Squeezing the Orange

Service with a Smile: Who Benefits Most?

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 11:12:02 +0200

It's likely you've either worked in a customer facing role or you've been the customer; we imagine for many of you it's both. So then, when service is given with a smile, who benefits most, the employee or the customer? Dan and Akin squeeze some interesting findings that question who's in need of training.

- Research Paper: 'Why Does Service with a Smile Make Employees Happy? A Social Interaction Model' by Eugene Kim and David Yoon

Does Working from Home Work?

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 01:05:00 +0200

Ahead of their time, researchers in 2010 began looking into the costs and benefits of working from home - for organisations and employees. Dan and Akin recently got their hands on the research; join them as they give the findings a good squeeze.

- Research Paper: 'Does Working from Home Work? Evidence from a Chinese Experiment' by Nicholas Bloom, James Liang, John Roberts and Zhichun Jenny Ying

Abusive Leadership and the Victim’s Desire to Help

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 09:31:24 +0100

It can be concerning when abusive leadership towards employees is accepted and supported by victims of toxicity. Dan and Akin squeeze research that looks into why this happens and the role played by the perceived quality of the relationship, self-blame and guilt.

- Research Paper: 'When Victims Help their Abusive Supervisors: The Role of LMX, Self-Blame and Guilt' by Christian Tröster and Niels Van Quaquebeke

The Positive Effects of ”Feedback-Sharing” on Psychological Safety

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 01:05:00 +0100

A longer-lasting approach to creating psychological safety is emerging, and it requires leaders to display more vulnerability. Rather than continuously soliciting feedback, this new approach suggests leaders share previous feedback they've received. Listen in as Dan and Akin make sense of "feedback-sharing" and its discovered benefits.

- Research Paper: 'Taking Your Team Behind the Curtain: The Effects of Leader Feedback-Sharing and Feedback-Seeking on Team Psychological Safety' by Constantinos Coutifaris and Adam Grant

The Underdog Effect: Bringing the Best Out of the Worst

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 11:12:35 +0100

Peculiar things happen when people doubt our capabilities; their doubts can have a strengthening or weakening effect on our performance. Dan and Akin squeeze exciting research about the conditions that turn underdogs into overachievers.

- Research Paper: 'The Underdog Effect: When Low Expectations Increase Performance' by Samir Nurmohamed

The Zero-Sum Games of Dominant Leadership

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 13:27:12 +0200

Dominant leaders work toward getting what they want, even if it's at the expense of others. This attitude has a ripple effect, creating negative environments in which more people adopt a zero-sum game mindset: in order to gain, someone else must lose. Join Dan and Akin as they squeeze the findings of the brand new research paper.

- Research Paper: 'The Impact of Leader Dominance on Employees' Zero-Sum Mindset and Helping Behaviour' By Niro Sivanathan and Hemant Kakkar

Leading by Example: The Ups and Downs

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 01:05:00 +0200

This time-tested leadership method doesn't always produce the desired results. Dan and Akin discuss why, and what to keep in my when adopting this approach.

- Research Paper: 'Leading by Example: The Case of Leader OCB' by Tal Yaffe and Ronit Kark

When Does Diversity Lead to Organisational Innovation?

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 12:36:18 +0200

Diversity, if treated like an independent factor, falls short of effecting innovation when employee involvement is low. Dan and Akin discuss some of the challenges researchers face when attempting to apply science to this social issue.

- Research Paper: 'Diversity and organizational innovation: The role of employee involvement' by Yang Yang and Alison M. Konrad

Do Organisations Distort the Value of Favours?

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 12:27:05 +0200

Reciprocity is the dish of the day as Dan and Akin chew on research out of Stanford which questions why employee loyalty and effort is sometimes not reciprocated by employers - and, as it turns out, colleagues too.

- Research Paper: 'How “Organization” Can Weaken the Norm of Reciprocity: The Effects of Attributions for Favors and a Calculative Mindset' by Peter Belmi and Jeffrey Pfeffer

Hidden Costs of Catering to the Needs of Others

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 10:16:03 +0200

Does it seem risky to be yourself at a job interview or on a first date? Turns out the riskier approach is trying to be what we think others want us to be. Dan and Akin squeeze research that weighs the benefits of authenticity against catering to the needs of others.

