Two Guys on Your Head

Writer’s block! That phrase might induce panic and a recollection of a familiar experience. It’s a very common phenomenon. So what is it? When in the beginning stages of undertaking a new writing project, a writer might find themselves blocked – stuck in front of a blank page or screen with no thoughts coming to mind. This lack of creative flow is further exacerbated by anxiety over the lack of…

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Figuring something out intellectually can be a struggle, but when you finally get there, you feel a sense of accomplishment, maybe even joy. That joy is a big part of learning, and it comes from challenges that are hard but still within reach; it’s similar to working out and bodybuilding. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about how to…

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We deal with annoyances every day, but why do some things annoy us a lot more than others? In part two of this two-part Two Guys on Your Head series on the psychology of annoyance, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the role that pain, expectations, and stories play in how we experience and deal with things that annoy us.

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Why is it that some things really annoy us while others we couldn’t care less about? It turns out it has a lot to do with predictability and attention: we get annoyed when something we didn’t choose or anticipate intrudes on our attention, or when we are stuck paying attention to something we would rather tune out. In part one of this two-part Two Guys on Your Head series, Dr. Art Markman, Dr.

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In the moment, threatening punishment might seem like a good idea, but does it work? It turns out it depends on your goal. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of punishment and reveal why scolding, threats, and consequences might get short-term results but rarely lead to lasting change.

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There are times when we feel out of sync with what we want in the world and how we act in the world. Say you’re longing for close, lasting relationships, but you are acting in a way that says you don’t believe you’re worthy of love, pulling back or pushing people away without quite knowing why. The techniques used by cognitive behavioral therapy might help. But as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke…

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AI tools can help us extend our capabilities and our capacity, but what about our brains? When is using AI beneficial, and when can it be detrimental to our ability to learn and think? In Part II of our conversations on “When To Use AI,” Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke and Rebecca McInroy talk about an opportunity AI presents: thinking with AI tools to clarify our own thoughts and ideas.

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AI tools are ubiquitous and, let’s be honest, mind-blowing in their capabilities. But when is it healthy and productive to use them, and when is it not? What impact does relying on AI have on our ability to learn, to be creative, to think? In this first “Two Guys on Your Head” episode in our series, “When To Use AI,” Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk through a few red flags…

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It’s that time of year again when fresh-faced little ones with new backpacks and clean shoes head back to school. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy wanted to provide some tips to help teachers set the stage for a successful and happy year.

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It’s that time of year again when fresh-faced little ones with new backpacks and clean shoes head back to school. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy wanted to make sure to highlight the psychological significance of this time of year for kids and parents.

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Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian novel, follows Guy Montag, a “fireman” whose job is to burn books, as he turns into an outlaw set on restoring memory, reclaiming time to think, and building human connection. It is a classic that is easy to take for granted, but as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy discuss in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head…

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Having a growth mindset, the belief that you can get better with effort alone, is supposed to push you to keep trying when things get hard, and often it does. But new research suggests that when you try and still fail, you are more likely to blame yourself, and that can harm your mental wellbeing. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk…

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A growth mindset about intelligence, the belief that you can get smarter with effort, is supposed to push you to keep trying when things get hard. And often it does. But what happens when you try and still fail? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about a new study that found something counterintuitive: emphasizing a growth mindset…

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No one can control everything that happens, but we can adapt to a changing environment, even when that means shifting our perspective. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy discuss the value of gratitude and how a better understanding of where our values come from can shape the way we perceive and navigate uncertainty.

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Most people, most days, deal with variation pretty well, but how do we psychologically prepare for the times when big things happen that change the course of our lives, our livelihoods, or our sense of self? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about what we can do now to help prepare for uncertainty and why it’s so important.

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It’s summertime, and for some, that means it’s time for a vacation. But how do you get the most out of your time off and truly vacate? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about how to disconnect and why it’s important.

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A new study confirms that personality traits are associated with longevity, or lack thereof, but while behavior matters, there’s more to the story. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy look at why “everything in moderation, including moderation,” is still good advice. McGeehan et al. (2026). “Personality and mortality risk: A…

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It seems that people today carry with them the constant mantra, “I’m so busy.” And as it can be tough to juggle work, kids, and life in general, a lot of that feeling of being overwhelmed may be our own fault. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markaman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the value of boredom and how to get the most out of your downtime to feel more in control and less…

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Why is it that we can feel a lot younger or older than we are? What does it mean to feel our age? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the psychology of how we perceive age.

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When someone attacks your character, the urge to fire back is almost irresistible. But defending yourself in the heat of the moment often does more harm than good, so why do we do it? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of fighting back.

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