Molly Watts
Molly Watts, Author & Coach
Think Thursday: How Mindset Impacts the Body's Biology
Think Thursday: How Mindset Impacts the Body's Biology
Think Thursday: How Mindset Impacts the Body's Biology
Thursday 19th December 2024
Explore how mindset shapes biology with Dr. Alia Crum's research on physical and psychological health, stress, and the placebo effect.
18 minutes
informative
inspiring
challenging
About this podcast
Author:
Molly Watts
Overview:
Categories:
Navigating Alcohol Dependency
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Creative Recovery Journeys
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Episodes:
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Episode Overview
- Dr. Alia Crum's studies reveal mindset's impact on biology.
- Mindset can transform physical tasks into exercise.
- Stress perception affects physical health.
- Beliefs can alter physiological responses.
- Growth mindset enhances personal and professional outcomes.
"Could it be that the benefits of her relentless training weren't just from the physical effort, but also from her belief that she was improving?"
In this episode of 'Think Thursday' from The Alcohol Minimalist Podcast, host Molly Watts delves into the fascinating research of Dr. Alia Crum, a renowned health psychologist from Stanford University. Dr. Crum's work explores the profound influence of mindset on our physical and psychological realities, highlighting how our beliefs can shape our biology. The episode begins with the story of Dr. Crum's pivotal moment at Harvard, where she was an ice hockey player. Her advisor, Dr.
Ellen Langer, introduced her to the idea that exercise could be viewed as a placebo. This concept sparked Crum's curiosity about how much of her athletic success was due to her mindset, leading to a career focused on the intersection of psychology and health sciences. One of Crum's notable studies involved 88 hotel housekeepers who physically exert themselves daily. By reframing their tasks as exercise, Crum demonstrated that simply changing their perception led to measurable improvements in their health.
This experiment underscores the power of mindset in transforming daily activities into health-positive actions. Dr. Crum's research extends beyond exercise to stress management. She discovered that individuals who view stress as enhancing rather than debilitating experience fewer physical symptoms and report greater engagement at work. This reframing of stress suggests that our responses to stressors are not fixed but can be adjusted by altering our beliefs.
Another fascinating experiment by Crum is the milkshake study, which showed that participants' physiological responses varied based on their beliefs about the caloric content of identical milkshakes. This study illustrates how our perceptions can directly affect our body's reactions. Dr. Crum's work aligns with other prominent research in psychology, such as Dr. Carol Dweck's growth mindset theory. Together, these studies offer compelling evidence that our thoughts and beliefs can significantly influence our personal and professional development.
Overall, the episode provides insightful discussions on the transformative power of mindset, encouraging listeners to reflect on how their beliefs might be shaping their reality.