- Research Paper: 'To be or not to be your authentic self? Catering to others’ preferences hinders performance' by Francesca Gino, Ovul Sezer and Laura Huang

Tension: Why do some thrive in it while others struggle?

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 01:05:00 +0200

Anxiety is a normal response to rising tensions, but there an abnormal responses far more helpful. Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper that investigates the 'paradox mindset' and its benefits.

- Research Paper: 'Microfoundations of Organizational Paradox: The Problem is How We Think about the Problem' by Ella Miron-Spektor, Amy Ingram, Joshua Keller, Wendy K. Smith and Marianne W. Lewis

Is It More Helpful To Count Your Blessings Or Your Barriers?

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 01:05:00 +0200

In life, some things help us along while others hold us back; which should we pay more attention to, and what good can come from changing our minds? Akin and Dan squeeze a research paper that looks into our asymmetric responses to headwinds and tailwinds.

- Research Paper: 'The Headwinds/Tailwinds Asymmetry: An Availability Bias in Assessments of Barriers and Blessings' by Shai Davidai and Thomas Gilovich

The "Good Employee" Paradox

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 00:05:00 +0100

Have you considered whether the skills you've picked up at your work place would be valuable anywhere else? Dan and Akin squeeze research into why being too valuable to one organisation might make you less valuable to others.

- Research Paper: 'Micro-Foundations of Firm-Specific Human Capital: When do Employees Perceive Their Skills to Be Firm Specific?' by Joseph Raffiee and Russell Coff

Hive Mind: How Synchrony Improves Cooperation in Groups

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 01:05:00 +0100

There are reasons why armies, churches, organisations and communities engage in group activities seemingly unrelated to the purpose of the group. Dan and Akin squeeze research that looked into the benefits of getting several individual minds to think, feel and behave as one.

- Research Paper: 'Synchrony and Cooperation' by Scott S. Wiltermuth and Chip Heath

Why Rich Kids Grow to Be Worse Leaders

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 01:05:00 +0100

Did you know that a strong predictor for narcissism in children is how much money their parents make? Dan and Akin squeeze research that asks what this means for work places, as narcissists are more likely to be selected as leaders.

- Research Paper: 'Echoes of Our Upbringing: How Growing Up Wealthy or Poor Relates to Narcissism, Leader Behavior, and Leader Effectiveness' by Sean R. Martin, Stephane Cote and Todd Woodruff

Lottery Winners and Accident Victims: Is Happiness Relative?

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 12:08:21 +0100

What do you think would have longer lasting effects on your happiness, winning the lottery or having a paralysing accident? Researchers wanted to know, and in this episode, Dan and Akin squeeze their findings for some invaluable life lessons.

- Research Paper: 'Lottery Winners and Accident Victims: Is Happiness Relative?' by Philip Brickman, Dan Coates and Ronnie Janoff-Bulman

How Power Corrupts Relationships

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 01:05:00 +0100

When you're on top, it can feel like everyone wants something from you. Might you be right? Or is it all in your head? Dan and Akin look to social psychology for an answer, and pull at the roots of our budding cynical nature.

- Research Paper: 'How Power Corrupts Relationships: Cynical Attributions for Others' Generous Acts' by Ena Inesi, Deborah Gruenfeld and Adam Galinsky

Influencing People's Health Choices

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 12:42:06 +0100

When it comes to making decisions about our health, we think differently depending on whether the action prevents or detects problems. Dan and Akin squeeze a study which responds to this by investigating differences in what happens when the emphasis is put on potential gains versus losses.

- Research Paper: 'The Systematic Influence of Gain-and Loss-Framed Messages on Interest in and Use of Different Types of Health Behavior' by Alexander J. Rothman, Steven C. Martino, Brian T. Bedell, Jerusha B. Detweiler and Peter Salovey

How do You Know if Your Career is Your Calling?

