Why We Do What We Do
We explain popular and weird, little-known ideas in psychology. Whether you are a little curious about psychology, or a student, or even a professional, we have something for everyone.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
The Importance of Peer Review
One could argue there are two ways of aggregating knowledge: by guessing or by verifying information. The current system for verifying is by checking one another's work through peer review, a process by which experts first review the quality of the work submitted for publication and only allowing information through that is rigorous in its method or arguments. This is not without its flaws, however. Bias and blinding (or lack thereof) can prevent legitimate science from being disseminated or too eagerly publish bad science that is favorable to the reviewers. We explain the ins and outs of the peer review...
Mini: Victim vs. Warrior
There is a proposal that there is a dichotomy in human activities (specifically the cognitive ones) that can be characterized as a "warrior" mentality or a "victim" mentality. Any dichotomy that attempts to clasffiy behavior this way is going to have substantial limitations. We suggest that this discinction can be helpful in some ways, but seems highly toxic in others.
Support us on Patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References: https://mwangijoyce82.medium.com/are-you-a-victim-or-warrior-your-mindset-is-the-only-arsenal-you-need-4c6852e38748https://thebipolarbattle.org/are-you-a-warrior-survivor-victim-fighter-or-something-different/https://medium.com/imagine-foundation/mindsets-warrior-mindset-vs-victim-mindset-imagine-special-edition-96c460544306 https://www.proquest.com/openview/178c1e9f765fd3...
The Psychology of Pain
Pain can be conceptualized physiologically, neurologically, and behaviorally. We review the physiological and neurological components of pain, and then spend considerable time considering the behavioral aspects of pain. It's a subject that seems straight forward on the surface, but has a surprising amount of complexity, nuance, and disagreement. It might seem nice to not be able to feel pain, but this is actually very dangerous. Also, so plants feel pain?
Recommendations
Abraham: Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-movies/mr-monks-last-case-a-monk-movie)Shane: Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of...
Mini: Magic Eye
Autostereograms, better known as "Magic Eye" puzzles, are a unique 2D art in which repeated images create a 3D image, but you have to focus your eyes in just the right way to see it. We explain the history of this illusion, how it works, and how to see it. Futher, we explain why you see it as either 3D or inverted. Do you see the illusion?
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Links and References: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/puzzles/eye-puzzles.htm?s1sid=4smf3pk...
Punk Rock Legacy
Large musical movements are large cultural movements. Rap, rock, country, and other genres often galvanized or reflected social changes and values. Punk rock is a particularly iconoclast movement with an interesting history. We discuss the history of punk music as a genre of music and to an extent as a category of social behaviors. Even if you don't necessarily like punk, you may enjoy music that inspired it or was inspired by it. Let us know your favorite punk music and stories. Rock the casbah.
Shane's punk playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Sb9ZSv9cd9VYRa3bX1...
Mini: What is a Repertoire?
We often talk about what students can do by referring to their repertoire. But what does it mean to refer to their repertoire? A lot of philosohpy in one little mini episode!
Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References:
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York, NY: The Free Press. Skinner, B. F. (1957). Verbal behavior. Cambridge, MA: Prentice Hall.Skinner, B. F. (1974). About Behaviorism. New York, NY: Vintage Press.Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson.
Nostalgia: Board Games
Has it been so long? Abraham discusses his favorite discussion topic: Board games! Also ,there's been new research since that that further supports that board games are beneficial for cognitive and brain health. Prepare for fun, fun, fun, FUN.
Recommendations
Abraham: Fantastic Four: First Steps (https://movies.disney.com/the-fantastic-four-first-steps) Shane: Happy Gilmore 2 (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31868189/)Holidays (8/6/2025):
Balloons to Heaven DayCorporate Baby Name DayFarmworker Appreciation DayHiroshima DayNational Fresh Breath DayNational Gossip DayNational Psychiatric Technician Appreciation DayNational Root Beer Float DayWiggle Your Toes DayExercise with your Child WeekGallop International Tribal In...
Mini: Restless Leg Syndrome
Do you ever feel an nearly uncontrollable urge to move your legs? If you do, you probably still don't have RLS, but it may be worth getting tested for a diagnosis. Please don't self-diagnose just because we talked about it. Restless Leg Syndome is mostly what it sounds like: A powerful urge to move your legs or get up and move around. Rather than just sitting for too long, this usually has a specific etiology and some specific treatments and tends to affect people's sleep. We'll explain the psychology involved here as well.
