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PODCAST

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.

science social sciences

All Episodes

9:56

Mini: Scientific Understanding

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/07/08

We can broadly categorize our levels of confidence or purpose of scientific data based on the amount of and quality of the information we have about the phenomenon of interest. People hear these terms but don't fully understand what we mean when we call something a "theory," "law," or "hypothesis." We explain them here today.Support us at

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89:55

Nostalgia: Grit With Steven Hayes

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/07/03

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we needed to release another nostalgia episode this week. This was our second most popular episode ever. Dr. Steven Hayes ("Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life") joins us to discuss the concept of "grit" as well as share several personal anecdotes. Enjoy this rerun of a popular classic. Support us at Patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

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17:24

Mini: Mood Rings

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/07/01

Mood rings change color to inform the external world about our emotional states. How does this magical jewelry make our most private, inner experiences overtly observable? Most people know this is temperature-based reaction... and it is. But, we'll explain how and what it means, if

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45:10

Thumbs and the Evolution of Culture

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/06/26

Do pandas have thumbs? Kind of. We should periodically take the time to acknowledge and admire the significan role our biological morphology affects our psychology as a species. Aside from language, humans have a simple adaptation that wsa likely crucial to how we have evolved as a species. This is our episode all about thumbs! RecommendationsAbraham: No Hard Feelings (https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/nohardfeelings)Shane: The Cipher by Kathe Koja

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13:26

Mini: Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/06/24

Many people have taken a strong stance for a particular approach to reasoning: either inductive or deductive. However, we are going to try to argue that these approaches are not fundamentally different and any attempt to distinguish them is arbitrary. Did we succeed? You decide :) Support us at patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

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58:21

Black Applied Behavior Analysts Conference

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/06/19

What does it take to put on a conference? We invite speical guests Jackie and Tyanna to talk about how and why they are a part of the team that organizes the Black Applied Behavior Analysts Conference (BABA). Special sale today for listeners who are interested in attending online or in-person. Learn more at https://babainfo.org/ or https://babainfo.org/conference/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

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17:18

Mini: Does Philosophy Matter for Expertise?

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/06/17

Our least scripted, most free-form discussion ever! Abraham doesn't even tell Shane the topic until after hitting record. This is the most raw, actual conversation ever recorded as an episode for this show. We discuss whether and to what extent and understanding the underlying philosophy of something is important for being a professional or expert in that thing. What do you think?Email us your thoughts at info@wwdwwdpodcast.comListen to our episodes on YouTube:

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54:10

The Seven Wonders

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/06/12

Do you know all seven of the wonders? Do you know how they were chosen? As a species, we seem to be fascinated with lists and ranking things. So, let's talk about this particular list (or lists) and learn something new. If I live to see the seven wonders... As Fleetwood Mac would say. RecommendationsAbraham: 7 Wonders: Architects (https://www.rprod.com/en/games/7-wonders;https://www.rprod.com/en/games/7-wonders-architects) Shane: John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s In LA

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10:56

Mini: Can Stress Turn Your Hair Gray?

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/06/10

The idea that stress turns our hair gray has been the punchline of many jokes. Do those of us with anxiety gray sooner? We do a quick dive into the science of graying hair and to what extent stress may be related to the accelerated pace of graying. Join us on Patreon!patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcastLinks and

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84:05

Nostalgia: Social Media Addiction pt. 2

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/06/07

Oh rare Friday release! This is our follow up to our nostalgia episode on Social Media addiction. Enjoy!This concludes our mult-month coverage of the topic of addiction for now. Next week, we'll be back totaly new non-addiction-related conten.RecommendationsAbraham: Gattaca (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/)Shane: My daughter graduated high school!Holidays for Part 2Daniel Boone DayHug an Atheist DayJune Bug DayNational Chocolate Ice Cream DayNational Donut DayTrial Technology DayVCR DayLinks

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68:33

Nostalgia: Social Media Addiction pt. 1

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/06/05

Recorded in the early days of the pandemic, we are resurrecting this little gem to put a cap on our series of addiction-themed episodes. Amazing how much and how little has changed since then. The 2nd part will come out later this week and will have additional content to update the conversation on Social Media addiction. RecommendationsScott: Mystic Vale (https://www.alderac.com/mystic-vale/)Shane: Jake Johnson (Actor)Holidays for June 5th 2024:Festival of Popular Delusions DayGlobal Running DayHot

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17:17

Mini: Books Bound in Human Skin

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/06/03

WARNING: Contains discussion of death, murder, and mutliation which some listeners may find disturbing. Who even wants to think about this? A lot of people, it turns out. This would have been well-suited for a Halloween release. Oh well. Enjoy this weird survey of books held together by peices of

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78:16

How to Treat Addiction

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/05/29

Wishful thinking, empty promises and empty threats, and shaming don't work to treat addiction. People have been trying to strategize ways to overcome addiction for centuries. Have we finally gotten it right? We are certainly doing a lot better now. We unpack that long history and current research around treating addiction.RecommendationsAbraham: Fall Guy (https://www.thefallguymovie.com/)Shane: IF ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11152168/)May 9th is:Composting DayEnd of the Middle Ages

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11:46

Mini: Catnip

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/05/27

Is catnip "drugs" for your cat? Why does it affect them the way that it does? We explain what is going on in the brain and the behavior of cats when they get ahold of this werid herb, and what would happen if you gave catnip to a

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52:49

Food Addiction

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/05/22

Another example of behavioral excess of things that are biologically necessary. Again, the utility of calling this an "addiction" is questionable, and we will ask that question in this discussion. We'll dig into the history of food addiciton, the criteria for food addiction, and treatment for food addiction. Of course, we are going to bring a skeptical analysis as well. RecommendationsAbraham: Hire someone to do yard workShane: Jelly Belly Jellybeans (https://www.jellybelly.com)May 22, 2024

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21:33

Mini: Traffic Jams

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/05/20

Traffic is the worst. But, why do traffic jams happen in the first place? Am I the problem? Are you the problem? Are we all the problem?! We'll unpack what you can do to help end congested traffic, what policies can help make this happen, and the science and psychology of phantom traffic!Links and

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53:39

Gambling pt. 2

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/05/15

Whereas part 1 was more about the history of gambling, casinos, and the psychology of designing gambling and gambling environments to foster addiction as much as possible, this episode actually talks about addiction and treatment. That was a long sentence. If you were here for the discussion about addiction and treatment, this is the part you've been waiting for. RecommendationsAbraham: Dice Tower (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dice+tower)Shane: Into It. Over It. - Interesting

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13:12

Mini: Skin Idioms

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/05/13

We did an episode on idioms a while back. During that discussion, we ended up having to cut a lot of the content we had prepared. In particular, there was a surprisingly large number of idioms just around skin! So, we decided we'd do a mini just about that!Referencehttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/81624/origins-19-skin-expressionsCovering just five todayBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

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49:26

Gambling pt. 1

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/05/08

One behavioral addiction of the "inessential" variety is gambling. This is an issue that has ruined many lives and pumped a lot of money into the city of Las Vegas. Do our brains make us gamble? Does gambling simply expoit a loophole in human psychology? We'll talk about how gambling got started, how it keeps you playing, and treatments that have been used to support people recovering from gambling addiction. Recommendations next time!Links and

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13:51

Mini: Burning Books

Why We Do What We Do ·

2024/05/07

Book burning has been used both to destroy cultures or just symbolically send a message. Either way, it is a pretty juvenile temper tantrum thing to do. Don't silence your opponents, be better than them. Here is the history and motives behind some large book burning

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