Jennifer Schmidt

Jennifer Schmidt appears in the following:

You 2.0: The Value Of 'Deep Work' In An Age Of Distraction

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Every time you give in to the buzzing notifications of our phone or computer, you pay a price: little by little, you lose your ability to focus.

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Can Robots Teach Us What It Means To Be Human?

Monday, July 10, 2017

If you've ever shouted at Siri or rolled your eyes at your Roomba, you know that artificial intelligence isn't always that smart. But there's still a lot that robots can tell us about ourselves.

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When Is It 'Terrorism'? How The Media Cover Attacks By Muslim Perpetrators

Monday, June 19, 2017

In the last five years, 12 percent of terrorist attacks in the U.S. were carried out by Muslims and more than 50 percent by far right extremists. So why the media focus on "Islamic terrorism"?

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Rap on Trial: How An Aspiring Musician's Words Led To Prison Time

Monday, June 12, 2017

Olutosin Oduwole was a college student and aspiring rapper when he was charged with "attempting to make a terrorist threat." We explore how perceptions of rap music may have played a role.

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The 'Thumbprint Of The Culture': Implicit Bias And Police Shootings

Monday, June 05, 2017

After a police shooting, there's often a familiar blame game: Maybe the cop was racist. Maybe the person who was shot really was threatening. Or maybe the bias that leads cops to shoot affects us all.

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The Fox And The Hedgehog: The Triumphs And Perils Of Going Big

Monday, May 15, 2017

The parable of the fox and the hedgehog tells us that there are some who are guided by one big idea. That's the story of Don Laub, a surgeon whose single-mindedness was his triumph, and his downfall.

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Magic, Or Math? The Appeal Of Coincidences, And The Reality

Monday, May 08, 2017

This week on Hidden Brain: coincidences. Why they're not quite as magical as they seem, and the psychological reasons we can't help but search for meaning in them anyway.

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What Our Google Searches Reveal About Who We Really Are

Monday, May 01, 2017

We're often more honest when making searches on Google than when answering surveys or talking to friends. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz explains what these searches tell us about our thoughts and desires.

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When It Comes To Our Lives On Social Media, 'There's Always Another Story'

Monday, April 17, 2017

Many studies have shown that people who use social media may be unhappier than those who don't. This week on Hidden Brain, we explore the psychological effect social media has on us.

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Creature Comforts: The Power Of Touch And Affection In Our Lives

Monday, April 10, 2017

This week, Hidden Brain considers the power of touch. First, the story of a grown woman who still sleeps with her baby blanket. Then, the science of why we seek comfort and affection.

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Inside The Hole: What Happens To The Mind In Isolation?

Monday, April 03, 2017

The use of solitary confinement in prisons has grown since the 1970s. Criminologist Keramet Reiter talks with us about the psychological effects that long-term isolation has on our minds.

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Everybody Lies, And That's Not Always A Bad Thing

Monday, March 27, 2017

When we think of lies, we think of the big stuff. We say, "I could never do something like that." But big lies start with small deceptions. Dan Ariely talks about why we lie and why we're honest.

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The Scarcity Trap: Why We Keep Digging When We're Stuck In A Hole

Monday, March 20, 2017

When you really need something — whether it's money, food, or even time — it can be hard to focus on anything else. Researchers call this scarcity, and say it can affect many aspects of our lives.

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Finding The Punchline: Maz Jobrani On Comedy In The Trump Era

Monday, February 27, 2017

Maz Jobrani, an Iranian-American comedian, uses humor to critique President Trump — whom he describes as "good for comedy but bad for the world."

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On the Knife's Edge: Using Therapy To Address Violence Among Teens

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

We hear a lot about senseless violence: people who lose their lives or their freedom over a stolen backpack, or perceived slight. Two researchers think social science might help prevent these crimes.

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Hookup Culture: The Unspoken Rules of Sex on College Campuses

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Research suggests that college students are not having more sex than their parents were a generation ago. But sociologist Lisa Wade says the culture around sex has changed dramatically.

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Fortress America: What We Can — And Can't — Learn From History

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

President Trump's executive order on refugees left travelers stranded at airports worldwide. To some, the scenes evoked images of Jewish refugees during World War II. We investigate the parallels.

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Strangers in Their Own Land: The 'Deep Story' of Trump Supporters

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Millions of Americans seem to ignore their own interests when it comes to how they vote. Sociologist Arlie Hochschild thinks we might be turning to politics to meet emotional needs, not economic ones.

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Coronations, Coups, And Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

It's in our nature to idolize the rich and famous. But this week on Hidden Brain, we explore the other side of our nature: the part of us that wants to see the rich and powerful fall from grace.

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A Stabbing, A Possible Ebola Outbreak, And A 'Time Bomb'

Tuesday, December 06, 2016

In Liberia, a team of epidemiologists have to delay a criminal investigation, look the other way on illegal drug use and build trust to stop an outbreak of Ebola.

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