Like what you heard on the Harvesting Happiness podcast?
The conversation continues as we dive deeper into the emerging science of cognitive immunology and how it relates to our well-being.
Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).
Listen to two separate 9-part Harvesting Happiness podcast productions that explore the emerging science of cognitive immunology. Both unique series examine how and why disinformation, conspiracy theories, and media propaganda are used to undermine critical thinking and common sense. This impacts how we think and behave as well as our collective well-being.
This episode is #6 of 9 of More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.
In this episode, Lisa speaks with the Education Director for the Mental Immunity Project and CIRCE, Melanie Trecek-King. Melanie describes what it means to inoculate ourselves against misinformation and offers sound ideas for critical thinking and better well-being.
Melanie Trecek-King — Teaching Information Literacy:
Melanie explains the blend of active and technique-based mental inoculation she uses in the classroom. [5:25]
Modern marketing and social influencers sell hope with little to no data to support their claims. [11:31]
The impact of the placebo effect on our beliefs and health. [15:11]
Melanie explains how the Cranky Uncle game unlocks the mind’s ability to become immune to fallacies. [18:58]
Techniques that help us question the media and conspiracy theories we ingest. [24:01]
About Lisa’s guests:
Melanie Trecek-King is currently an Associate Professor of Biology at Massasoit Community College, where she teaches a general-education science course designed to equip students with empowering critical thinking, information literacy, and science literacy skills. An active speaker and consultant, Trecek-King loves to share her “teach skills, not facts” approach with other science educators and help organizations meet their goals through better thinking. Trecek-King is also the Education Director for the Mental Immunity Project and CIRCE (Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative), which aim to advance and apply the science of mental immunity to inoculate minds against misinformation.
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@thinkingispower on Instagram
WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out our episode library and special More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.
