See what a renowned neuroscientist reveals about controlling bad habits and boosting your well-being.
Outsmart Yourself: Brain-Based Strategies to a Better You
Change your bad habits by changing your mind. It really is that simple.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DaGeek from
Life Hacks 101
First and foremost Professor Vishton is a very good instructor with a very accessible style of teaching. He is obviously very knowledgeable in this field. He backed all his tips, life hacks - if you will, with studies and occasionally personal stories.
We all get stuck in various ruts in our life, some good, others not so good. This course presents various strategies for throwing sand under your wheels and freeing yourself from your routine. Quite a few I had heard before. Perhaps that is because my two wives were both in fields that required such hacks. One is a retired counselor (50 minute hours) and my current and last wife is a retired special education teacher. However, there were more than a few I had never heard of before, many them of them applicable to me (procrastination is one of my demons), and all of them applicable to someone. I suppose it could argued that this is pop psychology, but, hey, if it shoe fits, wear it on.
I did want to send my ex-boss the class on multi-tasking, if for no other reason that she was always going on about it. I had a tendency when I was deep into writing code to ignore emails, DMs, etc.
I do believe just about anyone can find a few good tips in this course to improve their life. Plus, besides being informative, it was entertaining.
I definitely found it worth my time, as did my wife, who watched it with me.
Date published: 2024-09-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
TFow from
Engaging, informative, good instructor
This course was well done. The topics are relevant to many people (perhaps most) and the instructor uses studies and personal examples for tangibility. The instructor also makes practical recommendations as to how people can apply concepts for self-improvement. The instructor seems highly competent.
Date published: 2024-07-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
mini from
WONDERFUL, USEFUL LECTURES
Dr. Vishton is a wonderful lecturer - so positive, so knowledgeable. I liked everyone of the 24 lectures and listened to each two or more times. He SHOULD TEACH all these ideas to college students and persons just beginning romantic relationships and all ages really.
I lost my husband of 58 years two years ago. Happiness was hard to come by. Depression had set in. These lectures have helped me somewhat. I will continue to ponder his words. Thank you for this course; It is unusual, but so badly needed.
Date published: 2024-04-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Tonto from
Great features
It help me change many of my negative attitudes and I am much happier than I was before purchasing this.
Date published: 2023-11-10
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Rocksy2 from
I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU DO TO RATS!!!!
Okay. I'm only on Lesson 2 and it was fine until he started talking about rats and their brain...and what they DO to the poor rat. I am absolutely against animal testing rat or no. And I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR OR THINK ABOUT IT. It's offensive. I will continue with the program unless he feels it necessary to go there again.
Date published: 2023-02-02
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Insultingly trite from
Simplistic in the extreem!
One of the worst, simplistic, mindless courses I can imagine. Here are two examples of the wisdom you receive: On page 90 of the book, "When you use physical training to enhance muscles strength, you increase how many muscles fibers respond, and enhance the size of the muscle fibers." Or on page 84, "In the midst of solving a problem or working on a creative product, an effective strategy is to stop working and spend some time thinking." Deep, hu? Buy this course and you can have much more of this profound wisdom from Professor Vishton which will create a 'better you'. Yikes!! Does anyone review these courses?
Date published: 2022-12-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Russ199 from
outsmart yourself
The presenter was personable and able to communicate. Several of the counterintuitive concepts were easily adaptable. Good course.
Date published: 2022-11-10
Rated 1 out of
5
by
BillS100 from
Outsmart Yourself
Just finished the courses, one of your worst courses. Learned very little from it. The professor seemed to have just looked for studies conducted and put them together. At least 50% of it was stating facts about the studies….no help whatsoever. Total disappointment.
Date published: 2022-08-23
Overview
About
Dr. Peter M. Vishton is Associate Professor of Psychology at The College of William & Mary. He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology and Cognitive Science from Cornell University. Before joining the faculty of William & Mary, he taught at Northwestern University and served as the program director for developmental and learning sciences at the National Science Foundation. A consulting editor for the journal Child Development, Professor Vishton has published articles in many of the top journals in the field of psychology. Among these are Psychological Science, Science, and the Journal of Experimental Psychology. He is also the creator of the DVD What Babies Can Do: An Activity-Based Guide to Infant Development. In addition to teaching, Professor Vishton devotes much of his career to researching the perception and action control of both infants and adults. His studies-funded by prestigious institutions, including the National Institute of Child Health and Development and the National Science Foundation-focus on cognitive, perceptual, and motor development; visually guided action; visual perception; computational vision and motor control; and human-computer interface. Professor Vishton has presented his findings at numerous conferences and invited talks throughout the United States and Europe.
Trailer
01: Take Control of Your Automatic Brain
Recent decades have seen an explosion of understanding about our brains, and with this new information come some surprising and counterintuitive conclusions about our behavior and decision-making processes. In this first lecture, examine the disconnect between our actions and our consciousness of those actions. Are we as in control of ourselves as we like to think?
34 min
02: Beat Procrastination by Doing Nothing
From time to time, procrastination affects us all. Here, you'll discover several evidence-based strategies for reducing procrastination by attacking it at its source. Three tips show you how to be more efficient and effective. Along the way, you'll study the neurochemistry of why we procrastinate - and what makes it so tempting.
30 min
03: Train Yourself like a Dog
The unconscious plays a strong role in developing bad habits. To help you examine and modify your behaviors, Professor Vishton gives you several tips, ranging from the very simple (keep a notebook of your activities) to the complex (employ behavioral psychology). Which of your habits would you most like to change?
32 min
04: Clean Your Kitchen, Improve Your Diet
What can neuroscience tell us about healthy eating? Can scientific insights help you curb unhealthy snacking? In this first of two lectures on food, see how simple changes such as cleaning your kitchen and changing your food's packaging may have a measurable effect on unhealthy eating habits.
