How Your Brain Invents Images That Aren't There

Why do some children become a mummy's boy or a daddy's girl? And what does psychology tell us about the relationships we form with our parents?In this episode of Why Do We Do That?, The Open University's Heather Price explores the Oedipus complex, Freud's theory of childhood development, attachment theory and how our early relationships can shape the way we connect with others later in life.Are mothers really softer on their sons, and fathers closer to their daughters? Heather looks at where these familiar ideas come from, what the research actually tells us and how Sigmund Freud's controversial theories influenced our understanding of family relationships.From the Greek myth behind the Oedipus complex to the criticisms of Freud's theory, the conversation explores how our understanding of childhood relationships has changed over time.Heather also discusses the work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, explaining how attachment theory helps us understand the importance of early emotional bonds, secure and insecure attachment, and the ways childhood experiences can influence our relationships as adults.But does our childhood determine who we become? And can we change the relationship patterns we develop early in life?Discover more about the psychology behind our closest relationships in this episode of Why Do We Do That?Chapters:0:00 Why are some children closer to one parent?1:34 Mummy's boys and daddy's girls explained3:19 Do parents treat sons and daughters differently?4:46 Does family structure affect childhood development?6:13 What is the Oedipus complex? Freud's theory explained6:39 The Greek myth behind the Oedipus complex8:56 How Freud interpreted the Oedipus complex10:49 Freud's theory of childhood development in girls12:40 Why is Freud's Oedipus complex criticised?13:54 What can we learn from Freud's theory today?16:02 How childhood experiences shape adult relationships17:36 Does parenting affect our future relationships?19:15 What is attachment theory? John Bowlby explained20:11 Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation experiment21:06 Secure and insecure attachment styles22:57 How attachment styles affect adult relationships24:13 Can we change our attachment style?25:51 Therapy and earned secure attachment26:28 Final thoughts: Are we shaped by our childhood?Interested in studying psychology? Explore psychology courses at The Open University:https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/psychology#WhyDoWeDoThat #Psychology #OedipusComplex #AttachmentTheory #TheOpenUniversity

Why does political polarization make it so difficult to talk about politics with friends and family? And why can even a simple disagreement turn into an argument?In this episode of Why Do We Do That?, Freya is joined by Open University Professor Kesi Mahendran to explore the political psychology behind our growing political divide, and why differences in opinion can feel so personal.From Brexit and political referendums to social media echo chambers, they discuss why politics can create an 'us versus them' mentality, how our political beliefs shape our relationships, and whether finding common ground is always the answer.Drawing on research into political dialogue and social identity theory, Professor Mahendran explains why disagreement isn't necessarily a bad thing, why avoiding difficult conversations might not help, and how we can learn to live with different political views without always needing to agree.Study psychology with The Open University: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/psychologyChapters:0:00 Introduction: Why does politics divide us?1:36 Should we avoid talking about politics?2:35 How Brexit and referendums create division4:47 Why do some people say they're not political?5:57 Why political disagreement isn't always bad6:26 Understanding political attunement7:21 Do we really need to find common ground?10:45 Social identity theory and compromise13:16 Learning to live with different opinions17:16 Can our political beliefs change?22:24 Can friends influence our political views?25:00 How to handle political disagreements26:55 Friendships, identity and political differences32:41 Social media, misinformation and division#WhyDoWeDoThat #PoliticalPsychology #PoliticalPolarization #OpenUniversity

Should you have a therapist for life, or is therapy something we should only turn to during a crisis? In this episode of Why Do We Do That?, Open University psychology student Freya speaks to person-centred therapist Jennie Kirk about mental health, why we go to therapy, the benefits of therapy and whether therapy is worth it even when life seems to be going well.Jennie explores why many of us wait until we’re struggling before seeking help, and whether looking after our mental health could become a more regular part of life. But does that mean everyone should always be in therapy? Not necessarily. Instead, Jenny explains how checking in with our emotions and understanding ourselves can help us recognise when additional support might be useful.We also explore how person-centred therapy works, including empathy, genuineness and unconditional positive regard, and why the aim is to help people become more confident in understanding themselves and making their own decisions.Freya and Jennie discuss some of the biggest barriers to therapy, from cost and NHS waiting lists to busy lives and stigma, before asking a very modern question: could AI ever replace a human therapist?Finally, they look at whether long-term therapy can create dependency, why healthy therapy should actually encourage independence, and how therapists and clients know when it might be time for therapy to end.Chapters:00:00 Should you have a therapist for life?01:26 Why do we wait until a crisis?03:17 Can therapy prevent a mental health crisis?04:13 Does everyone need therapy?05:00 How does person-centred therapy work?06:50 How other people shape how we see ourselves08:10 Can therapy change how we respond to life?09:22 Why is therapy so difficult to access?11:03 The stigma around therapy11:58 Could AI replace a human therapist?15:06 Can you become dependent on therapy?16:37 Why do therapists need supervision?18:21 Why can ending therapy be difficult?19:51 How do you know when it's time to end therapy?23:09 How culture affects therapy and mental health24:10 How to support your mental health without therapy26:01 Can a therapist give themselves therapy?27:05 What can we take away from therapy?🎓 Study psychology with The Open University:https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/psychology#WhyDoWeDoThat #MentalHealth #Therapy #PsychologyPodcast #OpenUniversity

