Is love just dopamine and oxytocin, or does that explanation miss something? In today’s bonus episode, we’re debunking the idea that our deepest connections can be reduced to a chemical reaction. We explore:


The chemistry behind lust, attraction and attachment
Dopamine, serotonin, testosterone and oxytocin


Why falling in love can feel so consuming


What pheromones actually tell us about compatibility


Why so much research on bonding comes from prairie voles


Whether we could ever create a love potion or a pill for heartbreak

The Debunking Psychology playlist: HERE 

Happy listening!

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 

The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist. 

Is love just dopamine and oxytocin, or does that explanation miss something? In today&rsquo;s bonus episode, we&rsquo;re debunking the idea that our deepest connections can be reduced to a chemical reaction. We explore:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
The chemistry behind lust, attraction and attachment
</li>
<li>Dopamine, serotonin, testosterone and oxytocin</li>
<li>
Why falling in love can feel so consuming
</li>
<li>
What pheromones actually tell us about compatibility
</li>
<li>
Why so much research on bonding comes from prairie voles
</li>
<li>
Whether we could ever create a love potion or a pill for heartbreak
</li>
</ul>
The Debunking Psychology playlist:<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3v4MCVBZ2itiJweLFzKVmO?si=df2dc9aa4ec04fbd"> HERE&nbsp;</a>
Happy listening!
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.&nbsp;

A podcast that explains how everything is psychology. Even your 20s. Hosted by Jemma Sbeg, each Tuesday and Friday we deep dive into the science and psychology behind a topic, concept or universal experience that defines our 20s - from dating, to mental health, career anxiety, friendship, finances and all the growing pains associated with this decade. Listen now. 

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 

A podcast that explains how everything is psychology. Even your 20s. Hosted by Jemma Sbeg, each Tuesday and Friday we deep dive into the science and psychology behind a topic, concept or universal experience that defines our 20s - from dating, to mental health, career anxiety, friendship, finances and all the growing pains associated with this decade. Listen now.&nbsp;
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;

The Psychology of your 20s

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts. 

Listen to this collection of top episodes from iHeartRadio and iHeartPodcasts.&nbsp;

Podcasts from iHeartRadio

A podcast that explains how everything is psychology. Even your 20s. Each Tuesday and Friday we deep dive into the science and psychology behind a topic, concept or universal experience that defines our 20s - from dating, to mental health, career anxiety, friendship, finances and all the growing pains associated with this decade. Listen now. 

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 

A podcast that explains how everything is psychology. Even your 20s. Each Tuesday and Friday we deep dive into the science and psychology behind a topic, concept or universal experience that defines our 20s - from dating, to mental health, career anxiety, friendship, finances and all the growing pains associated with this decade. Listen now.&nbsp;
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;

481. Is love just a chemical in the brain?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4164f20f-d492-49ae-866e-b4fc00c34b1f/transcript

Your brain doesn’t always steer you towards what’s best for you...especially in your 20s. Sometimes it convinces you to stay in the wrong relationship, give up after one rejection or believe you should have your entire life figured out by 25 even though you know that's not true! Why is that?

Watch on Netflix: HERE

In today’s episode, we explore six cognitive biases that shape our decisions in our 20s, including:


Why we underestimate how long good things will take


How instant gratification keeps us putting off our goals


Why we keep investing in things we know aren’t right


Why rejection and change rarely feel as bad as we predict


How recent experiences distort our expectations


Why we judge others more harshly than ourselves

We also discuss how to catch these biases in action and stop letting automatic assumptions make your biggest decisions.

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 

The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist. 

Your brain doesn&rsquo;t always steer you towards what&rsquo;s best for you...especially in your 20s. Sometimes it convinces you to stay in the wrong relationship, give up after one rejection or believe you should have your entire life figured out by 25 even though you know that's not true! Why is that?
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
In today&rsquo;s episode, we explore six cognitive biases that shape our decisions in our 20s, including:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
Why we underestimate how long good things will take
</li>
<li>
How instant gratification keeps us putting off our goals
</li>
<li>
Why we keep investing in things we know aren&rsquo;t right
</li>
<li>
Why rejection and change rarely feel as bad as we predict
</li>
<li>
How recent experiences distort our expectations
</li>
<li>
Why we judge others more harshly than ourselves
</li>
</ul>
We also discuss how to catch these biases in action and stop letting automatic assumptions make your biggest decisions.
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.&nbsp;

480. The 6 cognitive biases that will ruin your 20s

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9acd082f-ba18-4c6c-a0f3-b4ff017291db/transcript

Most of us have an idea of the person we would like to become - more confident, more successful, healthier, calmer, more disciplined. But where did that ideal come from? And is it actually ours? In this episode, we explore the psychology behind the real and ideal self, asking what happens when the person we are feels increasingly distant from the person we think we should be.

