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  • We have to talk about AI
    2026/06/02

    AI - curse or cure, or both or neither? Most behavioural researchers are using AI in some aspects of their work. But are the benefits outweighing the costs? How can we do it most productively, and what are the pitfalls to look out for? Robert uses it a lot but also recognises the limitations and the need for new skills to interact effectively with this new technology.

    Want more? Check out our latest books:

    Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y

    React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9

    Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/

    Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

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    31 分
  • Where do values come from and where do they go?
    2026/05/26

    Robert and Jamie ask the deepest questions imaginable . . . At least according to AI chatbots. Where do our values and moral intuitions come from and what do we do with them? Why are ideas that seem ‘obvious’ to us not universally accepted? Are today’s morals better than those of the past?

    Want more? Check out this lot:

    Book: Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y

    Book: React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9

    Substack: Unlocking Behaviour Change https://robertwest100.substack.com/

    YouTube channel: Unlocking Behaviour Change https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

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    28 分
  • What role do values play in our behaviour?
    2026/05/19

    Is stealing always bad? Are we all hypocrites? What do we do when our morals conflict with our own self-interest? Join Robert and Jamie as they discuss values, ethics and judgements, exploring ideas from a Substack article Robert has written drawing together key writings of psychologists and others on values. Here is a link to the article.

    An important point that Robert brings out is that values such as kindness and understanding always operate within our personal spheres of affiliation - who we identify with and feel some attachment to.

    Want more? Check out our latest books:

    Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y

    React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9

    Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/

    Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

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    25 分
  • Justice is in the eye of the beholder
    2026/05/12

    Our sense of justice plays a huge role in our moral judgements and our behaviour. But there are many different versions of justice - what is justice for one person is gross unfairness for another.

    In their journey through things we like and dislike, Robert and Jamie delve into this thorny topic and what it means for behavioural scientists.

    Want more? Check out our latest books:

    Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y

    React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9

    Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/

    Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

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    27 分
  • Power struggles and group identity
    2026/05/05

    Robert and Jamie continue to explore sources of likes and dislikes (in the broadest sense) and in this episode move on to 'power' and how that relates to leadership. Robert reflects on the idea that often people don;t just want power for themselves, but for groups with whom they identify - and this is an extremely important source of conflict.

    Here is a link to the Substack article containing the pretty comprehensive list of sources of likes and dislikes.

    Want more? Check out our latest books:

    Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y

    React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9

    Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/

    Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

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    28 分
  • The extraordinary motivating force of 'purpose' and 'transcendence'
    2026/04/28

    Humans appear to need some kind of purpose to our existence. It might be directed at spiritual enlightenment, furthering the well-being of the species, personal growth, getting good at something, or even just collecting stamps. Robert and Jamie discuss this as part of their examination of things that act as sources of wants and needs.

    They also delve briefly into the related topic of 'transcendence' - the sense of there being something beyond the physical world.

    Like other sources of wants and needs, these can be extremely pervasive and powerful influences on our behaviour and need to be considered when examining why people do things and how we can influence what they do.

    The full list of things we like and dislike can be found in this substack article.

    Before they get into the nitty-gritty of the topic, Robert raves about a new musical phenomenon, Angine do Poitrine. For anyone interested, here is a link to one of the very rapidly growing list of YouTube videos.

    Want more? Check out our latest books:

    Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y

    React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9

    Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/

    Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

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    29 分
  • The mysterious power of 'craving' and its role in addiction
    2026/04/21

    What are cravings and what causes them? Craving is weird. You'd think that the more we enjoy something the more we would crave it. Not so. We crave things we don’t even like! As part of the series on what people do and do not like, Robert is on to one of his favourite topics.

    Here is a link to the Substack article setting out all the various things people tend to like and dislike.

    Want more? Check out our latest books:

    Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y

    React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9

    Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/

    Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

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    29 分
  • Never underestimate the importance of being 'amused' as a motivational force
    2026/04/14

    What would life be like without entertainment? Is beauty integral to a good life? Is all art subjective? As part of their wide-ranging look at what people do and do not like, Robert and Jamie explore the world of aesthetic pleasure and displeasure . . . Here is a link to the Substack article that they are drawing on.

    Want more? Check out our latest books:

    Energise: The Secrets Of Motivation: https://shorturl.at/bbA7y

    React: Harness Your Animal Brain: https://shorturl.at/yiFQ9

    Sign up to Robert’s Substack: https://robertwest100.substack.com/

    Subscribe to the UBC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@unlockingbehaviourchange

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    29 分