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 11:50:43 +0100

Whether of not we have found, or are in search of, a career that fulfils us professionally and personally might come down to just one thing: the story we tell ourselves. Dan and Akin squeeze research investigating how called professionals construct identities.

- Research Paper: 'Stories of Calling: How Called Professionals Construct Narrative Identities' by Matt Bloom, Amy E. Colbert and Jordan D. Nielsen

Hostile Media or a Paranoid Audience?

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 01:05:00 +0100

Studied over 30 years ago, the hostile media phenomenon found the biases audiences consume news with creates a new reality in which everyone is out to get them and nothing is ever good enough. Dan and Akin squeeze the findings of this classic research paper.

- Research Paper: 'The Hostile Media Phenomenon: Biased Perception and Perceptions of Media Bias in Coverage of the Beirut Massacre' by Robert P. Vallone, Lee Ross and Mark R. Lepper

What Can We Learn from How the Best Sporting Talent is Developed?

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 01:05:00 +0200

Less what it takes to be the best and more what is takes to the produce the best. As a coach, leader, parent or person of persuasion, you'll be aware of the challenges involved with helping individuals reach their potential. Dan and Akin review research which seeks to help uncover reliable tips for drawing out greatness.

- Research Paper: 'The Great British Medalists Project: A Review of Current Knowledge on the Development of the World's Best Sporting Talent' by Tim Rees, Lew Hardy, Arne Gullich, Bruce Abernethy, Jean Cote, Tim Woodman, Hugh Montgomery, Stewart Laing and Chelsea Warr

When Negative Feedback Leads to Increased Creativity

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 01:05:00 +0200

When we're being, negative feedback provides us with the opportunity to close the gap between what's produced and what's possible. Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper which looks into how the effect is turned on its head depending on where the feedback comes from.

- Research Paper: 'Does Negative Feedback Benefit (or Harm) Recipient Creativity? The Role of the Direction of Feedback Flow' by Yeun Joon Kim and Junha Kim

Exceptional by Dan Cable - Unlocking Your Potential

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 17:36:05 +0200

Are you familiar with the best version of yourself? Would you like to be that version of yourself more often? We talk about Dan's latest book, 'Exceptional' in this episode, squeezing research and ideas that underpin text.

- Exceptional is available on Amazon and Audible.

- Be sure to visit essentic.com for information on how they help individuals and organisations uncover and work with their "Exceptional" strengths.

Laugh it Up: The Way Humour Transforms Workplace Meetings

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 01:05:00 +0200

When you think of your workplace meetings, is laughter a regular attendee? Akin and Dan squeeze a research paper from an exciting branch of social science in which the merit of emotions at work is being brought into question.

- Research Paper: 'Emotions in Organizations: Joint Laughter in Workplace Meetings' by Helena Kangasharju and Tuija Nikko

Do Side Hustles Empower or Distract?

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 01:05:00 +0200

A long held belief among scholars and employers is that side hustles conflict with full-time work by depleting the cognitive abilities of employees. Akin and Dan squeeze a research paper which looked into whether this is truly the case and if there's more to the story!

- Research Paper: 'Do the Hustle! Empowerment from Side-Hustles and Its Effects on Full-Time Work Performance' by Hudson Sessions, Jennifer D. Nahrgang, Manuel J. Vaulont, Raseana Williams and Amy L. Bartels

Sexual Attraction and High Anxiety

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 10:02:30 +0200

A new school take on an old school study finds that in states of high anxiety and fear, men remain able, and increasingly willing, to keep one thing on their mind.

Akin and Dan talk about sex and taking chances.

- Research Paper: 'Some Evidence for Heightened Sexual Attraction under Conditions of High Anxiety' by Donald G. Dutton and Arthur P. Aron

Create a Portable Self for Your Contemporary Career

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 08:53:04 +0200

Contemporary careers come with the expectation of employee mobility and the guarantee of on the job uncertainty. Research has found two competing pathways necessary for individuals to thrive with agency: adaptive and exploratory. Dan and Akin squeeze the findings for you!

