PsyberSpace: Understand Your World

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

  Extinction Burst: The Desperate Ways Extremists and their Movements React When Losing GroundIn 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 and group behaviors, and why they're particularly relevant given today's rapid societal changes. The discussion extends to the effects of spontaneous recovery and emphasizes the importance of consistent societal response for building resilient and inclusive communities.00:00 Introduction to Extinction Bursts01:27 The Psychology of Extinction Bursts02:15 Group Behavior and Extinction Bursts07:46 Historical Parallels to Extinction Bursts11:30 Spontaneous Recovery and Its Impact14:52 Effective Responses and Community ResilienceWe're up for an award from Women in Podcasting - our second award nomination ever!Please click to vote here, and share the link to vote with your friends. References:Atran, S. (2020). Psychology of transnational terrorism and extreme political conflict. Annual Review of Psychology, 30.Bouton, M., & Swartzentruber, D. (1991). Sources of relapse after extinction in Pavlovian and instrumental learning.Bouton, M., Westbrook, R. F., Corcoran, K., & Maren, S. (2006). Contextual and temporal modulation of extinction: Behavioral and biological mechanisms. Biological Psychiatry, 663.Cammarota, M., Bevilaqua, L. M., Vianna, M., Medina, J., & Izquierdo, I. (2007). The extinction of conditioned fear: structural and molecular basis and therapeutic use. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 40.Delamater, A., Delamater, A., & Westbrook, R. F. (2014). Psychological and neural mechanisms of experimental extinction: A selective review. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 101.Doughty, A. H., & Oken, G. (2008). Extinction-induced response resurgence: A selective review.Dunsmoor, J., Niv, Y., Daw, N., & Phelps, E. (2015). Rethinking extinction. Neuron, 224.Epstein, R. (1983). Resurgence of previously reinforced behavior during extinction, 191.Fisher, W., Greer, B., Shahan, T., & Norris, H. M. (2022). Basic and applied research on extinction bursts. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11.Gallistel, C. R. (2012). Extinction from a rationalist perspective. Behavioural Processes, 50.Huff, N., Hernandez, J., Blanding, N. Q., & LaBar, K. (2009). Delayed extinction attenuates conditioned fear renewal and spontaneous recovery in humans. Behavioral Neuroscience, 87.Katz, B. R., & Lattal, K. (2020). What is an extinction burst?: A case study in the analysis of transitional behavior. Journal of The Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 16.Kim, J., & Richardson, R. (2010). New findings on extinction of conditioned fear early in development: Theoretical and clinical implications. Biological Psychiatry, 187.Kruglanski, A., Gelfand, M., Bélanger, J., Sheveland, A., Hetiarachchi, M., & Gunaratna, R. (2014). The psychology of radicalization and deradicalization: How significance quest impacts violent extremism.Laborda, M. A., McConnell, B. L., & Miller, R. R. (2011). Associative learning and conditioning theory.Lattal, K., & Pipkin, C. S. P. (2009). Resurgence of previously reinforced responding: Research and application.Lerman, D., Iwata, B. A., & Wallace, M. D. (1999). Side effects of extinction: Prevalence of bursting and aggression during the treatment of self-injurious behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.Lerman, D., Kelley, M. E., Van Camp, C. V., & Roane, H. (1999). Effects of reinforcement magnitude on spontaneous recovery. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 41.Muething, C., Cariveau, T., Bottini, S., Slocum, S., Williams, C. L., Gillespie, S. E., & Scheithauer, M. C. (2024). Descriptive characteristics of extinction bursts: A record review. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.Nist, A. N., & Shahan, T. (2021). The extinction burst: Impact of reinforcement time and level of analysis on measured prevalence. Journal of The Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 8.Pan, W., Schmidt, R., Wickens, J., & Hyland, B. (2008). Tripartite mechanism of extinction suggested by dopamine neuron activity and temporal difference model. Journal of Neuroscience, 89.Podlesnik, C. A., Kelley, M. E., Jimenez‐Gomez, C., & Bouton, M. (2017). Renewed behavior produced by context change and its implications for treatment maintenance: A review. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 114.Shahan, T. (2022). A theory of the extinction burst. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 13.Vervliet, B., Craske, M., & Hermans, D. (2013). Fear extinction and relapse: State of the art. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 557.Weissman, A. (1960). The behavioral effects of repeated exposure to three mixed extinction schedules. Journal of The Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 19. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  19:57
• Small Steps, Big Impact: Psychology To Help You Take Action In Overwhelming Times

