The Science of Behavior with Dr. Elliot Berkman

In this week's episode we had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Elliot Berman, Ph.D, Neuroscientist from the University of Oergon's Social and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory. Dr. Berkman conducts research on understanding behavior change and is also a blogger for PsychologyToday.com where writes The Motivated Brain Blog. Links Mentioned in this Episode:   Follow Elliot on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Psychologician   The Social and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory https://sanlab.uoregon.edu/   The Motivated Brain Blog https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-motivated-brain   Dr. Elliot Berkman, Ph.D. Interview Show Notes    0:45 Dr. Berkman’s Introduction and Background   2:20 Dr. Berkman’s current research regarding behavior change (and a cameo from baby Jonah :) )   4:13 How has our analysis and approach to studying behavior change changed over the past decade?   6:34 How do we study genomic effects and predispositions when it comes to our behaviors and habits?   10:34 Why is it so important to study these big picture questions of behavior change?   12:45 How does Dr. Berkman define motivation? Is the phrase, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”, true?   20:20 Dr. Berkman’s take on motivational interviewing and the power it can wield   22:41 Dr. Berkman’s perspective on the “scalability” of behavior change beyond 1:1 care   24:36 How do we balance internal motivation vs. public regulation?   26:26 Dr. Berkman explains the “nudge” phenomenon   28:46 How does a neuroscientist and behavior change researcher handle being a parent?   34:45 The science of making decisions   36:00 Dr. Berkman explains the “decoy effect”   41:24 How do we make short-term changes into lasting changes?   42:17 Understanding the formation of habits   46:00 Why have we placed health so low on our value scale in society?   50:33 Dr. Berkman’s personal favorite behavioral change studies…