Why We Do What We Do

Have you ever noticed that you always make the same typo when writing? Or, that you repeatedly misspeak some phrase or mispronounce some word when talking? When you make the same mistake often enough (sometimes, once is enough!), it starts to become a habit in that context. We discuss these "chained in" errors and what you can do about them. What are your chained in errors? Ad-free and bonus conte...

Nearly a century ago, a groundbreaking philosopher of psychology was way ahead of his time. J.R. Kantor developed a theory of psychology that finally rooted psychology in a natural science perspective. Unfortunately, his ideas did not spread to mainstream psychology or science. But this philosophy persists in the works of brilliant scholars following in the natural science tradition. It may sound...

Symbols are weird. Actually, there are fairly intuitive in many cases, but many are surprisingly new. We explore the recent history of the arrow symbol and the way that it is able to direct human behavior pretty much regardless of language or culture despite only being a few lines.  Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PM...

Perhaps this would have made a good Halloween episode? Probably not. Anyway, this episode honors April Fool's day by examining a foolish endeavor: Scared Straight programs. We review the scientific research and philosophy underlying the idea of Scared Straight. Unsurprisingly, this is an idea that is so bad that even the cops don't like it. So, why does it persist...?  Recommendations Abraham: Zoo...

Manatees are remarkable and gentle creatures. Possibly the source of mermaid stories of old, these strange aquatic mammals live life on the slow side. Some researchers have learned a lot about their behavior and cognition in recent experiments, so we are going to break down what we understand about manatee behavior and the conundrum of their complex cognitive and social repertoires with their prop...

Psychosis is an experience that some people have in which they struggle with the ability to discern their experience from the current ongoing reality. This tends to arise from a variety of possibly traumas. But, the sooner it is treated, the better the prognosis. If you or someone you know is struggling, seek help from a professional. Recommendations Abraham: Project Hail Mary (movie; https://tv.a...

Does your name mean anything? Many cultures around the world choose names because they have some explicit, intended meaning, while others assign names for familial connections, or just because they like the way certain names sounds. We review a handful of naming conventions around the world. Let us know what your name means. support us on Patreon Links and References:  https://www.uslanguageservic...

This is another nostalgia, re-release of a previous episide with a brief update at the end. This is a discussion of the idea to ingest poison to build a tolerance to it? Is the poisonous juice worth the proverbial squeeze? No, probably not. You might just be slowly causing permanent damage to your insides. Enjoy! Recommendation Abraham: Avatar: Way of Water (https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entit...

AI music is not only here to stay, it is rapidly gaining in mainstream popularity. We briefly discuss the history of computer music, the changes it has made to music and where we think the future of music is headed in the AI zeigeist. Stay for the AI song tribute at the end of the episode (this song is the AI generated content flagged for this episode) support us on Patreon Links and References: ...

This is a re-run (nostalgia) of our fun-spirited discussion about how to ruin your sleep. We play the entire episode, plus some added research from the last five years. Have you taken on the challenge to never sleep again? (Please don't) Recommendations Abraham: Famous by Blake Crouch (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790216/famous-by-blake-crouch/)   Shane: Bugonia ( https://www.imdb.com/...

This is our 100th mini! So, we spend the mini talking about the number 100! Things that humans, make, some facts about non-human animals... and human animals. A random smorgasbord of things about 100. Enjoy! Become our 100th patron by signing up 99 friends and then joining yourself. www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  https://lionel-kesztenbaum.site.ined.fr/en/everything_about_pop...

Why We Do What We Do goes back to the movies! Last week, we reviewed Disney + Pixar's Inside Out, so we are taking on the sequel. In many ways, this film exceeds its predacessor in the way it portrays psychological functions, and in some ways it detracts. Either way, it is a fantastic film. We once again critique some of the portrayals of psychological processes and also praise the beautifully con...

Humans love to play. Some of us are willing to be more immersed in that play than others. Those who live for the immersion will often dress up for their character and stage elaborate scenarios with other players. They call this Live Action Role Playing, or LARPing. We discuss a brief history, what it is, and why people do it. Tell us your LARP stories! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wwdwwd...