  Harnessing Small Actions for Big Change in Overwhelming ChallengesIn 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 such as learned helplessness, behavioral activation, and small wins, emphasizing the neuroscientific and social impacts of taking small actions. Additionally, it covers practical strategies from behavioral science and social movements to create sustainable, connective, and scalable actions. The takeaway is clear: even insignificant actions, when designed thoughtfully, can lead to significant and lasting change.00:00 Introduction to Meaningful Action00:49 Understanding Cognitive Paralysis02:15 Breaking Down Challenges03:06 The Power of Small Wins03:56 Neuroscience of Small Actions05:12 Social Networks and Behavioral Cascades08:03 Strategic Small Steps14:56 Overcoming Psychological Barriers20:55 Maintaining Momentum22:05 Conclusion and HomeworkReferences: Amabile, T. M. (2011). The progress principle: Using small wins to ignite joy, engagement, and creativity at work. Harvard Business Review Press.Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W.H. Freeman and Company.Boggs, G. L. (2011). The next American revolution: Sustainable activism for the twenty-first century. University of California Press.brown, a. m. (2017). Emergent strategy: Shaping change, changing worlds. AK Press.Christakis, N. A., & Fowler, J. H. (2009). Connected: The surprising power of our social networks and how they shape our lives. Little, Brown and Company.Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Scribner.Duncan, L. E. (2012). The psychology of collective action. In The Oxford handbook of personality and social psychology. Oxford University Press.Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.Ganz, M. (2010). Leading change: Leadership, organization, and social movements. In Handbook of leadership theory and practice. Harvard Business Press.Gelfand, M. J. (2018). Rule makers, rule breakers: How tight and loose cultures wire our world. Scribner.Gould, D. B. (2009). Moving politics: Emotion and ACT UP's fight against AIDS. University of Chicago Press.Graybiel, A. M. (2008). Habits, rituals, and the evaluative brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 31, 359-387.Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360-1380.Haidt, J. (2003). Elevation and the positive psychology of morality. In C. L. M. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived. American Psychological Association.Jasper, J. M. (2011). Emotions and social movements: Twenty years of theory and research. Annual Review of Sociology, 37, 285-303.Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.Klandermans, B. (1997). The social psychology of protest. Blackwell Publishers.Lieberman, M. D. (2013). Social: Why our brains are wired to connect. Crown.Meadows, D. H. (1999). Leverage points: Places to intervene in a system. The Sustainability Institute.Morris, A. D. (1984). The origins of the civil rights movement: Black communities organizing for change. Free Press.powell, j. a. (2012). Racing to justice: Transforming our conceptions of self and other to build an inclusive society. Indiana University Press.Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.Reicher, S. (2004). The context of social identity: Domination, resistance, and change. Political Psychology, 25(6), 921-945.Richeson, J. A. (2018). The psychology of racial bias and discrimination. Annual Review of Psychology.Robnett, B. (1997). How long? How long? African-American women in the struggle for civil rights. Oxford University Press.Sampson, R. J. (2012). Great American city: Chicago and the enduring neighborhood effect. University of Chicago Press.Sapolsky, R. M. (2017). Behave: The biology of humans at our best and worst. Penguin Press.Sen, R. (2003). Stir it up: Lessons in community organizing and advocacy. Jossey-Bass.Shim, R. S. (2018). Cultural competency in mental health care. Psychiatric Clinics of North America.Small, M. L. (2009). Unanticipated gains: Origins of network inequality in everyday life. Oxford University Press.Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In The social psychology of intergroup relations. Brooks/Cole.Watts, D. J. (2011). Everything is obvious: Once you know the answer. Crown Business.Weick, K. E. (1984). Small wins: Redefining the scale of social problems. American Psychologist, 39(1), 40-49.Westley, F. R. (2013). Social innovation and resilience: How one enhances the other. Stanford Social Innovation Review.Winn, M. T. (2018). Justice on both sides: Transforming education through restorative justice. Harvard Education Press. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  23:10
• The Psychological Power of Art and Creativity: Why We Create and How It Shapes Us