- Research Paper: 'Fast Tracks and Inner Journeys: Crafting Portable Selves for Contemporary Careers' by Gianpiero Petriglieri, Jennifer Louise Petriglieri and Jack Denfeld Wood

Spanish Flu: How Resilience, Cooperation and Framing Shape Communities

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 08:25:56 +0200

What can be learned from the Spanish Flu that might help us better navigate the present pandemic? Dan and Akin squeeze a sociology study that looks at natural disasters, and how the way to choose to frame events can either help or hinder our recovery.

- Research Paper: 'Disasters and Community Resilience: Spanish Flu and the Formation of Retail Cooperatives in Norway' by Hayagreeva "Huggy" Rao and Henrich R. Greve

How Self-Reflection Energises Leaders featuring Terence Mauri

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 09:43:03 +0200

The duo are joined by author and leadership mentor, Terence Mauri. Together, the trio squeeze a research paper that scientifically finds measurable methods by which leaders can better harness their energy and be more influential at work.

- Research Paper: 'Energizing Leaders via Self-Reflection: A Within-Person Field Experiment' by Klodiana Lanaj, Trevor Foulk and Amir Erez

What's Next for Squeezing the Orange?

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 09:25:56 +0200

It's time for another catch up with Akin and Dan. The duo have some special announcements, and also open the window into what's been happening in their lives.

Police Body Cameras Reveal Racial Respect Bias

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 13:45:29 +0200

A squad of researchers analysed a month's worth of police body camera footage from routine traffic stops in Oakland, California. Their findings highlight a racial bias that contributes towards the dysfunction relationship between Black Americans and the police. Dan and Akin squeeze the findings.

- Research Paper: 'Language from Police Body Camera Footage Shows Racial Disparities in Officer Respect' by Rob Voigt, Nicholas P. Camp, Vinodkumar Prabhakaran, William L. Hamilton, Rebecca C. Hetey, Camilla M. Griffiths, David Jurgens, Dan Jurafsky, and Jennifer L. Eberhardt

Self-Affirmation and the Health Benefits of Expressive Writing

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 11:38:12 +0200

Improve your mental health, and your physical health follows. Dan and Akin squeeze research which finds positive, self-affirming expressive writing has real and measurable benefits for women being treated for breast cancer.

- Research Paper: 'Does Self-Affirmation, Cognitive Processing, or Discovery of Meaning Explain Cancer-Related Health Benefits of Expressive Writing' by J. David Creswell, Suman Lam, Annette L. Stanton, Shelley E. Taylor, Julienne E. Bower and David K. Sherman

Guilt and Shame: Competition and Motivation

Wed, 27 May 2020 20:58:25 +0200

To be the best, you've got to beat the best! Dan and Akin squeeze research looking into the roles guilt and shame play in competition and motivation.

- Research Paper: 'May the Best Man Lose: Guilt Inhibits Competitive Motivation' by Uriel Haran

Too Good to Hire: Commitment, Capability and the Job Market

Wed, 20 May 2020 11:37:36 +0200

What do we mean when we say someone is "overqualified"? Dan and Akin look at why and when highly attractive qualities work against the best person for the job.

- Research Paper: 'Too Good to Hire? Capability and Inferences about Commitment in Labor Markets' by Roman V. Galperin, Oliver Hahl, Adina D. Sterling, Jerry Guo

Dilution Effect: Pharmaceutical Drugs, Advertising and Arguments

Wed, 13 May 2020 01:05:00 +0200

Something rather peculiar happens to the strength of your argument when you add everything and the kitchen sink to it. Dan and Akin squeeze research that will have you rethinking how the best cases are put forward.

- Research Paper: 'The Unintended Consequences of Argument Dilution in Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertisements' by Niro Sivanathan and Hemant Kakkar

Replication Crisis, Signatures and Dishonesty

Wed, 06 May 2020 01:05:00 +0200

What do you do when you're wrong? For the first time, Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper by a team looking to correct findings previously thought to be true.