Watch on Netflix: HERE

We explore:
Where the idea of the real and ideal self comes from
The role of congruence for self-esteem and well-being
How conditions of worth can disconnect us from what we truly want
The difference between Rogers’ real/ideal self and Winnicott’s true/false self
How to differentiate your ideal from your ought self
How to identify goals to reflect your own values

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 

Our favourite sources:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jad.12111 
https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0033-295X.94.3.319 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144518301396?via%3Dihub 



The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist. 

Most of us have an idea of the person we would like to become - more confident, more successful, healthier, calmer, more disciplined. But where did that ideal come from? And is it actually ours? In this episode, we explore the psychology behind the real and ideal self, asking what happens when the person we are feels increasingly distant from the person we think we should be.
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
We explore:
<ul>
<li>Where the idea of the real and ideal self comes from</li>
<li>The role of congruence for self-esteem and well-being</li>
<li>How conditions of worth can disconnect us from what we truly want</li>
<li>The difference between Rogers&rsquo; real/ideal self and Winnicott&rsquo;s true/false self</li>
<li>How to differentiate your ideal from your ought self</li>
<li>How to identify goals to reflect your own values</li>
</ul>
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
Our favourite sources: <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jad.12111">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jad.12111</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0033-295X.94.3.319">https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0033-295X.94.3.319</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144518301396?via%3Dihub">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144518301396?via%3Dihub</a>&nbsp; 
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.&nbsp;

479. Why you're not who you want to be (yet) 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/bd65b8a9-a661-4f8c-ac2b-b4f800ced014/transcript

Of the thousands of psychology papers I’ve read for this podcast, these are five I think every 20 something should know about. Today, we’re exploring the research that could change how you think about feeling behind, getting rejected, finding love and chasing success. We discuss:


The two types of quarter life crisis and what each can teach us


Why your 20s don’t have to be the best years of your life


How rejection can increase your desire to take control


Why your friendships deserve as much attention as your romantic life


The hidden cost of tying your self-worth to money

Five studies, five massive themes for our 20s and so much to take away. Listen now!

Read the studies:
https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696818764144
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3332527/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12097955/
https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075251321385
https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167220910872

Watch on Netflix: HERE

Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast

Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s

For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com 

The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist. 

Of the thousands of psychology papers I&rsquo;ve read for this podcast, these are five I think every 20 something should know about. Today, we&rsquo;re exploring the research that could change how you think about feeling behind, getting rejected, finding love and chasing success. We discuss:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
The two types of quarter life crisis and what each can teach us
</li>
<li>
Why your 20s don&rsquo;t have to be the best years of your life
</li>
<li>
How rejection can increase your desire to take control
</li>
<li>
Why your friendships deserve as much attention as your romantic life
</li>
<li>
The hidden cost of tying your self-worth to money
</li>
</ul>
Five studies, five massive themes for our 20s and so much to take away. Listen now!
Read the studies:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696818764144?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696818764144</a></li>
<li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3332527/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3332527/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12097955/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12097955/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075251321385">https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075251321385</a></li>
<li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167220910872">https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167220910872</a></li>
</ul>
Watch on Netflix: <a href="https://netflix.com/thepsychologyofyour20s">HERE</a>
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jemmasbeg/?hl=en#">jemmasbeg</a>
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/thatpsychologypodcast/?hl=en#">thatpsychologypodcast</a>
Subscribe on Substack: @<a href="https://substack.com/@thepsychologyofyour20s">thepsychologyofyour20s</a>
For business: <a href="mailto:psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com">psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.&nbsp;

478. The 5 most important psychology studies for your 20s

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cfbbdc71-60f3-47bd-aab2-b4fb00ccbf2a/transcript

481. Is love just a chemical in the brain?

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