  The Psychological Power of Art and Creativity: Exploring Why We CreateIn this episode of PsyberSpace, hosted by Leslie Poston, we explore the profound psychological impact of art and creativity. Using examples like Dylan Thomas's poem 'Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night' and Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise,' the episode delves into why art moves us and how creativity nurtures our mental well-being. The discussion touches on how art activates brain reward centers, fosters empathy, and acts as a form of resistance and resilience, especially for marginalized communities. The episode also emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of engaging in creative activities and encourages listeners to incorporate more art and creativity into their daily lives.00:00 Introduction to PsyberSpace00:26 The Psychological Power of Art and Creativity00:54 Analyzing Dylan Thomas's Iconic Poem01:39 The Neuroscience Behind Art's Impact02:47 Art as a Shared Experience04:38 The Role of Metaphor in Art05:32 Art as a Catalyst for Change07:14 The Therapeutic Power of Creativity09:31 Creativity in the Digital Age11:51 Art as Cultural Preservation and Resistance16:07 Practical Tips for Unleashing Creativity17:22 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsReferences and LinksAdditional ResourcesPoetry Foundation. (n.d.). Poems and poets. https://www.poetryfoundation.orgPoets.org. (n.d.). Poems and poets. https://poets.orgMichael Sheen "Do not go gentle" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-sM-t1KI_YMaya Angelou "Still I Rise" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qviM_GnJbOMPsychology of Art and CreativityCsikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. Harper & Row.Dissanayake, E. (1995). Homo aestheticus: Where art comes from and why. University of Washington Press.Kidd, D. C., & Castano, E. (2013). Reading literary fiction improves theory of mind. Science, 342(6156), 377–380. Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors we live by. University of Chicago Press.McCrae, R. R., Greenberg, D. M., & Tamir, M. (2009). Aesthetic chills: A review of the empirical literature. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 3(4), 219–228. Thibodeau, P. H., & Boroditsky, L. (2011). Metaphors we think with: The role of metaphor in reasoning. PLOS ONE, 6(2), e16782.Vessel, E. A., Starr, G. G., & Rubin, N. (2012). The brain on art: Intense aesthetic experience activates the default mode network. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6, 66. Winner, E., Goldstein, T. R., & Vincent-Lancrin, S. (2013). Art for art’s sake? The impact of arts education. OECD Publishing.Zeki, S., Romaya, J. P., Benincasa, D. M. T., & Atiyah, M. F. (2014). The experience of mathematical beauty and its neural correlates. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 68. Art Therapy and Mental HealthMalchiodi, C. A. (2012). Handbook of art therapy (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.Stuckey, H. L., & Nobel, J. (2010). The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2), 254–263. Poetry and Art ReferencesAngelou, M. (1978). And still I rise. Random House.Clifton, L. (1993). The book of light. Copper Canyon Press.Lorde, A. (1978). The black unicorn. W. W. Norton & Company.Thomas, D. (1952). Do not go gentle into that good night. In Collected poems, 1934–1952. Dent.Cultural and Historical ContextBaraka, A. (1964). Dutchman and The slave. Harper Perennial.Simone, N. (1969). To be young, gifted and black [Recorded by Nina Simone]. On Black gold [Album]. RCA Victor.Evolutionary PsychologyDissanayake, E. (1992). Homo aestheticus: Where art comes from and why. Free Press. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  18:42
• Shields Up: Recognizing and Resisting Propaganda in Authoritarian Regimes

  Understanding and Resisting Authoritarian PropagandaIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston looks into the mechanisms of propaganda used by authoritarian regimes. The episode covers the psychological strategies behind media manipulation, revisionist history, and language control intended to mold public perception and behavior. Using historical and contemporary examples, Leslie highlights the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in recognizing and resisting these tactics. The episode also provides actionable strategies for maintaining personal and societal integrity in the face of propaganda, stressing the value of diverse media consumption and community building.00:00 Introduction to Propaganda and Authoritarian Regimes01:10 Defining Propaganda01:41 Historical and Modern Examples of Propaganda02:50 Key Propaganda Strategies04:53 Psychological Effects of Propaganda06:31 Recognizing and Resisting Propaganda07:55 Building Resilience Against Propaganda10:00 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsPast episodes on misinformation, disinformation, the power of hope, decoding morals, white supremacy, mastering essential literacy skills, gaslighting, and extremist groups will be helpful as people around the world face a rise in right leaning propaganda.References (some research mentioned but not cited here is also already cited in past episode show notes)Rosenfeld, B., & Wallace, J. (2024). Information politics and propaganda in authoritarian societies. Annual Review of Political Science (Palo Alto, Calif. Print).Colon, D. (2021). Les effets psychologiques de la propagande. In Analysis.Brodziak, A., & Abram, D. (2024). Should the struggle against authoritarian regimes be based on Aristotle’s or Freud’s psychology, or rather on neuroscience? Qeios.Boler, M., & Davis, E. (2020). Introduction: Propaganda by other means.Osborne, D., Costello, T. H., Duckitt, J., & Sibley, C. (2023). The psychological causes and societal consequences of authoritarianism. Nature Reviews Psychology.Mattingly, D. C., & Yao, E. (2022). How soft propaganda persuades. Comparative Political Studies.Mosiichuk, V., Tkach, B., & Lunov, V. (2024). Media effects and the narrative approach to counterpropaganda: A media psychology perspective. Social Science Research Network.Chaudhari, D. D., & Pawar, A. (2021). Propaganda analysis in social media: A bibliometric review.Van Bavel, J. V., Harris, E., Pärnamets, P., Rathje, S., Doell, K. C., & Tucker, J. A. (2020). Political psychology in the digital (mis)information age: A model of news belief and sharing. Social Issues and Policy Review.Da San Martino, G., Shaar, S., Zhang, Y., Yu, S., Barrón-Cedeno, A., & Nakov, P. (2020). Prta: A system to support the analysis of propaganda techniques in the news. Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  10:52
• Busting Brain Busters: Unraveling Popular Psychology Myths