Get these episodes ad-free and...
The Paraphilia Episode
SEX! Now that we have your attention, this episode reviews some of the paraphilias that exist. More importantly, we try to understand with a compassionate and critical lens. Some paraphilias are simply different than what might be considered "normal" sexual behavior, but in which no one is hurt, or exploited, and everything is consensual. However, there are paraphilias that include lack of consent, expoitation, or harm. There is no black and white way to classify this, so we need nuance and critical thinking.
Recommendations
Abraham: Jurassic World: Rebirth (https://www.jurassicworld.com/)Shane: BK Adventure T...
Mini: What is "Learning?"
You would think we would want a full length for this topic. Maybe we still will do one! But for now, we figured we can at least help clear up some misunderstandings or lack of understanding that some may have.
Get ad free and bonus content: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References:
What is Learning?Donahoe, J. W., & Palmer, D. C. (2004). Learning and Complex Behavior. Ledgetop Publishing: Richmond, MA.Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and Human Behavior. The Free Press: New York, NY.Kantor, J. R., & Smith, N. W. (1975). The Science of Psyc...
Jonestown pt. 2
This second part completes the story of the tragedy of the murders at Jonestown. In addition, we expand on this conversation by unpacking the mentality of the participants, and dig a little bit into how charismatic leaders can develop a following that seems baffling from the outside. It is an analysis on where we were as a country, and as a species, as well as where we are now and where we are going.
Recommendations:
Abraham: Superman (2025); https://www.superman.com/Shane: Jimmy Eat World Live (https://www.jimmyeatworld.com/)Holidays (7/23/2025):
Gorgeous G...
Mini: Backseat Driving
We all hate it. Yet, some of us do it. We talk about why people do it, how recipients perceive it, and how passenger commentary/critique/analysis affects driving behavior and safety.
Join our member club for ad-free content and other bonus content: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201005/field-guide-the-backseat-driver-pedal-the-meddlehttps://www.foxnews.com/auto/20-reasons-why-you-may-be-a-backseat-driverhttps://www.margietherapy.com/backseat-driver-plagued-one/#:~:text=Your%20brain%2C%20if%20it%20works,would%20a%20driver%20perceive%20criticism?https://observer.case.edu/faccenda-put-the-brakes-on-backseat-driving/ https://www.kars4kids.org/hub/backseat-drivers-the-dangerous-karens-who-risk-our-lives/
Become a sup...
Jonestown pt. 1
One of the largest mass murders of American citizens in history took place in 1978 in Guyana at the hands of cult leader, Jim Jones. This discussion delves into the circumstances that gave rise to Jones' power and influence of hundreds of people that lead to a tragic mass death of hundreds of people young and old. This first episode chronicles Jones' life as he rose to prominence and eventually moved his congregation to South America. The next episode will unravel the tragedy that took place in 1978, as well as an discussion about how this cult was so influential, whether this...
Mini: Nail Biting
Do you bite your fingernails or know someone who does? Why do we do this weird, self-destructive thing? What can we do to stop it? We quickly explore the conditions under which we bite our fingernails and some strategies for reducing the frequency of this habit. Tell us your experiences with nail biting (info@wwdwwdpodcast.com; @wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.social)
Join our supporter's club: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links:
https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Psychology-Behind-Nail-Biting.aspxhttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/nail-biting-when-does-it-go-too-farhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3004689/
Becom...
Tipping Point
Tipping is another oddly American tradition that we all pretty universally hate. Perhaps you did not know that the modern conception of tipping arose during reconstruction as a means to not have to pay black people for their labor. We explore the origins of this strange, uniquely American tradition, why it persists, and what is probably going to make this problem much, much worse.
Recommendations
Abraham: Unconscious Mind (https://luckyduckgames.com/usa/?srsltid=AfmBOor3zWBbHAlhJyg2tsekDN2j6PpVGbsEfOw5nXwKAJYmT7PnPmJV)Shane: Hotline TNT - Raspberry Moon (https://open.spotify.com/album/3MVdeSmUl32TTzLy6dFFtZ?si=t...
Mini: Learned Helplessness
Some people use this term incorretly, some don't know it at all. To help get everyone on the same page, we are going to review the history of research that first described this phenomenon. Then, we will give examples of what this might look like in real-life scenarios.
