Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Weighted Vest: an update on popularity

1 1

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · 8d

New thoughts on the psychology of popularity from this week's Two Guys on Your Head inspired by Rebecca's experience with weighted vests.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 10/03/2025 · 8m

Can Good Learners Judge How Well They Learned?

2

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · 9d

When you're learning new things, you need to judge how well you're learning to decide whether to keep working. In my latest for @psychtoday.bsky.social, new research explores how good and poor learners differ in this ability.

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

You need to judge what you have learned to decide how hard to work on learning that material in the future. How accurate are those judgments?

How and why to celebrate an accomplishment

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · 9d

A couple of weeks ago, a team member made me a cross-stitch of a quote I said at a meeting. I have put it up in my office as a reminder of the impact our words have on others.

1 1

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · 12d

Chances are, you don't celebrate your successes enough. You should. My latest for @fastcompany.com.

www.fastcompany.com/91408609/how...

Small celebrations help you recognize how all the little things you do daily add up to something more significant.

Using Chess to Study Overconfidence

1 1 1

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · 17d

Psychology research finds people are often overconfident. Open questions in that work that were addressed in a cool paper studying tournament chess players. My latest for @psychtoday.bsky.social with a shout-out to @cfchabris.bsky.social and Daniel Simons.

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

A new study on chess players explored people's overconfidence in a domain with clear measures of performance and the opportunity for people to get feedback.

What to do if you get blamed for someone else's mistakes

1 2

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · 18d

One of the more frustrating aspects of navigating a career is when you get blamed for someone else's mistake. In my latest for @fastcompany.com, a few suggestions about what to do if you find yourself in that situation.

www.fastcompany.com/91403029/wha...

Your response will depend on two factors: why you're getting the blame and how senior you are in the organization.

How Does Your Motivation Affect the Achievement of Goals?

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · 23d

You probably set goals based on how important they are, but that isn't necessarily what is going to help you achieve them. My latest for Psychology Today. With a shout-out to research by @ayelet and Kaitlin Woolley.

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

People often set goals to achieve (like New Year's resolutions). New research explores the influence of internal and external motivation in choosing and fulfilling goals.

3 questions to ask to clarify confusing feedback

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · 26d

Have you ever gotten feedback from someone that is confusing? There are a few things you can do to clarify. My latest for @fastcompany.com

www.fastcompany.com/91399084/3-q...

Good feedback helps you understand what went wrong, why, and how to improve. Here's what to do if your feedback doesn't have this information.

Mental Health in the Media Storm

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · 29d

The headlines have been dire for several months, and that can be a drain on your well-being. In today's Two Guys on Your Head, a discussion of what we can do to counteract the effect of media. @kutnews.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 09/12/2025 · 8m

Social Interaction Affects Memory

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Sep 9

Memory helps you to remember things that are likely to be important later. Studies suggest that social interaction between people is one cue memory uses. My latest for @psychtoday.bsky.social

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

Among the many types of information your memory system uses to decide what to remember, new research suggests social interaction influences what you learn.

The Psychology of Personal Resistance

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Sep 8

When should you give in to your initial resistance to do something and when should you fight it? The latest Two Guys on Your Head explores this issue. @kutnews.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 09/05/2025 · 8m

The newbie's guide to getting the most out of AI

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Sep 4

If you haven't played around much with generative AI models yet, you're still not too far behind the curve. In my latest for @fastcompany.com, a few things you can try to get started.

www.fastcompany.com/91392444/the...

AI is everywhere and it's easy to feel like you're left behind. If you’re still a novice, there are a few things you can do to get started.

How to pick a work uniform

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Sep 2

Rather than puzzling over what to wear each day, many people narrow the choice down by picking an overall look they're going for. To do that, you need to think a bit about what your clothes communicate. My latest for @fastcompany.com.

www.fastcompany.com/91394847/how...

Getting dressed for work takes effort. Have a 'look' or 'uniform' can make it easier. Here's what to keep in mind while choosing one.

The Weather and Social Media Use

2 1 1

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Aug 29

You spend a lot of time on Social Media in your daily life (you're doing it right now). As we discuss on the latest Two Guys on Your Head the weather can affect engagement with social media. @kutnews.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 08/29/2025 · 8m

The Emotional Benefits of Forgiveness

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Aug 27

Some cool new research explores how forgiveness influences your emotional reaction to memories of past events. My latest for @psychtoday.bsky.social

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ulte...

There is a real benefit to forgiveness; it affects your memory and your reaction to your memory of past events. New research explores this effect.

How to layoff proof your job

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Aug 25

In times of economic uncertainty, layoffs are common. You can't prevent yourself from getting laid off completely, but there a few things you can do to minimize the chances you'll be let go. My latest for @fastcompany.com.

www.fastcompany.com/91387538/how...

So far this year, companies have eliminated 800,000 jobs. While this can be anxiety inducing, here are some tips for protecting your job.

Social Sciences Podcast · Updated Weekly · Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explain how our brain works.

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Aug 22

Have you ever wondered whether the weather affects your mood? We explore the evidence for this possibility on the latest Two Guys on Your Head. The answer might just surprise you. @kutnews.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Two Guys on Your Head

How to make a good apology

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Aug 18

A recent event in my hometown was a stark reminder that many businesses (and individuals for that matter) do not know the value of a good apology--or what a good apology is. My latest for @fastcompany.com.

www.fastcompany.com/91384990/how...

While it's tempting to bury mistakes and skip an apology, this erodes trust. Here's a framework for a good apology.

The subtle art of correcting your boss

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Aug 11

Have you ever been in the position where you have to correct your boss? It can be awkward, but it doesn't have to be. My latest for @fastcompany.com

www.fastcompany.com/91379982/the...

Four winning strategies for saving a more senior leader from a mistake—without tanking your career in the process.

Does Money Motivate Discovery?

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Aug 8

Can you motivate discovery with money? Sort of. The latest of Two Guys on Your Head. @kutnews.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 08/08/2025 · 8m

Social Sciences Podcast · Updated Weekly · Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explain how our brain works.

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Aug 1

Have you ever found yourself gravitating to someone who seems to hate everyone? In the latest Two Guys on Your Head, we explore why (and why you might want to avoid them). @kutnews.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Two Guys on Your Head

How to deal with loneliness at work

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Jul 28

Do you feel like you have any close colleagues at work? If not, it might be a good idea to develop some of your work relationships. My latest for @fastcompany.com

www.fastcompany.com/91372017/how...

One of the biggest predictors of happiness at work is whether or not you have work friends. Here are tips on how to make them.

The Psychology of Style: Power

2 1

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Jul 25

As we conclude our Two Guys on Your Head series about Style, we look at how style is influenced by and signals power. @kutnews.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/k...

Podcast Episode · Two Guys on Your Head · 07/20/2025 · 7m

How to listen to opinions you don't want to hear

Art Markman @abmarkman.bsky.social · Jul 21

Having a wide range of opinions at work is only helpful if you listen to the voices that disagree with you. My latest for @fastcompany.com

www.fastcompany.com/91367610/how...

The opinion you least want to hear can often be the most valuable. Here are tips on how to keep an open mind.