Mythbusters or Behavioral Grooves? This week, we step back in time with Kurt and Tim (2023) to tackle the common belief that willpower alone is enough to achieve your goals. They delve into the critical roles that environment and routines play in goal attainment. Through engaging real-life examples, they demonstrate how small adjustments in your physical and social surroundings can simplify desired behaviors and reduce the need for sheer willpower.

Routines are essential for success, providing the structure needed to support your goals. Tim and Kurt offer practical strategies for minimizing friction and sustaining motivation. By establishing effective routines, you can make goal-oriented behaviors more automatic and less reliant on willpower.

In this republished episode, listeners get to join Kurt and Tim as they groove on the topic, offering actionable advice and insights on creating an environment and routine that support your goals. Tune in to learn how to set yourself up for success with these expert tips.

[1:25] Willpower is a muscle

[4:12] Making your environment work for you

[7:39] Clutter is distracting

[11:36] Routines and habits

[16:06] Routines that help us achieve our goals

Brain/Shift Journal

Mazuch & Rona (2005), “Creating healing environments: humanistic architecture and therapeutic design”

McMains & Kastner (2011), “Interactions of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms in human visual cortex”

Wendy Wood, “Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick”

Katy Milkman, “How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be”

Is AI about to take over the world, or is it simply…misunderstood?

Tim takes on a solo-sode with guest Ben Manning, a PhD candidate at MIT who is currently writing a thesis on the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. They explore the intricacies of AI, defining key terms, and discussing the hierarchy within AI, machine learning, and large language models. From spell check to ChatGPT, the world of AI is diverse and ever-expanding, and Ben explains the potential of AI to assist fields like behavioral science and beyond.

From healthcare to finance, AI has the potential to benefit various fields, but it’s not without it’s limitations. There’s a certain way we can all embrace this technology and understand where and how is the best place to use it.

Kurt jumps back into the game in this week’s grooving session, where he and Tim reflect on the conversation, highlighting key takeaways and discussing their own perspectives on AI. They emphasize the importance of embracing AI for its potential, and not being scared of the “unknown” it presents.

All hail our robot overlords!

Kidding, but tune in this week for a great conversation on a modern invention, and how it applies to our everyday lives.

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

[0:00] Quick announcements for Behavioral Grooves!

[6:35] Intro and speed round

[10:27] AI, psychology, and behavioral science

[16:46] Using machine learning in psychology experiments

[21:34] Using AI to study behavior: Benefits and limitations

[28:33] AI in machine learning and desert island music

[30:57] Grooving session: The future of AI - we're nervous but excited

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

Ben Manning

Large Language Models as Simulated Economic Agents: What we can learn from Homo Silicus

Ben’s Substack

Behavioral Grooves - Sign up for our newsletter!

Sammy Rae & The Friends “We Made It”

The Brook & The Bluff “Halfway Up”

Budget hotel or 5-star experience? Pack a lunch or grab it to-go? Save your money or spend it? Are you a tightwad or a spendthrift?

Scott Rick, author of "Tightwads and Spendthrifts," joins Kurt and Tim on this week’s episode to discuss all things related to personal finance and our relationship with money. Scott explains the distinctions between tightwads and spendthrifts, detailing how these traits influence your financial habits and impact your life and relationships. Through his expertise, Scott offers listeners a unique window into understanding their spending habits and finding the right balance between saving and spending.

The episode also addresses the challenges couples face when they have different financial personalities. Scott and Kurt suggest strategies for maintaining harmony, highlighting the significance of financial compatibility and its effect on overall happiness in a relationship. If you thought gift-giving was just a love language, think again! Scott emphasizes the importance of thoughtful gift-giving and understanding the recipient's preferences, shedding light on how spendthrifts and tightwads approach gifts differently and the significance of effort and sacrifice in making gifts meaningful.

Tune in for this insightful conversation with Scott Rick, packed with valuable insights to help you navigate your financial journey. Whether you’re a spendthrift, tightwad, or somewhere in between, this episode offers a wealth (pun intended) of knowledge to enhance your understanding of personal finance and relationships.

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

[4:46] Introduction and speed round

[7:00] Money Management and spending habits

[13:00] Tightwads, spendthrifts, and finding balance

[17:47] How budgeting helps both groups

[22:08] Avoiding financial friction in marriage

[33:43] The financial importance of gift-giving

[37:32] Financial transparency and accountability in relationships

[44:19] Desert Island music

[46:22] Grooving Session - relationships, finance, and finding balance

© 2024 Behavioral Grooves

Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships

Tightwads vs Spendthrifts Quiz

Scott Rick

Is Joint Banking the Key to a Happy Marriage?

Pearl Jam “Even Flow”

Mitski “Star”