much better chance of finishing on time instead of wondering where all the extra time disappeared. Source: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/planning-fallacy

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