[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.86,0:00:03.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've heard of your I.Q.,\Nyour general intelligence,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.72,0:00:05.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but what's your Psy-Q?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.39,0:00:07.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How much do you know\Nabout what makes you tick,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.63,0:00:10.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how good are you\Nat predicting other people's behavior
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.37,0:00:11.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even your own?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.88,0:00:15.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And how much of what you think you know\Nabout psychology is wrong?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.16,0:00:18.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's find out by counting down\Nthe top 10 myths of psychology.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.95,0:00:22.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've probably heard it said\Nthat when it comes to their psychology,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.34,0:00:25.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's almost as if men are from Mars\Nand women are from Venus.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.24,0:00:27.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But how different\Nare men and women really?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.26,0:00:29.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To find out, let's start\Nby looking at something
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.52,0:00:31.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on which men and women really do differ
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.50,0:00:34.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and plotting some psychological\Ngender differences on the same scale.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.94,0:00:37.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One thing men and women\Ndo really differ on
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.12,0:00:38.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is how far they can throw a ball.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.91,0:00:40.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if we look at the data for men here,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.80,0:00:43.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we see what is called\Na normal distribution curve.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.27,0:00:46.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A few men can throw a ball really far,\Nand a few men not far at all,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.48,0:00:48.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but most a kind of average distance.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.25,0:00:50.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And women share\Nthe same distribution as well,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.42,0:00:52.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but actually there's\Nquite a big difference.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.46,0:00:54.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, the average man\Ncan throw a ball further
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.91,0:00:56.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than about 98 percent of all women.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.62,0:00:59.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So now let's look at what\Nsome psychological gender differences
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.65,0:01:02.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,look like on the same standardized scale.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.50,0:01:04.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Any psychologist will tell you
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.09,0:01:06.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that men are better\Nat spatial awareness than women --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.64,0:01:09.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so things like map-reading, \Nfor example -- and it's true,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.37,0:01:11.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but let's have a look\Nat the size of this difference.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.86,0:01:15.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's tiny; the lines are so close\Ntogether they almost overlap.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.25,0:01:19.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, the average woman is better\Nthan 33 percent of all men,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.24,0:01:21.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and of course, if that was 50 percent,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.12,0:01:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then the two genders\Nwould be exactly equal.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.18,0:01:26.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's worth bearing in mind that this\Ndifference and the next one I'll show you
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.84,0:01:29.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are pretty much the biggest\Npsychological gender differences
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.66,0:01:31.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ever discovered in psychology.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.10,0:01:32.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's the next one.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.21,0:01:34.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Any psychologist will tell you\Nthat women are better
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.65,0:01:36.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with language and grammar than men.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.32,0:01:38.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's performance\Non the standardized grammar test.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.90,0:01:40.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There go the women. There go the men.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.86,0:01:44.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Again, yes, women are better on average,\Nbut the lines are so close
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.56,0:01:48.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that 33 percent of men\Nare better than the average woman,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.05,0:01:49.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and again, if it was 50 percent,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.72,0:01:52.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would represent\Ncomplete gender equality.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.46,0:01:54.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's not really\Na case of Mars and Venus.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.58,0:01:57.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's more a case of, if anything,\NMars and Snickers:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.25,0:02:01.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,basically the same, but one's maybe \Nslightly nuttier than the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.61,0:02:03.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I won't say which.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.64,0:02:05.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now we've got you warmed up.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.50,0:02:08.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's psychoanalyze you using\Nthe famous Rorschach inkblot test.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.54,0:02:12.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you can probably see two, I dunno,\Ntwo bears or two people or something.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.12,0:02:13.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what do you think they're doing?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.88,0:02:17.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Put your hand up if you think\Nthey're saying hello.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.06,0:02:18.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not many people. Okay.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.87,0:02:21.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Put your hands up if you think\Nthey are high-fiving.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.34,0:02:23.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay. What if you think they're fighting?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.31,0:02:24.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Only a few people there.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.56,0:02:27.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, so if you think they're\Nsaying hello or high-fiving,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.64,0:02:29.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then that means you're a friendly person.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.63,0:02:31.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you think they're fighting,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.22,0:02:33.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you're a bit more of a \Nnasty, aggressive person.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.54,0:02:35.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are you a lover or a fighter, basically.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.48,0:02:36.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What about this one?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.76,0:02:40.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This isn't really a voting one, so on \Nthree everyone shout out what you see.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.38,0:02:43.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One, two, three.\N(Audience shouting)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.55,0:02:45.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I heard hamster. Who said hamster?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.24,0:02:46.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was very worrying.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.78,0:02:48.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A guy there said hamster.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.29,0:02:51.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, you should see\Nsome kind of two-legged animal here,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.60,0:02:53.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then the mirror image of them there.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.98,0:02:57.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you didn't, then this means\Nthat you have difficulty