  Debunking Psychology Myths: From Brain Function to VaccinesIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston critically examines several long-standing psychology myths and their impacts. The discussion covers misconceptions such as the left-brained/right-brained theory, the myth that we use only 10% of our brain, the idea that opposites attract in relationships, and the belief that venting anger is beneficial. Further myths debunked include the notion that memory functions like a video camera, the causation of hyperactivity in children by sugar, subliminal messages controlling behavior, the Mozart effect's impact on intelligence, and the debunked link between vaccines and autism. Throughout, Leslie explains how these myths gained traction and their real-world consequences in education, healthcare, and personal beliefs.00:00 Welcome to PsyberSpace02:09 Debunking the Left-Brain Right-Brain Myth04:50 The 10% Brain Usage Myth07:01 Do Opposites Really Attract?09:07 The Myth of Venting Anger11:29 Memory: Not a Video Camera13:35 Misunderstandings About DID and Schizophrenia17:13 Sugar and Hyperactivity in Children19:16 The Truth About Subliminal Messages21:01 The Mozart Effect: Music and Intelligence22:57 The Dangerous Myth Linking Vaccines and Autism24:50 Conclusion and Further ExplorationReferencesAamodt, M. G. (2008). Reducing misconceptions and false beliefs in police and criminal psychology. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35(10), 1231-1240. Aguinis, H., Pierce, C. A., Bosco, F. A., Dalton, D. R., & Dalton, C. M. (2011). Debunking myths and urban legends about meta-analysis. Organizational Research Methods, 14(2), 306-331.Dawes, R. M. (1994). House of cards: Psychology and psychotherapy built on myth. Choice Reviews Online, 32(1), 32-1228.Eliot, L. (2011). The trouble with sex differences. Neuron, 72(6), 895-898. Furnham, A. (2018). Myths and misconceptions in developmental and neuro-psychology. Psychology, 9(2), 249-259. Furnham, A., & Hughes, D. J. (2014). Myths and misconceptions in popular psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 41(3), 214-221.Gaze, C. M. (2014). Popular psychological myths: A comparison of students' beliefs across the psychology major. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 14(2), 46-60. Geake, J. (2008). Neuromythologies in education. Educational Research, 50(2), 123-133.Grospietsch, F., & Lins, I. (2021). Review on the prevalence and persistence of neuromyths in education – Where we stand and what is still needed. Frontiers in Education, 6, 665752.Higbee, K. L., & Clay, S. L. (1998). College students' beliefs in the ten-percent myth. The Journal of Psychology, 132(5), 469-476. Hines, T. (1987). Left brain/right brain mythology and implications for management and training. Academy of Management Review, 12(4), 600-606. Lewandowsky, S., Ecker, U. K. H., Seifert, C. M., Schwarz, N., & Cook, J. (2012). Misinformation and its correction: Continued influence and successful debiasing. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 13(3), 106-131. Macdonald, K., Germine, L., Anderson, A., Christodoulou, J., & McGrath, L. M. (2017). Dispelling the myth: Training in education or neuroscience decreases but does not eliminate beliefs in neuromyths. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1314. Meinz, E. J., Tennison, W. A., & Dominguez, W. A. (2022). Who believes the "50 great myths of psychology"? Teaching of Psychology, 49(2), 121-131. Melnikoff, D. E., & Bargh, J. A. (2018). The mythical number two. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 22(4), 280-293.Scudellari, M. (2015). The science myths that will not die. Nature, 528(7582), 322-325. Schwarz, N., Newman, E. J., & Leach, W. (2016). Making the truth stick & the myths fade: Lessons from cognitive psychology. Behavioral Science & Policy, 2(1), 85-95. Simons, D. J., & Chabris, C. F. (2011). What people believe about how memory works: A representative survey of the U.S. population. PLoS ONE, 6(8), e22757.Standing, L. G., & Huber, H. (2003). Do psychology courses reduce belief in psychological myths? Social Behavior and Personality, 31(6), 585-592.Waterhouse, L. (2006). Multiple intelligences, the Mozart effect, and emotional intelligence: A critical review. Educational Psychologist, 41(4), 207-225.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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  25:44

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