- Research Paper: 'Signing at the Beginning Versus at the End Does Not Decrease Dishonesty' by Ariella S. Kristal, Ashley V. Whillans, Max H. Bazerman, Francesca Gino, Lisa L. Shu, Nina Mazar, and Dan Ariely

Nostalgia: Past, Present and Future

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 01:05:00 +0200

Centuries of research have turned our understanding of nostalgia on its head. What was once believed to be a psychiatric disorder is now hailed as serving key psychological functions. Dan and Akin squeeze the findings.

- Research Paper: 'Nostalgia: Past, Present, and Future' by Constantine Sedikides, Tim Wildschut, Jamie Arndt and Clay Routledge

Loving-Kindness Meditation: Positive Emotions, Life Satisfaction and Reduced Depression

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 10:38:12 +0200

If you're into meditation, you're going to love this! If you're not already into it, this might be what draws you in. Dan and Akin squeeze research which finds you can significantly improve your life without having to lift a finger.

- Research Paper: 'Open Hearts Build Lives: Positive Emotions, Induced Through Loving-Kindness Meditation, Build Consequential Personal Resources' by Barbara L. Fredrickson, Michael A. Cohn, Kimberly A. Coffey, Jolynn Pek, and Sandra M. Finkel

The Scrooge Effect: Mortality, Attitude and Behaviour

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 01:05:00 +0200

Some very interesting things happen to our attitudes and behaviours when we're reminded we won't be around forever; at least not like this. Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper looking for answers of what those changes are and why they matter.

- Research Paper: The Scrooge Effect: Evidence That Mortality Salience Increases Prosocial Attitudes and Behavior by Eva Jones, Jeff Schimel, Jeff Greenberg and Tom Pyszczynski

Does Personally Customising Products Improve Performance?

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 01:05:00 +0200

Is it possible that by personally customising your products (think running shoes, golf clubs, pens and more), you can improve your performance with them? Dan and Akin squeeze a research study looking into this and similar questions.

- Research Paper: 'The Self-Expressive Customization of a Product Can Improve Performance' by Ulrike Kaiser, Martin Schreier and Chris Janiszewski

Fake News, Morals, Misinformation and Propaganda

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 01:05:00 +0200

Fake news travels fast. If you've ever wondered why people share news stories with headlines so clearly fake, we have some answers for you! If you've never wondered this, well, you might be part of the problem!

- Research Paper: 'Misinformation and Morality: Encountering Fake-News Headlines Makes Them Seem Less Unethical to Publish and Share' by Daniel A. Effron and Medha Raj

Leaning Out: Women's Under-Representation in Top Management

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 00:05:00 +0100

Can three studies in one research paper provide solutions for getting more women into senior executive roles? Dan and Akin squeeze findings that leave them humbled and surprised.

- Research Paper: 'Leaning Out: How Negative Recruitment Experiences Shape Women's Decisions to Compete for Executive Roles' by Raina A. Brands and Isabel Fernandez-Mateo

Contagion: The Games We Play, The Changes We Make

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 00:05:00 +0100

When the aim's cooperation, the good you do cascades, as does the bad. Dan and Akin squeeze the research!

- Research Paper: 'Cooperative Behavior Cascades in Human Social Networks' by James H. Fowler and Nicholas A. Christakis

Highbrow Films Bow Down to Present Bias

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:05:00 +0100

The days of renting physical copies of films are now a thing of the past, however, plenty lessons remain from when this was the norm. Dan and Akin squeeze a study of DVD rentals to unravel why decisions we make for the future aren't so certain when it’s time to act.

- Research Paper: ‘Highbrow Films Gather Dust: Time-Inconsistent Preferences and Online DVD Rentals’ by Katherine L. Milkman, Todd Rogers and Max H. Bazerman

Agony and Ecstasy in the Gig Economy

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 22:55:42 +0100

Is the grass greener on the other side for the self-employed? Yes and no. Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper exploring the unpredictable sense of anxiety and fulfilment for those not bound to confines, or privy to the benefits, of a 9 to 5.