Get ad-free and bonus content: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied Behavior Analysis, 3rd Ed. Pearson.Seligman, M. E., & Maier, S. F. (1967). Failure to escape traumatic shock. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0024514Maie...
Reframe: A Framework to Developing a Compassionate Care Instructional Model (With Special Guests)
Special guests Jennifer Farris, Meg Solomon, and Dr. Mari Cerda join us to talk about their new book about developing a compassionate care model. They outline the critical elemtents of their discussion, and share personal stories to help illustrate their recommendations. At the end, they join us in giving their own recommendations for things that bring them joy. We could all use a little more joy.
Find the Book Here:
https://www.amazon.com/Reframe-Framework-Developing-Compassionate-Instructional/dp/1300540478?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Recommendations:
Dr. Mari Cerda: Mindful moments outside; Shrinking (T...
Mini: Skeptical All Day
Can you walk around being skeptical all day long? At what point do you need to let your guard down? We suggest that not only can you go about your day being skeptical, it is better if you do. We'll explain.
Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links:
https://www.theskepticsguide.org/
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
Head Go Bonk: Bad
There is a unique type of brain trauma that destroys lives and cuts them short and we can't even tell that it has happened until after your death. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy occurs when there is repeated head trauma, even if it is mild. The result can manifest as forgetfulness, impulsivity, violence, and an early death. Mercifully, it is relatively preventable. Unfortunately, few people care to prevent it. Protect Your Brain!
Recommendations:
Abraham: Mickey 17 (https://www.max.com/movies/mickey-17/fbe17356-9db7-4ab3-928e-32978e0cfbc7) Shane: 1908 Bakery (https://bakery1908.com/)Holidays (6/25/2025):
Mini: Why We Twitch
Sometimes we have some random twitches that develop out of nowhere. What is going on with these? Why do they happen? And, what can we do about it? We explore the uncomfortable world of twitches. Fun fact, these are technically different from spasms.
Become a member: Patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References:
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/muscle-twitching#:~:text=Muscle%20twitching%20is%20caused%20by,of%20a%20nervous%20system%20disorder.https://www.webmd.com/brain/ss/slideshow-twitches-spasms-causeshttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324641
Become a supporter of this po...
Replacement Theory
Replacement theory is essentially a propaganda campaign engineered to scare gullible people into giving power to autocrats. Versions of this have been around for a long time. We review the history of replacement theory, explain how it works to trick people into voting against their interests (and the interests of everyone else), and what we can do about it.
Recommendations
Abraham: Wool (https://hughhowey.com/books/wool/)Shane: Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH (https://open.spotify.com/album/52yD51X7yDinwlg6tbCtpP?si=LoE11WYfRfygXQaUwd2Ceg)Holidays (06/18/25):
Autistic Pride DayGo Fishing DayInternational Panic D...
Mini: Placebo Controls for Vaccines
One of the most common strategies of current right-wing propaganda is to say something that sounds like reasonable words, but when you break it down it is misleading, misinformed, outright wrong, or even dangerous. One example of this is a recent suggestion that we start using placebo-controlled experimental arrangements for established vaccines. This is fairly simple to dismantle, so buckle in for a quick and dirty takedown of the placebo-controlled vaccine studies stupid nonsense.
Support us on patreon: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4157320/ht...
Golden Goose Awards
Science is not perfect, because it is human. But it is strives for correction, unlike almost any other human institution or endeavor. Much of what science does at the basic level can feel absurd, esoteric, and pointless. Sometimes, it is. But funding basic scientific research is the reason we have made more progress in the last 150 years than the previous 3,000 years combined. Let's continue making strides forward with our values in mind: fund basic science research!
Recommendations
Abraham: The Stormlight Archive: Wind and Truth (https://www.brandonsanderson.com/pages/the-stormlight-archive-series)Shane: Y: The Last Man...
Mini: Scoville Scale
The Scoville scale is a method for measuring the heat of capsaicin-laden food. This is the amount of sugar water needed to entirely dilute the spice. But, we say it more elegantly than that. Let the spice flow!