Why We Do What We Do goes to the movies! A couple of movies have directly taken on representing the inner world of our behavior, and we finally decided that we'd weigh in on these movies. So, we summarize the film and describe what they get wrong and what they get right. Join us in a fun trip to the movies. Let us know what you think about our commentary on the film. Recommendations Abraham: Great...

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot! This 5-second two-player game to settle disputes began in ancient China and quickly spread throughout the world. Some research has also attempted to use game theory to understand decisions in this game and were surprised by the results, but we weren't! You'll see why.  Join our supporters' club: www.patreon.com/wwdwwpodcast Links and References:  https://www.annarahma...

Not to be confused with Neutron Imaging, which is also sometimes called N Rays, N-Rays were a scientific discovery at the turn of the 1900s that promised a bright future for humanity... except that that didn't really exist. In the flurry of ground-breaking discoveries around radiation, N-Rays emerged as the elusive new-kid-on-the-block that could only be seen out of the corner of your eye in an ex...

Shining red lights on our bodies is all the rage in the "wellness" space. Red lights are purported to do a hole host of incredible things, which raised our skeptical hackles. We discuss what red lights are, what they do, and where we think this trend is going.  Support us on Patreon : www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References:  https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/red-flags-for-red-light-ther...

In a departure from our standard episode format, Abraham will profile three people and see if Shane can guess who they are. You can play along! Send us in your guesses by emailing us or post them to us on social media.  Recommendations Abraham: The Naked Gun (2025) https://www.paramountplus.com/movies/video/61gdvpY7mURqcXbL67yYKiiQzEuRQZwW/   Shane: Pet Semetary by Stephen King (https://stephenkin...

Do cat's only meow at humans? What does their meowing mean? We once again spend a mini reviewing the interesting feline behavior of meowing. Yes, they mostly only meow at humans. No, humans aren't great an interpreting their meows. But, we'll explain in more detail in the episode. Are you good at understanding your cat? Get ad free episodes and support the show: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast.com L...

Once again, we find ourselves in distressing and troubled times. Those of us inspired to action have taken to the streets in peaceful demonstrations and protests around the country. When we do this, we undertake a certain amount of risk. So, we have put together a list of strategies to keep in mind to protest safely in a episode originally published in 2020. In this nostalgia release, we add new i...

What does it mean to say something is sweeter than something else? What does 200 times sweeter even taste like? We explain the method scientists use to measure the sweetness of something and thereby make comparisons about how sweet things are. Check it out, it's pretty sweet.  Get ad-free episodes at patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast.com Links and References:  https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2007/05/h...

In part 2, we continue through the history of the Burning Man event. Then, we get into what to expect what how to prepare if you plan to attend Burning Man. Finally, we conclude with some criticisms and arguments people have made against Burning Man either in general or with respect to its most recent iteration. Would you ever go to Burning Man? Have you ever been? Tell us what you think! Join our...

One of the most spine-tingling, misophonia-inducing sounds (for some) is the sound of teeth grinding together. Bruxism, teeth-grinding, is a habit that can occur wihle asleep or awake and can have potentially serious side-effects. We will discuss who does it and why and what you can do about it.  Join our cool-kids club: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast Links and References :  https://www.mayoclinic....

There is a unique annual art event that is hours from civilization in the blistering hot sun that culminates the incineration of humungous humanoid effigy. This four-decade long tradition is a celebration of art, creativity, individuality, community, and self-expression. But, it is not without it's flaw and foibles. We spend two episodes unpacking the history and contemporary features of this even...

Many people avoid or even advocate against having conversations about confrontational topics. We disagree. We explain how it is important to have these dififcult discussion and that failure to do so is likely a contributing factor to the division we face today.  Join our Patreon Link:  https://claesjonasson.medium.com/why-we-need-to-talk-more-about-politics-and-religion-not-less-6a4e96331959 Becom...