- Research Paper: 'Agony and Ecstasy in the Gig Economy: Cultivating Holding Environments for Precarious and Personalized Work Identities' by Gianpiero Petriglieri, Susan J. Ashford and Amy Wrzesniewski

Does Sex Determine Humour? Featuring Gem Carmella

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 01:05:00 +0100

Is the ability to be funny determined by an individual's sex? Dan and Akin are joined by writer, director and performer, Gem Carmella. The trio squeeze a research study that stirred up the masses after it found and proclaimed men to be funnier than women.

- Research Paper: 'Sex Differences in Humor Production Ability: A Meta-Analysis' by Gil Greengross, Paul J. Silvia and Emily C. Nusbaum

Can Job Titles Combat Burnout?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 01:05:00 +0100

What costs would you pay to reduce burnout? Dan and Akin discuss research looking into the possibility of combating stress and emotional exhaustion by encouraging employees create and use self-reflective job titles.

- Research Paper: 'Job Titles as Identity Badges: How Self-Reflective Titles Can Reduce Emotional Exhaustion' by Adam Grant, Justin Berg and Dan Cable

Shades of Black

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 00:05:00 +0100

With a focus on the colour black, Dan and Akin squeeze a research paper that looks into whether behaviour and judgement is significantly impacted simply dependant on choosing to wear the colour black. Culture, sports and misguided decision making for all.

- Research Paper: 'The Dark Side of Self and Social Perception: Black Uniforms and Aggression in Professional Sports' by Mark G. Frank and Thomas Gilovich

The Company We Keep

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 00:05:00 +0100

"The self is not static." It's rather the opposite, in fact. Over the course of our lives, one of the things we're guaranteed to do is change. Dan and Akin squeeze a study which looks whether or not a person can change based on how they imagine the people (and things) they encounter.

- Research Paper: 'Simulating Other People Changes the Self' by Meghan Meyer, Zidong Zhao and Diana Tamir

O Mothers, Where Art Thou?

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 00:05:00 +0100

Imagine a workplace policy that improves the performance of all employees, whilst levelling the career and life playing field for mothers. Dan and Akin review a research paper which focuses on the effects of remote working.

- Research Paper: 'Discretionary Remote Working Helps Mothers without Harming Non-mothers: Evidence from a Field Experiment' by Eliot L. Sherman

Talent vs. Hard Work

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 00:05:00 +0100

Dan and Akin take on the age-old debate of talent vs. hard work, but from the perspective of how each is perceived, and therefore appreciated. When armed with insights uncovered by science, can individual better sell their skills to the world?

- Research Paper: 'Naturals and Strivers: Preferences and Beliefs about Sources of Achievement' by Chia-Jung Tsay and Mahzarin Banji

When Habit Met Science

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 00:05:00 +0100

Ever tried to improve your life? We would hope so! Dan and Akin offer a little motivation as the duo talk the science of habits and what's going on psychologically when we try to form new ones.

- Research Paper: 'How are Habits Formed: Modelling Habit Formation in the Real World' by Phillipa Lally, Cornelia van Jaarsveld, Henry Potts and Jane Wardle

Thoughts that Count

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 00:05:00 +0100

Looking to buy someone the perfect gift? Science backs the well-aged saying, "It's the thought that counts." However, the problem is that we it comes to buying gifts, the thought is that the more we spend, the more it counts. Akin and Dan break down a study that finds givers and receivers are just as happy when less money is spent.

- Research Paper: 'Money Can't Buy Love: Asymmetric Beliefs about Gift Price and Feelings of Appreciation' by Francis Flynn and Gabrielle Adams

Loyal to a Fault

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 00:05:00 +0100

Is it exploitation if you love it? Dan and Akin sit down to discuss research that scientifically exposes the dark side of believing your work is your calling.