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.41,0:03:01.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,processing complex situations\Nwhere there's a lot going on.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.50,0:03:03.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Except, of course,\Nit doesn't mean that at all.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.73,0:03:06.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Rorschach inkblot tests\Nhave basically no validity
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.40,0:03:08.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when it comes to diagnosing\Npeople's personality
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.68,0:03:11.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and are not used\Nby modern-day psychologists.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.14,0:03:14.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, one recent study found\Nthat when you do try
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.56,0:03:17.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to diagnose people's personalities\Nusing Rorschach inkblot tests,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.61,0:03:19.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,schizophrenia was diagnosed
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.36,0:03:23.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in about one sixth of apparently\Nperfectly normal participants.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.35,0:03:26.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you didn't do that well on this,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.18,0:03:28.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe you are not\Na very visual type of person.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.74,0:03:31.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let's do another\Nquick quiz to find out.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.10,0:03:34.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When making a cake, do you prefer to --\Nso hands up for each one again --
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.88,0:03:37.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do you prefer to use\Na recipe book with pictures?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.65,0:03:39.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah, a few people.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.67,0:03:42.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Have a friend talk you through?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.41,0:03:45.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or have a go, making it up\Nas you go along?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.08,0:03:46.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quite a few people there.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.57,0:03:48.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, so if you said A,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.29,0:03:50.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then this means that you\Nare a visual learner
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.46,0:03:53.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you learn best when information\Nis presented in a visual style.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.99,0:03:56.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you said B, it means\Nyou're an auditory learner,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.57,0:04:00.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you learn best when information\Nis presented to you in an auditory format.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.29,0:04:03.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you said C, it means\Nthat you're a kinesthetic learner,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.23,0:04:06.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you learn best when you get stuck in\Nand do things with your hands.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.63,0:04:08.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Except, of course,\Nas you've probably guessed,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.79,0:04:11.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it doesn't, because\Nthe whole thing is a complete myth.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.61,0:04:15.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Learning styles are made up and are \Nnot supported by scientific evidence.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.46,0:04:19.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we know this because in\Ntightly controlled experimental studies,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.02,0:04:21.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when learners are given material to learn
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.14,0:04:23.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,either in their preferred style\Nor an opposite style,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.76,0:04:27.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it makes no difference at all to the\Namount of information that they retain.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.34,0:04:29.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you think about it\Nfor just a second,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.40,0:04:31.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's just obvious\Nthat this has to be true.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.48,0:04:34.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's obvious that\Nthe best presentation format
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.05,0:04:37.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depends not on you,\Nbut on what you're trying to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.36,0:04:39.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Could you learn to drive a car,\Nfor example,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.48,0:04:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just by listening to someone\Ntelling you what to do
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.90,0:04:43.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with no kinesthetic experience?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.52,0:04:45.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Could you solve simultaneous equations
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.34,0:04:48.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by talking them through in your head\Nand without writing them down?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.49,0:04:50.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Could you revise \Nfor your architecture exams
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.59,0:04:53.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using interpretive dance\Nif you're a kinesthetic learner?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.26,0:04:56.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No. What you need to do \Nis match the material to be learned
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.20,0:04:59.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the presentation format, not you.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.98,0:05:02.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know many of you are A-level students
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.13,0:05:04.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that will have recently gotten\Nyour GCSE results.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.42,0:05:06.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you didn't quite get\Nwhat you were hoping for,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.98,0:05:09.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then you can't really blame\Nyour learning style,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.32,0:05:12.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but one thing that you might want\Nto think about blaming is your genes.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.95,0:05:16.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what this is all about is a\Nrecent study at University College London
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.64,0:05:19.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,found that 58 percent of the variation
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.19,0:05:22.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between different students\Nand their GCSE results
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.44,0:05:24.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was down to genetic factors.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.10,0:05:27.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That sounds like a very precise figure,\Nso how can we tell?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.23,0:05:30.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, when we want to unpack\Nthe relative contributions
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.74,0:05:32.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of genes and the environment,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.84,0:05:35.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what we can do is do a twin study.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.07,0:05:38.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So identical twins share\N100 percent of their environment
