Can your lifestyle choices affect your child’s brain?

Before you’re even born, your parents’ health is already shaping your future wellbeing. Welcome to the world of epigenetics: where environmental factors – stress, diet and infection – leave molecular marks on genes, altering their expression across generations.   Professor Anthony Hannan from the …

What are children trying to tell us when they struggle at school?

Many children are struggling to attend school, but what if we've been getting the story wrong? In this episode of PsychTalks, Associate Professor Sarah Knight and Natasha Staheli explore how children's distress is often mistaken for misbehaviour and why terms like "school refusal" can fail to capt…

Why do so many drivers say "sorry mate, I didn't see you"?

If you’ve ever looked directly at a motorcyclist while driving – yet completely failed to see them – you’re not alone. The phenomenon is so common, riders refer to it as a “smidsy” (or, “sorry mate, I didn’t see you”.) Professor Kristen Pammer and Dr Angus McKerral discuss the cognitive demands of…

Is cycle syncing science or social media hype?

‘Cycle syncing’ has exploded online, promoting the idea that women can optimise their wellbeing by planning everything from workouts to work commitments around their menstrual cycles. But what does the science actually say? Dr Lindsie Arthur cuts through the pop psychology hype and discusses the c…

Is alcohol dependence about more than willpower?

Alcohol is a normal part of life for many Australians. But why do some people develop problems with drinking while others don't?  Dr Antoinette Poulton unpacks the link between impulsivity and hazardous drinking, and explains why our decisions around alcohol are shaped by much more than willpower.…

Why are Australians so addicted to sports betting?

Online sports betting is now part of everyday life in Australia. But how do betting apps actually work, and why are they so hard to ignore?  In this episode, Dr Daniel Bennett explores the psychology behind modern betting products, and how they are designed to keep people hooked. He explains how f…

Hidden biases in humans and machines: Can we really be fair?

We like to think we’re fair. But what if our minds and our machines don’t always agree? In this special bonus episode of PsychTalks, hosts Professor Nick Haslam and Associate Professor Cassie Hayward are joined by Professor Mahzarin Banaji (Harvard University), one of the world’s leading researche…

Do we ever stop being curious?

We said the season was over – but when the chance to sit down with Professor Alison Gopnik comes along, you make an exception. In this bonus episode, we’re delighted to welcome one of the world’s most influential developmental psychologists for an extended conversation on how our minds grow and cha…

Shelf deception: How does marketing on packaged foods influence us?

Are we really making healthy choices for our children in the supermarket? Or are we being nudged by bright colours, on-pack claims and fruit-filled imagery? Associate Professor Helen Dixon and Jane Martin unpack the psychology, policy and packaging that influence what ends up in our shopping troll…

Why is misinformation so powerful?

Misinformation and disinformation now pose some of the biggest global risks to democracy and public trust. Associate Professor Piers Howe explains how misinformation and disinformation spreads, and the subtle but influential ways they can shift public opinion, disrupt elections and damage society.…