- Research Paper: 'The Call of the Wild: Zookeepers, Callings and the Double-edged Sword of Deeply Meaningful Work' by J. Stuart Bunderson and Jeffery A. Thompson

Dumb and Dumber

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 00:05:00 +0100

The Dunning-Kruger Effect exposes a common yet surprising flaw of the human mind: the less we know about something, the less capable we are of knowing how little we know, which causes us to think we know more than we do. Confused? That's a good thing! Dan and Akin explain.

- Research Paper: 'Unskilled and Unaware of it: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments' by Justin Kruger and David Dunning

All Eyes on Me

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 00:05:00 +0100

The Spotlight Effect is the psychological phenomenon that finds people overestimate the extent to which their actions and appearance are noted by others. Everything is illuminated in the episode.

- Research Paper: 'The Spotlight Effect in Social Judgment: An Egocentric Bias in Estimates of the Salience of One's Own Actions and Appearance'

When Time is Money

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 00:05:00 +0100

How much are you worth per hour? If you need a calculator to figure that out, then stop, you might be one of fortunate ones, and not for reasons you might think. Dan and Akin squeeze the orange of a social science paper that finds people who know their hourly wage are less likely to engage in volunteer work. Tune in, it's all about to make sense.

- Research Paper: 'When Time is Money: The Effect of Hourly Payment on the Evaluation of Time' by Sanford DeVoe and Jeffrey Pfeffer

Enjoy the Rest of Your Life

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 00:05:00 +0100

Socioemotional selectivity theory? Don't worry, we'll explain! We take a different approach this week by looking at an article by Laura Carstensen titled, 'The Influence of a Sense of Time on Human Development'. Goals, preferences and even cognitive processes change as our perception of time remaining shrinks or grows.

It Doesn't Hurt to Ask

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 00:05:00 +0100

Want to come across as more likeable? Social science has an answer for you, and it's simpler than you might think: ask more questions. This week, Dan and Akin discuss a study that finds we humans underestimate the value of asking questions.

- Research Paper: 'It doesn’t hurt to ask: Question-asking increases liking.' by Huang, Karen, Michael Yeomans, Alison Wood Brooks, Julia Minson, and Francesca Gino

The IKEA Effect with Bruce Daisley

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 00:31:07 +0100

Akin and Dan are joined by a guest in this episode to discuss the IKEA effect - the phenomena that causes individuals to overvalue self-made products. Their guest is Bruce Daisley, author of 'The Joy of Work: And 25 Ways to Find It' and host of 'Eat Sleep Work Repeat', a Apple #1 Business Podcast on happiness and work culture. We hope you enjoy!

- Research Paper: 'The IKEA effect: When labor leads to love' by Michael I. Norton, Daniel Mochon & Dan Ariely

The Early Career Setback

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:05:00 +0200

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger? Dan and Akin go back and forth over a research paper that proves the old adage correct. It is possible, probable even, that by persevering through failure, you come out the other side harder, better, faster, stronger.

- Research Paper: 'Early-career setback and future career impact' by Yang Wang, Benjamin F. Jones & Dashun Wang

Facebook

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 00:05:00 +0200

WARNING! The following episode may cause you to delete your Facebook account. Dan and Akin bump heads with Facebook, the bad boy of social media, attending to research linking negative emotional states with time spent on the site.

- Research Paper: 'Facebook’s emotional consequences: Why Facebook causes a decrease in mood and why people still use it.' by Christina Sagioglou and Tobias Greitemeyer

Purpose: A Matter of Life and Death

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:05:00 +0200

Dan and Akin get existential, sinking their chops into a study that finds a direct correlation between your sense of purpose and how long you'll live. Fire up some incense for this one!

- Research Paper: 'Purpose in Life as a Predictor of Mortality Across Adulthood' by Patrick L. Hill, Nicholas A. Turiano

Don't Stop Believin'

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 00:05:00 +0200

Anxiety vs. Excitement. The brain has a lot more ability and potential than we give it credit for when we're stressed. Dan and Akin unravel research that finds you can improve performance by reappraising anxiety as excitement.