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.65,0:05:40.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and 100 percent of their genes,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.55,0:05:43.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whereas non-identical twins\Nshare 100 percent of their environment,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.77,0:05:47.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but just like any brother and sister,\Nshare only 50 percent of their genes.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.51,0:05:51.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So by comparing how similar\NGCSE results are in identical twins
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.71,0:05:54.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,versus non-identical twins,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.02,0:05:55.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and doing some clever math,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.36,0:05:59.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can an idea of how much variation\Nand performance is due to the environment
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.26,0:06:01.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how much is due to genes.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.40,0:06:05.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it turns out that it's\Nabout 58 percent due to genes.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.18,0:06:08.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this isn't to undermine the hard work\Nthat you and your teachers here put in.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.94,0:06:12.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you didn't quite get the GCSE results\Nthat you were hoping for,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.07,0:06:16.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then you can always try blaming\Nyour parents, or at least their genes.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.58,0:06:18.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One thing that you shouldn't blame
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.61,0:06:21.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is being a left-brained\Nor right-brained learner,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.07,0:06:22.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because again, this is a myth.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.88,0:06:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the myth here is that\Nthe left brain is logical,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.64,0:06:27.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's good with equations like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.44,0:06:31.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the right brain is more creative,\Nso the right brain is better at music.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.53,0:06:34.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But again, this is a myth\Nbecause nearly everything that you do
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.46,0:06:37.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,involves nearly all parts\Nof your brain talking together,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.28,0:06:40.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even just the most mundane thing\Nlike having a normal conversation.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.60,0:06:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, perhaps one reason\Nwhy this myth has survived
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.94,0:06:46.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that there is\Na slight grain of truth to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.18,0:06:47.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So a related version of the myth
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.79,0:06:51.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that left-handed people are\Nmore creative than right-handed people,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.07,0:06:54.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which kind of makes sense because\Nyour brain controls the opposite hands,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.53,0:06:55.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so left-handed people,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.89,0:06:58.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the right side of the brain\Nis slightly more active
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.31,0:07:00.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the left-hand side of the brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.12,0:07:02.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the idea is the right-hand side\Nis more creative.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.61,0:07:04.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, it isn't true per se
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.00,0:07:07.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that left-handed people are more creative\Nthan right-handed people.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.20,0:07:09.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is true that ambidextrous people,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.62,0:07:12.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or people who use both hands\Nfor different tasks,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.31,0:07:16.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are more creative thinkers\Nthan one-handed people,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.07,0:07:17.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because being ambidextrous involves
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.81,0:07:20.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,having both sides of the brain\Ntalk to each other a lot,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.54,0:07:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which seems to be involved\Nin creating flexible thinking.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.30,0:07:26.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The myth of the creative left-hander
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.11,0:07:28.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,arises from the fact\Nthat being ambidextrous
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.17,0:07:31.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is more common amongst \Nleft-handers than right-handers,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.30,0:07:34.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so a grain of truth in the idea\Nof the creative left-hander,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.35,0:07:35.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but not much.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.69,0:07:38.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A related myth that you've\Nprobably heard of
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.13,0:07:40.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that we only use\N10 percent of our brains.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.50,0:07:42.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is, again, a complete myth.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.03,0:07:44.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nearly everything that we do,\Neven the most mundane thing,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.75,0:07:46.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,uses nearly all of our brains.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.93,0:07:50.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That said, it is of course true
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.69,0:07:55.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that most of us don't use our brainpower\Nquite as well as we could.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.27,0:07:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what could we do\Nto boost our brainpower?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.24,0:08:00.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe we could listen\Nto a nice bit of Mozart.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.38,0:08:03.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Have you heard of the idea\Nof the Mozart effect?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.10,0:08:06.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the idea is that listening \Nto Mozart makes you smarter
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.05,0:08:08.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and improves your \Nperformance on I.Q. tests.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.22,0:08:10.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now again, what's interesting\Nabout this myth
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.33,0:08:13.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that although it's basically a myth,\Nthere is a grain of truth to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.77,0:08:15.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the original study found that
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.54,0:08:19.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,participants who were played\NMozart music for a few minutes
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.32,0:08:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,did better on a subsequent I.Q. test
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.62,0:08:25.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than participants who simply\Nsat in silence.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.03,0:08:28.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But a follow-up study recruited\Nsome people who liked Mozart music
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.76,0:08:30.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then another group of people
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.54,0:08:33.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who were fans of \Nthe horror stories of Stephen King.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.21,0:08:36.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they played the people\Nthe music or the stories.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.77,0:08:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The people who preferred\NMozart music to the stories
