All In The Mind

Have you ever wanted to change your personality?

Many people do - studies find we're keen to become more extroverted, more agreeable and more conscientious.

But what does the evidence say about whether people do change? And can you tweak your personality deliberately?

On All in the Mind this week, the early history of autism.

With historian of science Professor Marga Vicedo we learn about the blame that was cast on mothers, the fight to get adequate help and support for families, and the movement that one mother, Clara Park, helped spark.

Music is central to the human experience. We celebrate with it, commiserate through it - often some of our strongest memories are tied to it.

On All in the Mind this week, how music affects us from the womb through the rest of our lives - and what new research tells us about its measurable impact on our mental health.

Plus, the 'plink' test - how our musical memories can identify a track from just a sliver of song, and the power of music to shape our emotions.

A lot of us would like to think we could spot a scam a mile away. Spelling errors, suspicious email addresses and requests for money... all tip offs that something isn't right.

But none of us are immune to scammers' psychological tricks – not even psychologists.

In this episode, forensic neuropsychologist Dr Stacey Wood reveals the tricks and techniques scammers use, and what makes us most vulnerable to their tactics.

Aiming for perfect sounds like a good thing, right?

But when perfectionism grows into hurtful self-criticism and unrelenting standards, it can be damaging for your mental health.

And it turns out, perfectionism is linked to an already complex group of mental illnesses.

Today, the role perfectionism plays in eating disorders.

Please take care while listening if this topic is sensitive for you. And if you would like support, the Butterfly Foundation has a national support helpline for body image issues or eating disorders. You can reach them on 1800 33 4673 or head to their website.