Why do subtle cues in our environment quietly shape our thoughts, feelings, and decisions—often without us noticing? In this episode of Circuit Breaker: Rewiring Your Decisions, we dive into priming — the psychological phenomenon where exposure to certain words, images, or ideas can influence how we interpret the world and how we behave next. From tiny triggers that nudge our mood to hidden cues that shift our judgement or performance, we uncover how effortlessly our minds can be steered in a particular direction.

Discover what priming reveals about the automatic mind, how everyday environments quietly “set the tone” for your choices, and how becoming aware of these subtle influences can help you take back control of your decisions before they’re made for you.

Studies and links:

Bargh, Chen and Burrow's study Bargh Chen and Burrow 1996 Automaticity of social behavior

Kay, Wheeler, Bargh and Ross' study Kay Wheeler Bargh and Ross

Chen-Bo Zhong and Katie Liljenquist Zhong & Liljenquist 2006.pdf

Why do ordinary people slip into cruel or submissive roles the moment power is handed out? In this episode of Circuit Breaker: Rewiring Your Decisions, we examine the Stanford Prison Experiment — the infamous study that revealed just how quickly authority, environment, and assigned roles can transform behaviour. From guards who escalated into aggression to prisoners who internalised obedience and distress, we explore how the situation—not personality—can push people into extremes they never imagined.

Discover what this experiment teaches us about the power of context, how easily we can lose ourselves in the roles we’re given, and how to stay grounded when a situation starts shaping you more than you realise.

Studies and links:

Stanford Magazine article recounting the Stanford Prison Experiment The Menace Within | STANFORD magazine

Simply Psychology summary of the Stanford Prison Experiment Stanford Prison Experiment

Why do people fail to step in during an emergency — even when they know someone needs help? In this episode of Circuit Breaker: Rewiring Your Decisions, we explore the psychology behind the bystander effect — the strange social phenomenon where the presence of others makes us less likely to take action. From classic studies by Darley and Latané to real-world moments where hesitation can have serious consequences, we uncover how responsibility gets diluted, how uncertainty freezes us, and how we take cues from those around us without even noticing.

Discover how to recognise the moments when you’re silently waiting for someone else to act — and how to break the paralysis so you can step forward when it matters most.

Studies and links:

PDF of that original paper: Bystander Intervention in Emergencies Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility.

Simply Psychology summary of the bystander effect (with key models like diffusion of responsibility, evaluation apprehension, etc.) Bystander Effect In Psychology