29 min
05: Eat Slow, Eat Small, Eat Smart
To be healthy, you must eat healthy. This second lecture on food considers the hormones that drive hunger cues and how your body responds to different foods. Find out why high fructose corn syrup is bad for you - and why exercise might not help you lose much weight.
28 min
06: The Myth of Multitasking
Our modern world seems to demand multitasking. We constantly check email, make phone calls, and live on the go. But recent research clearly shows that we are more efficient and creative if we can focus on one task at a time - a strategy known as "monotasking." Consider how the brain works when confronted with multiple tasks.
31 min
07: Future You and Better Decisions
Enter the fray of a negotiation between the "present you" and the "future you." Do you take $10 today, or wait for $15 next week? While the answer may seem logically clear, we have a powerful, built-in desire for instant gratification. Learn what you can do today to make decisions you will approve of tomorrow.
32 min
08: How to Become an Expert on Anything
You might think talent is ingrained, and that either you have it or you don't. But cognitive research reveals that practice is just as - if not more - important for success in a given task. Discover strategies for how to practice any skill, and how to stick with it until you become an expert.
31 min
09: Tune Up Your Brain with Meditation
We all have a conception of what meditation is - but what actually happens inside your brain? Could it be that meditation built into our evolutionary makeup? And how can regular practice benefit us? Reflect on the answers to these questions and more in this eye-opening lecture.
31 min
10: Take the Sleep Challenge
Explore the mysterious realm of sleep. While your body may shut down, your brain performs important, fascinating work to help you be more focused, creative, and productive in your waking life. Here, you'll discover why eight hours of sleep is so crucial. Then you'll consider the role of dreams.
30 min
11: Boost Insights and Creativity
Have you ever wished you could be more creative? From listening to the right music to getting into a creative frame of mind, Professor Vishton offers several practical, easy-to-implement strategies for finding more creative solutions, solving puzzles, and enhancing your mental prowess.
32 min
12: Enhance Performance with Imagery
Imagine you could lift more weights or better perform an athletic task without once putting on your sweats or driving to the gym. It turns out that mental training has genuine physical effects, all because the human imagination is such a powerful tool. Learn how to use imagery and the imagination to boost your performance.
31 min
13: Overcome Your Aging Brain
There's no doubt that neurons die off and mental decline occurs, but the good news is that we can stave off these ill effects through exercise, new experiences, and more. In this lecture, delve into the aging brain to see what happens as we get older, and what you can do to mitigate the force of time.
31 min
14: Grow Your Brain Out of Depression
Even if we never experience a major depression in our lives, mild depression is like the "common cold" of mental illness. Yet most people fail to seek help, instead trying to power through these unfortunate down periods. Here, Professor Vishton offers several ways to fight these mild depressions.
33 min
15: Hack Your Brain to Unlearn Fear
From flying to public speaking, we all have a number of arguably irrational phobias. Where do these fears come from? How do we learn them? And most importantly, how do we overcome them? Go on a step by step journey through the world of fear, and learn what you can do to minimize common phobias.
33 min
16: Use Your Body to Alter Your Mind
Jog your brain into activity - literally. In this fascinating lecture on the relationship between the body and the mind, you'll learn why forcing yourself to smile has genuine mental benefits, see how physical activity can aid your problem-solving skills, and more. Test yourself at the end to see these theories in action.
33 min
17: Suppress - Don't Repress - Anger
Here, Professor Vishton considers the mechanisms behind anger, which leads to an explanation of how humans mirror each other's behaviors and emotions. Understanding the roots of our anger then provides a way to diffuse tense situations and gain better control of our emotional landscapes.
31 min
18: How Little Things Cause Big Persuasion
Shift your attention from outsmarting yourself to the ways people try to outsmart you. This first of a two-lecture unit on persuasion examines how the "reciprocity effect," apparent expertise, and scarcity are all subtle methods of persuasion. Uncovering these techniques will make you a savvier consumer, negotiator, and more.
31 min
19: How Framing Changes Decisions
Continue your study of persuasion with a look at two common techniques in sales: "getting your foot in the door" with a small request and asking for a big, "door in the face" kind of favor - using either as a prelude to what you really want. Whether you are in the business of persuasion or simply want to be better informed, this lecture is invaluable.
31 min
20: How Language Changes Your Brain
Humans have a language instinct unlike any other living creature. Explore the exciting world of linguistics and the brain, discovering how language influences our behaviors - even when we are not conscious of it. What you'll learn is that for your physical health and mental well-being, words most certainly matter.
32 min
21: How Your Brain Falls in Love
Poets have been ruminating about love for ages, but what do the neuroscientists have to say? Here, consider why people fall in love, and what role simple exposure, facial symmetry, and eyes play in romantic attraction. Review what happens inside the brain when you fall in love.
31 min
22: The Neuroscience of Lasting Love
Look beyond the superficial qualities of attraction and delve into love as a long-term emotional commitment. Examine the three main "love systems" in the brain and what we can learn from them. This lecture shows us why staying in love can be a bigger challenge than falling in love.
33 min
23: How Your Brain Creates Happiness
We all want to be happy, but achieving this state of being is the million-dollar question. In this first lecture on happiness, find out precisely why money truly doesn't buy happiness. You'll investigate the effects on your brain of earning a higher salary or winning the lottery, and then reflect on the way time is ultimately more valuable for happiness.
33 min
24: Happy Brains Are Smart Brains
Round out your course with some helpful tips for living a happy, fulfilled life. From exercising in green, natural surroundings to putting more value on your time, happiness is most definitely achievable - and it can even become a habit. All it takes is a little work to outsmart yourself.
35 min