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.28,0:08:42.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,got a bigger I.Q. boost\Nfrom the Mozart than the stories,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.01,0:08:44.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the people who preferred\Nthe stories to the Mozart music
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.85,0:08:47.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,got a bigger I.Q. boost\Nfrom listening to the Stephen King stories
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.96,0:08:49.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the Mozart music.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.17,0:08:51.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the truth is that listening\Nto something that you enjoy
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.93,0:08:55.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,perks you up a bit\Nand gives you a temporary I.Q. boost
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.18,0:08:57.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on a narrow range of tasks.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.11,0:08:59.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no suggestion that\Nlistening to Mozart,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.48,0:09:01.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or indeed Stephen King stories,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.10,0:09:04.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is going to make you any smarter\Nin the long run.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.53,0:09:07.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another version of the Mozart myth
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.47,0:09:12.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that listening to Mozart can make you\Nnot only cleverer but healthier, too.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.32,0:09:14.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unfortunately, this doesn't\Nseem to be true
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.39,0:09:17.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of someone who listened\Nto the music of Mozart almost every day,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.45,0:09:19.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mozart himself,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.17,0:09:22.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who suffered from gonorrhea,\Nsmallpox, arthritis,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.15,0:09:26.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, what most people think eventually\Nkilled him in the end, syphilis.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.67,0:09:30.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This suggests that Mozart\Nshould have bit more careful, perhaps,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.04,0:09:32.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when choosing his sexual partners.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.61,0:09:34.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But how do we choose a partner?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.77,0:09:39.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So a myth that I have to say\Nis sometimes spread a bit by sociologists
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.80,0:09:43.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that our preferences in a romantic \Npartner are a product of our culture,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.42,0:09:45.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they're very culturally specific.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.35,0:09:47.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in fact, the data don't back this up.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.50,0:09:51.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A famous study surveyed people from\N[37] different cultures across the globe,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.54,0:09:53.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from Americans to Zulus,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.12,0:09:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on what they look for in a partner.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.48,0:09:57.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in every single culture\Nacross the globe,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.85,0:10:01.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,men placed more value\Non physical attractiveness in a partner
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.57,0:10:02.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than did women,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.87,0:10:04.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in every single culture, too,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.61,0:10:09.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,women placed more importance than did men\Non ambition and high earning power.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.22,0:10:10.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In every culture, too,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.60,0:10:13.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,men preferred women\Nwho were younger than themselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.13,0:10:15.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an average of, I think it was 2.66 years,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.94,0:10:17.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in every culture, too,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.59,0:10:20.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,women preferred men\Nwho were older than them,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.19,0:10:22.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so an average of 3.42 years,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.100,0:10:26.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is why we've got here\N"Everybody needs a Sugar Daddy."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.71,0:10:29.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So moving on from trying\Nto score with a partner
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.29,0:10:33.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to trying to score in basketball\Nor football or whatever your sport is.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.21,0:10:37.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The myth here is that sportsmen go through\Nhot-hand streaks, Americans call them,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.35,0:10:39.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or purple patches,\Nwe sometimes say in England,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.55,0:10:42.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where they just can't miss,\Nlike this guy here.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.39,0:10:46.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in fact, what happens is that\Nif you analyze the pattern
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.08,0:10:47.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of hits and misses statistically,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.86,0:10:50.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it turns out that it's\Nnearly always at random.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.16,0:10:52.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your brain creates patterns\Nfrom the randomness.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.58,0:10:53.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you toss a coin,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.94,0:10:57.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a streak of heads or tails is going \Nto come out somewhere in the randomness,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.57,0:11:00.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and because the brain likes to see\Npatterns where there are none,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.68,0:11:03.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we look at these streaks\Nand attribute meanings to them
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.28,0:11:05.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and say, "Yeah he's really on form today,"
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.59,0:11:07.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whereas actually you would\Nget the same pattern
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.90,0:11:10.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you were just getting\Nhits and misses at random.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.41,0:11:14.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So an exception to this, however,\Nis penalty shootouts.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.87,0:11:17.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A recent study looking\Nat penalty shootouts in football
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.96,0:11:19.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,shows that players who represent countries
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.98,0:11:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a very bad record\Nin penalty shootouts,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.60,0:11:24.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, for example, England,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.78,0:11:28.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tend to be quicker to take their shots\Nthan countries with a better record,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.54,0:11:31.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and presumably as a result,\Nthey're more likely to miss.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.86,0:11:33.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which raises the question
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.56,0:11:36.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of if there's any way that we\Ncould improve people's performance.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.95,0:11:38.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one thing you might think about doing