Join our supporter's club: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References: https://www.nist.gov/how-do-you-measure-it/how-do-you-measure-heat-pepper https://pepperscale.com/what-is-the-scoville-scale/ https://pepperpalace.com/blogs/expert-tips/everything-youve-ever-wanted-to-know-about-the-scoville-scale?srsltid=AfmBOoojcmyRiT5Yv_4RSa631H588xTp2lgzgEorf5Cxbb0eYMXuLBam
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
Makeup
Lots of people smear colored dyes into the skin of their face almost every day. It's so commonplace, we hardly give it a second thought. We explore the history of makeup, and the psychology of this cultural practice. There are different motives for wearing makeup. We enumerate some of them here. It's not so simple as a lot of peope might try to make it out to be.
Recommendations
Abraham: Love, Death, and Robots (Season 4; https://www.netflix.com/title/80174608)Shane: Alien: Romulus (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18412256/)Holidays (6/4/2025)
Chimborazo DayImpersonate A...
Mini: Science Cheat-Prevention
A trending strategy to bolster the interpretation of scientific results is to "pre-register" a study. This is publicly declaring your methods and data analysis procedures prior to beginning the research. Another advantage is that this means null results are more likely to be published. However, it may also inhibit attention to unexpected discovery. We'll briefly describe what pre-registering is, the pros and the cons.
Join our membership group! www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/resources/preregistrationhttps://help.osf.io/article/145-preregistrationhttps://www.cos.io/initiatives/prereghttps://acf.go...
The End is Nigh!
We are all gonna die! Some day :) Top 10, or 12 or something times that humans incorrectly predicted the end of the world! People have been doing this for a long, LONG time. Why do we love predicting the end of times? Is it money? Fame? Power? Mental Illness? A little of column A, a little of column B? We'll do our best to list some major would-be world-ending events that didn't end the world and why humans predicted them in the first place.
Recommendations
Abraham: Sound of Metal (movie https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Sound-of-Metal/0U8I...
Mini: Stuck in a Music Rut
Music is an important part of many people's childhood. Early, we start soaking up everything we hear and give equal opportunity to select the things we'll like. Later, we can't seem to move on from those early experiences. Why do we get stuck in a music rut and lose motivation to find new music... or do we?
Support us on patreon! (www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast)
Links and References: https://neurosciencenews.com/music-aging-22716/?fbclid=IwAR2DlzUFA-zCgaDd3QXs9JQ2m4JFe4fd-rkmGEWlX7wtBZKgZxiqgkBM3DU https://academic.oup.com/book/2888/chapter-abstract/143505209?redirectedFrom=fulltexthttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/253337104_Mu...
Nostalgia: Masturbation (The Original DIY)
Years ago we talked about the science of masturbation (yes, ther's a science). Amazingly, there are some updates in the research on masturbation, so we decided it was time for an update. Fair WARNING: Episode contains expllcit, sexual descriptions. Listen in!
support us: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Recommendations
Abraham: Tokaido (https://stonemaiergames.com/games/tokaido/)Shane: Pet Symmetry - Big Symmetry (https://open.spotify.com/album/4Qt9subXSihAzylWq7dI8q?si=t5hlGJS2ScaCwE7tZGaakA)Holidays (5/21/2025):
American Red Cross Founder’s DayEnd of the World or Rapture Party DayI need a...
Mini: SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) used to be escalating toward crisis. However, a public health campaign was able to effectively influence behaviors and significantly reduced instances of SIDS. So, what is going on with SIDS? Why does it happen? What can do to prevent it? We'll quickly explain what is known about this frightening condition.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
Autism Rising
There have been some wildly inaccurate claims in the news lately about autism and autistic people. There is a specific political agenda making the case that rates of autism are rising. Further, recent comments from RFK jr. have motivated us to respond and critique his asinine behavior. Autism is part of the human condition. Vaccines don't cause autism. We make an empassioned case against the misinformation ecosystem.
Recommendations
Abraham: Deafheaven - “Lonely People With Power” (https://deafheavens.bandcamp.com/album/lonely-people-with-power) Shane: Thunderbolts* (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20969586/)Bonus Recommend: Profound Autism Summit (https://www.p...
Mini: Catch 'em Being Good
Facilitating prosocial behavior is something humans have struggled with for a long time. We unfortunately discovered that coercion was effective at directing some behaviors to some degree. This lead to a pervasive tendency to focus on punishment to try to influence behavior, as opposed to reinforcement and encouragement. This is a guide for shifting emphasis back toward acknowledging what's working as a more effective behavior management strategy.