Why does climate change trigger anxiety and affect our mental health? In this episode of Why Do We Do That?, Dr Trudy Machanino explores climate anxiety, eco-anxiety and the psychology behind how we cope with anxiety when faced with global issues that can feel overwhelming.Why can we care deeply about climate change one moment, then find ourselves switching off from it completely? And why are threats like climate change so difficult for our brains to process?Dr Machanino explains how climate psychology can help us understand our response to these risks, from psychological coping mechanisms such as avoidance and denial to the stress created by uncertainty. She also explores why climate change can feel so vast and distant that it's difficult to comprehend, and how this can contribute to feelings of anxiety, helplessness and powerlessness.We also look at what eco-anxiety actually means and the wider emotions associated with environmental anxiety, including sadness, grief, anger, guilt and feeling powerless. Dr Machanino explains why these feelings aren't necessarily negative – and how anxiety about climate change can sometimes become the motivation for positive action.The conversation explores different ways of coping with anxiety, including emotional engagement, taking meaningful action and self-care. We also discuss the window of tolerance, how doom-scrolling and constant exposure to negative news can affect mental health, and how recognising when you're becoming overwhelmed can help you step away and reset.Finally, we ask how individual action can make a difference, why connecting with other people can reduce feelings of powerlessness, and how we can stay engaged with climate change without feeling like we have to carry the weight of the entire problem ourselves.🎓 Study psychology with The Open University: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/psychologyChapters:0:00 Can eco-anxiety lead to positive action?0:32 Why climate change can feel overwhelming1:24 Why we struggle with long-term global risks2:34 What is a hyperobject?3:20 Psychological defences: avoidance and denial4:48 What is eco-anxiety?5:53 How climate anxiety differs around the world7:24 Are we already experiencing climate change?8:18 Individual action vs systemic change9:14 Can small actions really make a difference?10:37 How uncertainty creates stress11:08 Three psychological coping mechanisms12:19 What is ontological security?13:36 How to cope with eco-anxiety14:19 Emotional engagement and anxiety15:18 Taking action against feelings of powerlessness15:53 Understanding your window of tolerance17:01 Self-care and knowing when to switch off18:10 Can eco-anxiety be a positive thing?19:42 Doom-scrolling and mental health20:30 Staying informed without becoming overwhelmed21:42 When does climate activism become too much?22:56 Small actions and regaining a sense of control23:36 Why our brains sometimes need to switch off#ClimateAnxiety #MentalHealth #ClimatePsychology #EcoAnxiety #WhyDoWeDoThat

Why can childhood trauma, toxic relationships and sibling rivalry affect people from the same family in completely different ways? In this episode of Why Do We Do That?, Open University psychotherapist Professor Naomi Moller explores attachment theory, adverse childhood experiences and how childhood affects adulthood.If siblings grow up under the same roof, with the same parents, why can their lives turn out so differently?Professor Moller explains why being “raised the same” isn't quite as simple as it sounds. From genetics and birth order to sibling relationships, friendship groups and the different experiences children can have within one family, she explores the many factors that shape who we become.The conversation also looks at childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including how difficult early experiences can affect mental and physical health, the brain's response to fear and danger, and our relationships later in life.They also discuss toxic relationships, the influence of parents' relationships on children, neurodivergence including ADHD and autism, and why two siblings can respond very differently to similar experiences.Most importantly, our childhood doesn't have to determine our future. Professor Moller explores post-traumatic growth, supportive relationships and how new experiences can help us develop healthier ways of connecting with others.🎓 Study psychology with The Open University: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/psychologyChapters:0:00 Why do siblings from the same family turn out differently?2:00 Genetics, environment and mental health5:09 Is genetic vulnerability inevitable?6:47 Does birth order really matter?8:42 Siblings and attachment11:35 Does being an only child affect you?12:43 Nature vs nurture14:35 Do parents treat their children differently?15:27 How friends shape who we become17:19 Hidden experiences within families18:14 What are adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)?20:12 How childhood trauma affects later life22:28 Can you grow after childhood trauma?23:53 How trauma can affect the brain25:18 Why do some people end up in toxic relationships?27:50 Why being “raised the same” is a myth28:40 Undiagnosed ADHD and learning differences30:08 Neurodivergence within families33:14 Are ADHD and autism hereditary?35:59 How childhood affects adult relationships45:02 Final thoughts#WhyDoWeDoThat #ChildhoodTrauma #SiblingRivalry #AttachmentTheory #AdverseChildhoodExperiences #PsychologyPodcast #OpenUniversity

