Keyword: aggression

The Psychology of Sarcasm July 10, 2007

Host: Armand DiMele

Sarcasm is a disguised form of anger and insecurity, but it also signals real intelligence. Armand DiMele draws on neuroscience research from the University of Haifa to show how the brain processes sarcasm, then takes calls from listeners navigating sarcastic children, teachers, and loved ones.

Rampage Killings and the Adolescent Male Mind April 25, 2007

The Virginia Tech massacre prompts Armand DiMele and co-host Dr. Kent Robert Shaw to ask why rampage killers are almost exclusively male. They trace the pattern through testosterone surges, schizoid and paranoid personality profiles, failures of the mental health system, and a culture that worships superstars while ignoring the quietly invisible.

Alpha Beta and Omega Behavior April 18, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atkins

Wolf pack hierarchy becomes a lens for understanding human social roles. Armand DiMele and Roberta Maria Atkins break down alpha, beta, and omega dynamics, tracing how these roles emerge in any group, how omegas can rise, and how different behavior types from play to avoidance shape daily life.

Narcissism and Self-Love with Dr. Frank Yeoman March 13, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Dr. Frank Yeomans

Healthy self-love and pathological narcissism are not the same thing. Armand and psychiatrist Dr. Frank Yeoman trace the spectrum from perfectionistic collapse (illustrated by the poem “Richard Corey”) to envy, aggression, and celebrity worship, arguing that most narcissistic suffering stems from an inability to feel genuinely good about oneself.

Cold Weather and the Human Psyche February 21, 2007

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atti

Cold weather does far more than chill the body. Armand DiMele and co-host Roberta Maria Atti trace how dropping temperatures raise blood pressure, suppress serotonin, trigger overeating, and historically fueled human violence and territoriality, while also arguing that cold is the unlikely cradle of creativity, intimacy, and art.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder August 23, 2006

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Christine Ulrich, Kent Robinshaw

Explosive anger affects far more people than assumed, with some studies finding it in over 10 percent of the population. Armand DiMele and colleagues Christine Ulrich and Kent Robinshaw examine the biology of rage, the passive-aggressive partners who enable it, why victims stay, and how therapy and medication can help.

The Psychology of Impulse Control April 11, 2006

Host: Armand DiMele

Armand DiMele traces impulsive behavior from everyday impulse buying and advertising to serious disorders including mania, antisocial personality, and addiction. He argues that reduced sensitivity to consequences is the common thread, and that awareness alone is a powerful first antidote.

The Psychology of Tyranny March 16, 2006

Host: Armand DiMele

What turns ordinary people into brutal ones? Armand DiMele examines the psychology of tyranny through landmark research, including Hannah Arendt on Adolf Eichmann, the Milgram shock experiments, and the Stanford Prison Study, arguing that cruelty is not the province of monsters but a latent human capacity activated by power and group identity.

Personal Space and Human Behavior January 18, 2006

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atti

Why do children huddle in the center of a yard when fences are removed? Armand DiMele and co-host Roberta Maria Atti dig into proxemics, the science of how humans claim, defend, and respond to space, covering personal bubbles, gender differences in seating preferences, crowding and cooperation, and the neuroscience of spatial memory.

The Psychology of Competitive Drive November 2, 2005

Host: Armand DiMeleGuests: Roberta Maria Atin

Testosterone levels shape how competitive you are, and your finger length reveals which hormones dominated your development. Armand DiMele and co-host Roberta Maria Atti break down three types of competitors, explore how social and sexual dominance often diverge, and connect hormone science to career choice and attraction.