Brains vs. Beliefs: Debunking Psychological Misconceptions

Episode 6: Venting Anger

Date: April 23, 2026 Brains vs. Beliefs: Debunking Psychological Misconceptions Episode 6: Venting Anger In this episode of Brains vs. Beliefs, Emily and Karla discuss the misconception that actively venting anger- such as through screaming, hitting a punching bag, or going to a rage room, helps to reduce anger. They describe research that shows that this type of venting can actually increase our anger, and lead to health problems such as high blood pressure. The hosts also unpack why this myth persists in media, influencer culture, and self-help advice, offering listeners key takeaways about how to effectively respond when you are angry. You can find references for this episode and information about psychological science at our website, https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/ [https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/]. Use the Contact page to share your thoughts on this episode and other topics that you'd like us to cover. Thanks for listening!

Episode 5: 10% Brain

Date: March 19, 2026 Brains vs. Beliefs: Debunking Psychological Misconceptions Episode 5: 10% Brain In this episode, psychologists Karla Lassonde and Emily Stark discuss the misconception that we only use 10% of our brains. We describe the origins of this mistaken belief, how this is promoted in the media, and share how research has tested this assumption and shown it to be false. We explain how we use all parts of our brain, though different parts can be more or less active depending on the specific task. You can find references for this episode and information about psychological science at our website, https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/ [https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/]. Use the Contact page to share your thoughts on this episode and other topics that you'd like us to cover. Thanks for listening!

Episode 4: The Mozart Effect

Date: February 19, 2026 Brains vs. Beliefs: Debunking Psychological Misconceptions Episode 4: The Mozart Effect In this episode, psychologists Karla Lassonde and Emily Stark discuss the misconception that listening to classical music can positively influence intelligence. The wide-spread idea that classical music makes you smarter is the result of a study that had very interesting results – students did see a meaningful, yet temporary effect after listening to music. This study became part of a larger marketing scheme that listening to music could make babies and children smarter. Listening to music is generally thought to be good and may have positive benefits on health and wellness. Like with many psychological outcomes about behavior, effects of music are complex. We should always hesitate to use one psychological study to make large claims. If music is being sold for child development, it is important to make decisions based on the idea that claims may be exaggerated and there is not one behavior that can make or break outcomes, especially for intelligence. You can find references for this episode and information about psychological science at our website, https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/ [https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/]. Use the Contact page to share your thoughts on this episode and other topics that you'd like us to cover. Thanks for listening!

Episode 3: Opposites Attract

Date: Jan 22, 2026 Brains vs. Beliefs: Debunking Psychological Misconceptions Episode 3: Opposites Attract In this episode of Brains vs. Beliefs, Emily and Karla dive into the long-standing idea that successful relationships thrive on difference. From Hallmark movies to Paula Abdul’s famous song, the relationship advice “opposites attract” seems everywhere. What does the science actually say? Drawing on large psychological studies and information from dating platforms, they explore whether similarity or complementarity matters more for long-term relationship success. The hosts also unpack why this myth persists in media, influencer culture, and self-help advice, offering listeners key takeaways about what really drives attraction. You can find references for this episode and information about psychological science at our website, https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/ [https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/]. Use the Contact page to share your thoughts on this episode and other topics that you'd like us to cover. Thanks for listening!

Episode 2: Full Moon

Date: December 19, 2025 Brains vs. Beliefs: Debunking Psychological Misconceptions Episode 2: Full Moon In this episode, psychologists Emily Stark and Karla Lassonde discuss the misconception that the full moon influences our behavior. We describe some cultural and folklore connections to the full moon, and how widespread the belief is that people act wilder during a full moon. We share how research has tested this myth, and describe a number of studies that show no connection between phases of the moon, and behaviors such as reported crimes, psychiatric admissions, emergency calls, and other archival data. Overall, we connect this misconception to our brain's tendency to notice patterns, and how we pay more attention to things that confirm our beliefs--even though there is no connection between the full moon and our behaviors. You can find references for this episode and information about psychological science at our website, https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/ [https://www.communicatingpsychologicalscience.com/]. Use the Contact page to share your thoughts on this episode and other topics that you'd like us to cover. Thanks for listening!