When Danger Looks Beautiful: The Hidden Cost of Stress-Based Decisions

When Danger Looks Beautiful: The Hidden Cost of Stress-Based Decisions

Author: Armando Dominguez PhD Health Psychology, Educator, Martial Artist, Researcher September 12, 2025 Duration: 24:18
Ep 121. Why We Lose Intelligence Under Stress – The Science of Survival Decisions When we're in a high-stress situation—facing threat, fear, trauma, shock, or emotional overwhelm—our brain shifts gears. It doesn’t matter how smart you are; under stress and threat, your rational brain takes a back seat. You literally lose access to your full intelligence—your measurable IQ drops. Why? Because your body prioritizes survival. When you enter a fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response, your sk...

Ever feel like your brain's ancient wiring is at odds with the demands of modern life? That's the core territory explored in Running Man Self Regulation Skills Project. Hosted by Armando Dominguez, who brings a unique perspective as a PhD in Health Psychology, an educator, a martial artist, and a researcher, this podcast digs into the primal roots of our reactions. It’s about understanding how stress, anxiety, and even physical pain directly hijack our capacity to think clearly and make good decisions, often leading to behavior we might later regret. Each episode unpacks the survival programming we all carry-our inner paleo-caveperson-and how it manifests in today's world. You’ll hear practical discussions that bridge science and daily experience, focusing on why we freeze, lash out, or struggle to choose wisely under pressure. This isn't just theory; it's about gaining tangible insights for recognizing these patterns and developing stronger self-regulation skills. For anyone interested in the intersection of mental resilience, physical fitness, and social behavior, this podcast offers a thoughtful, grounded conversation. Tune in to reframe your understanding of your own instincts and learn to navigate tension with more awareness and control.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Running Man Self Regulation Skills Project
Podcast Episodes
How Shame, Guilt, and the Need to Belong Impact Your Life and Identity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:52
Ep 97. Humans, like all animals, have evolved to live in groups for safety, security, and the opportunity to thrive. Our deep-rooted need for belonging—whether to a family, tribe, city, or modern corporation—has been cru…