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.95,0:11:42.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is punishing people for their misses\Nand seeing if that improves them.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.37,0:11:45.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This idea, the effect that punishment\Ncan improve performance,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.100,0:11:48.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is what participants\Nthought they were testing
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.20,0:11:50.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Milgram's famous learning\Nand punishment experiment
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.74,0:11:53.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you've probably heard about\Nif you're a psychology student.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.74,0:11:56.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The story goes that participants\Nwere prepared to give
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.57,0:11:59.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what they believed to be fatal\Nelectric shocks to a fellow participant
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.87,0:12:01.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they got a question wrong,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.89,0:12:04.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just because someone\Nin a white coat told them to.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.70,0:12:07.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this story is a myth\Nfor three reasons.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.11,0:12:12.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Firstly and most crucially, the lab coat\Nwasn't white, it was in fact grey.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.02,0:12:16.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Secondly, the participants\Nwere told before the study
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.42,0:12:18.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and reminded any time\Nthey raised a concern,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.93,0:12:21.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that although the shocks were painful,\Nthey were not fatal
Dialogue: 0,0:12:21.76,0:12:24.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and indeed caused\Nno permanent damage whatsoever.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:24.50,0:12:26.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And thirdly, participants\Ndidn't give the shocks
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.82,0:12:29.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just because someone\Nin the coat told them to.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.47,0:12:31.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When they were interviewed\Nafter the study,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.52,0:12:34.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all the participants said\Nthat they firmly believed
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.02,0:12:37.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the learning and punishment study\Nserved a worthy scientific purpose
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.81,0:12:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which would have\Nenduring gains for science
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.24,0:12:46.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as opposed to the momentary nonfatal\Ndiscomfort caused to the participants.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.02,0:12:49.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, so I've been talking\Nfor about 12 minutes now,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.60,0:12:52.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you've probably been \Nsitting there listening to me,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.29,0:12:54.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,analyzing my speech patterns \Nand body language
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.51,0:12:58.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and trying to work out if you should\Ntake any notice of what I'm saying,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.12,0:13:00.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether I'm telling the truth\Nor whether I'm lying,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.58,0:13:02.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but if so you've\Nprobably completely failed,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.76,0:13:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because although we all think\Nwe can catch a liar
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.10,0:13:07.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from their body language\Nand speech patterns,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.20,0:13:09.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hundreds of psychological tests\Nover the years have shown
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.87,0:13:12.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that all of us, including\Npolice officers and detectives,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.56,0:13:16.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are basically at chance when it comes\Nto detecting lies from body language
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.06,0:13:17.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and verbal patterns.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.64,0:13:19.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Interestingly, there is one exception:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.69,0:13:21.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,TV appeals for missing relatives.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.94,0:13:24.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's quite easy to predict\Nwhen the relatives are missing
Dialogue: 0,0:13:24.92,0:13:28.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when the appealers have in fact\Nmurdered the relatives themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.25,0:13:31.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So hoax appealers are more likely\Nto shake their heads, to look away,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.77,0:13:33.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to make errors in their speech,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.48,0:13:35.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whereas genuine appealers are more likely
Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.50,0:13:37.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to express hope that the person\Nwill return safely
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.84,0:13:39.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to avoid brutal language.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:39.58,0:13:44.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, for example, they might say\N"taken from us" rather than "killed."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.19,0:13:46.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Speaking of which,\Nit's about time I killed this talk,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.84,0:13:50.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but before I do, I just want \Nto give you in 30 seconds
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.05,0:13:53.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the overarching myth of psychology.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.42,0:13:57.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the myth is that psychology is just\Na collection of interesting theories,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:57.72,0:14:01.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of which say something useful\Nand all of which have something to offer.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.24,0:14:03.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I hope to have shown you\Nin the past few minutes
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.74,0:14:05.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that this isn't true.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.32,0:14:08.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we need to do is assess\Npsychological theories
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.58,0:14:10.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by seeing what predictions they make,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.47,0:14:13.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether that is that listening to Mozart\Nmakes you smarter,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.29,0:14:18.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you learn better when information is\Npresented in your preferred learning style
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.06,0:14:21.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or whatever it is, all of these\Nare testable empirical predictions,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.52,0:14:23.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the only way we can make progress
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.31,0:14:25.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to test these predictions\Nagainst the data
Dialogue: 0,0:14:25.43,0:14:27.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in tightly controlled\Nexperimental studies.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.76,0:14:30.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's only by doing so\Nthat we can hope to discover
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.89,0:14:33.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which of these theories\Nare well supported,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:33.51,0:14:36.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and which, like all the ones\NI've told you about today, are myths.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.90,0:14:38.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.41,0:14:41.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)