Why do we forget names and faces? In this episode of Why Do We Do That?, Open University psychology student Freya and Professor Katrina Havard explore how memory works, why do we forget things, and whether photographic memory is actually real.From short term memory and face blindness to those moments when you recognise someone but have absolutely no idea where you know them from, Katrina explains why our memory isn't always as reliable as we might think.How accurate is your memory? Katrina explores how memory is a reconstructive process rather than a perfect recording of our experiences, and explains the "butcher on the bus" phenomenon, where taking a familiar face out of context can make someone surprisingly difficult to recognise.They also explore prosopagnosia, or face blindness, super recognisers, own age and own race bias, and why you might forget names but have no problem remembering an embarrassing moment from years ago.Plus, could relying on technology and AI like ChatGPT affect our memory? Do brain training apps actually work? And can we improve our memory? Katrina discusses the method of loci, mind maps, Elizabeth Loftus's false memory research and some simple techniques that could make information easier to remember.Finally, they look at when everyday forgetfulness and memory lapses are completely normal, and when problems with memory might be worth discussing with your GP.Chapters:0:00 Why do we forget?2:01 How does memory actually work?3:27 Why we forget faces out of context5:02 When should memory problems be a concern?7:02 Could AI affect our memory?7:35 Can you improve face recognition?9:07 How to get better at remembering names9:48 Is photographic memory real?10:33 Does memory get worse with age?11:03 Why we recognise some faces more easily12:22 Why someone can look familiar when they're not13:31 Eyewitness memory and criminal line-ups15:36 Why memories suddenly come back later17:22 Are we becoming too reliant on technology?17:56 Do brain training apps actually work?19:56 Why can't we always retrieve memories?21:16 Why embarrassing memories stick22:59 Why do some people have few childhood memories?24:12 How memories change over time25:07 Can you create a false memory?26:12 How reliable is your memory?26:39 How to strengthen your memory🎓 Study psychology with The Open University: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/psychology#WhyDoWeDoThat #WhyDoWeForget #HowMemoryWorks #PhotographicMemory #PsychologyPodcast #OpenUniversity #FaceBlindness

What is imagination, and why does your brain create mental images of people and places it has never actually seen? In this episode of Why Do We Do That?, Open University cognitive psychologist Professor Graham Pike explores the psychology of imagination, mental imagery and aphantasia.From picturing what someone looks like based only on their voice to becoming completely immersed in a fictional world, our brains are constantly filling in missing information. But where do those images come from, and why can they feel so convincing?Professor Pike explains how imagination draws on memory and past experiences, how priming and schemas help us make sense of the world, and why our memories may be more changeable than we realise. He also explores why some people experience vivid visual imagination while others have aphantasia and don't create mental images at all.The conversation also looks at why we become so emotionally invested in fictional characters and celebrities, including the psychology of parasocial relationships and why losing that connection can sometimes feel surprisingly real.🎓 Study psychology with The Open University: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/psychologyChapters:0:00 Introduction1:24 Why does the brain create mental images?2:42 How priming shapes what we imagine5:01 How we imagine people from their voice8:29 Why reality can clash with our imagination10:23 How the brain constructs reality13:16 How culture shapes perception14:46 Can other people change our memories?16:37 How false memories can be created17:46 Can we imagine something completely new?19:57 Why does the brain fill in the blanks?21:38 Why we imagine the future23:40 Aphantasia and differences in mental imagery25:54 How imagination works when we read28:04 How do people with aphantasia experience books?28:56 Why we get lost in fictional worlds29:23 The psychology of parasocial relationships30:15 Why parasocial relationships feel real33:01 Should we trust our imagination?34:14 What imagination tells us about the brain#WhyDoWeDoThat #Imagination #Aphantasia #PsychologyPodcast #CognitivePsychology #MentalImagery #OpenUniversity