- Research Paper: 'Get Excited: Reappraising Pre-Performance Anxiety as Excitement' by Alison Wood Brooks

Men in Uniform

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 00:05:00 +0200

Ring the alarm! Dan and Akin don their intellectual overalls taking on a study that contributes a more nuanced understanding of gender, emotions and organisational culture. The organisational culture in this case being the male-dominated environments of fire departments.

- Research Paper: 'Is Love All You Need? The Effects of Emotional Culture, Suppression, and Work–Family Conflict on Firefighter Risk-Taking and Health' by Olivia Amanda O’Neill and Nancy P. Rothbard

Humble Leadership

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 00:05:00 +0200

Dan and Akin set their sights on the workplace. More explicitly, the people in leadership positions. Why is there so much talk about humble leadership and what does it even mean?

- Research Paper: 'Modeling How to Grow: An Inductive Examination of Humble Leader Behaviors, Contingencies, and Outcomes' by Bradley P. Owens and David R. Hekman

The Devil You Know

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 00:05:00 +0200

Hiders and revealers captivate Dan and Akin in this installation. They squeeze experiments exploring people’s decisions to share or withhold personal information, and the wisdom of such decisions.

- Research Paper: 'Hiding Personal Information Reveals the Worst' by Leslie K. John, Kate Barasz and Michael I. Norton

Kilimanjaro to Cardiff

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 01:05:00 +0200

A date for your diaries: Wednesday 4 September. After releasing five pilot episodes, Dan and Akin are back in the studio recording a new batch of orange-squeezing episodes. Here, the duo update listeners on the podcast and what they've been up to of late.

Let Go

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 00:05:00 +0200

Losing your job is cited as one of the top ten traumatic life experiences. Dan and Akin navigate research findings that offer a practical method of healing from the trauma and get hired faster.

- Research Paper: 'Expressive Writing and Coping with Job Loss' by Stefanie P. Spera, Eric D. Buhrfeind and James W. Pennebaker

Minority Report

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 00:05:00 +0200

Small initiative, big impact. In this instalment, Dan and Akin discuss an intervention designed to help minority students improve their academic performance by reducing the psychological threat of negative stereotypes.

- Research Paper: 'Reducing the Racial Achievement Gap: A Social-Psychological Intervention' by Geoffrey L. Cohen, Julio Garcia, Nancy Apfel and Allison Master

Transparent Sandwiches

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 00:05:00 +0200

What difference does it make, if any, when you're able to see the chef preparing your food. And importantly, when the chef is able to see you. Dan and Akin dive into research which takes on these questions and bring some curious findings to the surface.

- Research Paper: 'Creating Reciprocal Value Through Operational Transparency' by Ryan W. Buell, Tami Kim and Chia-Jung Tsay

Man on the Moon

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 07:59:20 +0200

Ever gone the extra 238,855 miles for your job? That's the distance from Earth to the Moon. In this episode, Dan and Akin talk about the space race and how the moon landing was achieve by changing the meaning of work.

- Research Paper: '‘‘I’m Not Mopping the Floors, I’m Putting a Man on the Moon’’: How NASA Leaders Enhanced the Meaningfulness of Work by Changing the Meaning of Work' by Andrew M. Carton

Gratitude

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 00:01:00 +0200

Expressing gratitude has scientifically proven benefits, both for expressor and recipient, and seems like an all-round good thing to do. So why aren’t we doing this more often? Turns out there’s some very good reasons, and those reasons can be overcome.

- Research Paper: 'Undervaluing Gratitude: Expressers Misunderstand the Consequences of Showing Appreciation' by Amit Kumar and Nicholas Epley

Introducing Dan and Akin

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 18:55:46 +0200

Hello, listeners. Thanks for joining us. Here's a brand new, weekly podcast for you all. It features professor Dan Cable and comedian Akin Omobitan. In each episode, the two candidly discuss a published social science paper and squeeze out the best bits just for you. It's fun, raw and insightful. We hope you enjoy listening as much as these two enjoy talking with one another. You can find and follow them both on Twitter: @DanCable1 and @AkinOmobitan.

Artwork by Victor Pãtrãşcan.
Music by Nico Lupo.
Sponsored by Essentic.