Join our patreon club! www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References:
https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-magic-relationship-ratio-according-science/Friman, P. C. (2021). There is no such thing as a...
Privatize This!
A lot of engenuity has come out of various human endeavors over time. One system by which invention is motivated is the competition of capitalism. Thus, many people laud capitalism and private enterprise as the solution to most or all problems. We wanted to explore the motivations and science behind the management of a system that is government operated compared to a system that is privately operated to look for effects on human behavior and society. Turns out, the answers are nuanced.
Recommendations
Abraham: Wheel of Time (season 3; https://www.primevideo.com/detail/The-Wheel-of-Time/0O0T...
Mini: Airplane Boarding
Airlines have tried various methods to herd people onto a plane efficiently. Governing a lot of moving people is tricky. Which methods work to get people boarded? Did you know there is no standard way to do this? We'll break down the issues with boarding.
Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References:
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbershttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/there-are-quicker-ways-to-board-a-plane-so-why-dont-airlines-use-them/
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
Teaching Literacy pt 2
Last episode we spent a lot of time discussing some history about text-based communication in general, so we barely touched on the concepts you would need to get started teaching reading. This episode, we describe most of the remaining phonetic rules to teach reading in the bizare code that is the English language.
Recommendations:
Abraham: Sinners (https://slate.com/culture/2025/04/sinners-movie-michael-b-jordan-horror-how-scary.html) Shane: Spaceships over Glasgow by Stuart Braithwaite (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60891783-spaceships-over-glasgow)
Holidays (4/30/2025)
Bugs Bunny DayDay of the ChildDenim DayHairstyle Appreciation DayHonesty DayInternational Guide Dog Day...
Mini: Middle Names
How many names do you have? In America, it is very common to have three names, with the second name, called the "middle name," being a way to honor family, or just sound cool. We explain the history and uses of middle names. Listen in and support us if you can: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and Reference: https://blog.myheritage.com/2024/10/exploring-the-diverse-origins-of-middle-names-from-tradition-to-trend/https://www.plansponsor.com/trivial-pursuits-middle-names-first-used/https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/why-no-middle-names.htm
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.
Teaching Literacy pt 1
We are giving away the secret sauce. This is how to teach reading in Enlighs and how to do it efficiently. It's the rare trifecta of quick, cheap, and good. This first discussion needs to first carefully explain what reading is so that it is clear how teaching it works. Come back for part two to hear the builk of the sequence of curriculum.
RecommendationsMetal Lords: https://www.netflix.com/title/81207588Shane: Bon Iver - SABLE,fABLE (https://open.spotify.com/album/3L3UjpXtom6T0Plt1j6l1T?si=8mIX_zWwTia7NCex2xq67g)
Mini: Release the Hostage
The idea of holding someone hostage had to start somewhere. Actually, it started much more peacefully than what it evolved into. This episode is an exploration of the history of a word by reviewing Norse mythology. It is a blast, if we do say so ourselves. You're welcome.
Join our membership group: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links: https://norse-mythology.org/tales/the-aesir-vanir-war/#:~:text=The%20Aesir%20fought%20by%20the,cheated%20in%20the%20hostage%20exchange.https://www.etymonline.com/word/hostagehttps://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/hostage#:~:text=Definitions%20of%20hostage,captive%2C%20prisonerhttps://www.scmp.com/m...
Journalism vs. the World
Special guest, journalist Ben Miller, joins us to talk about journalism compared to other forms of "news" and the importance of journalism to a functioning democracy. What do we do to combat the slew of misinformation propogated by real and false "journalists?" Ben has some ideas. Listen in and share your thoughts with us.
Recommendations
A Complete Unknown (https://www.searchlightpictures.com/a-complete-unknown)Doctor Sleep by Stephen King (https://stephenking.com/works/novel/doctor-sleep.html) Join our membership program: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/po...
Mini: Stress Balls
Everyone knows these squishly, novelty door prizes. Stress balls are touted as being able to help reduce your stress via the mechanical action of squeezing. Do they work to this end? Maybe! We'll explain in this brief, Monday mini.
Join our membership: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links: Yüksel & Güneş (2024). The Effect of Stress Ball on Anxiety and Pain Levels in Angiography: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cardiovascular Therapeutics. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2024/5049092https://www.paperstone.co.uk/News/articles/stress_ball#:~:text=In%201988%20Carswell%20patented%20the,the%20palm%20of%20the%20...