Why do people cheat? In this episode of Why Do We Do That?, Open University psychologist and relationship expert Naomi Moller explores cheating in the digital age, from emotional affairs and online relationships to the changing boundaries of infidelity.What actually counts as cheating? Is liking someone's photos or exchanging messages online really unfaithful? And at what point does an online connection cross the line? Naomi explores why secrecy can be more important than the behaviour itself when defining infidelity, and why online cheating can feel every bit as real to the person on the receiving end.The conversation looks at how online dating, digital communication and social media have changed modern relationships, including the rise of text-based relationships, the appeal of a seemingly endless dating pool and the idea of the "hyper real", where an online connection can sometimes feel more intense than reality.Naomi also explores trust issues, relationship advice and some of the assumptions we make about why people cheat, including whether men and women really view sexual and emotional infidelity differently.From dating apps and healthy relationships to communication, jealousy and emotional infidelity, discover what psychology can tell us about cheating, trust and relationships in an increasingly digital world.Chapters:0:00 Can an online relationship be cheating?1:32 Relationships in the digital age2:50 How phones affect our relationships3:50 Has online dating changed relationships?5:35 Does online dating make cheating easier?6:23 What counts as online infidelity?9:06 What actually counts as cheating?10:30 Why online cheating is a grey area11:28 Is secrecy what makes it cheating?13:06 Does it count if you never meet?13:48 Is online infidelity becoming more common?16:12 Emotional affairs vs sexual affairs18:11 When does a friendship cross the line?21:38 Why do people have affairs?24:27 Can online affairs happen by accident?28:03 Why we behave differently online32:18 Why online relationships can feel more real35:00 How common is cheating?🎓 Study psychology with The Open University:https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/psychology#WhyDoWeDoThat #WhyDoPeopleCheat #PsychologyPodcast #Relationships #EmotionalAffairs #TrustIssues #OpenUniversity

Why do people lie? From harmless white lies to much bigger deceptions, lying is part of human behaviour but what makes us do it, and are we actually any good at spotting when someone isn't telling the truth?In the first episode of Why Do We Do That, Open University psychology experts Professor Lara Frumkin and Professor Zoe Walkington explore the psychology of lying, why we sometimes bend the truth and what research tells us about lie detection.Can you really tell if someone is lying from their body language? Does avoiding eye contact, fidgeting or looking in a certain direction give someone away? And are polygraph tests really reliable? The research might surprise you: when it comes to detecting lies, most of us perform at around chance level.The episode also explores why we tend to assume other people are telling the truth, what psychologists call duping delight”, how small white lies can grow into something much bigger, and what happens to trust when someone has been seriously deceived.Whether you've wondered why people lie, how to tell if someone is lying, or whether there's really such a thing as a human lie detector, discover what psychology can tell us about deception, trust and human behaviour.Chapters:0:00 Can we really detect a lie?0:31 Why do people lie?1:46 Why we tell white lies2:39 Are some lies more acceptable than others?5:11 When white lies become bigger lies6:19 Can you tell when someone is lying?8:29 Can we get better at detecting lies?10:50 Body language and lie detection myths12:01 Can you rebuild trust after a lie?13:05 Why we assume people are telling the truth14:10 Are some people more likely to lie?16:08 Do lie detector tests actually work?18:43 How often do people lie?21:04 What actually counts as a lie?22:17 Does lying make someone a bad person?24:22 Once a liar, always a liar?25:36 Why do we lie to ourselves?27:36 Do people feel guilty about lying?30:07 How do investigators catch someone lying?33:17 Why does being lied to hurt so much?34:04 What psychology tells us about lying🎓 Study psychology with The Open University:https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/psychology#WhyDoWeDoThat #PsychologyOfLying #Psychology #OpenUniversity #LieDetection

Why do we behave the way we do?Why Do We Do That? is a psychology podcast from The Open University, hosted by OU psychology student Freya.Across the series, Freya speaks to psychologists and counsellors from The Open University to explore the psychology behind everyday behaviours, relationships and experiences that many of us share but don't always understand.Inspired by real questions and experiences from the OU student community, each episode asks one simple question: why do we do that?Subscribe or follow to hear the first episode and discover the psychology behind everyday life.