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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.
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Transcribed
22 JAN 2025 · Why do we love to compete? From Olympic games to trivia nights, competition is everywhere—but what drives us to strive, push, and sometimes obsess over being the best? In this episode, we explore the origins of competition, its role in evolution and society, and why it’s both thrilling and necessary. Whether it's sports, art, or even board games, we unpack how competition connects us, challenges us, and shapes the world we live in.
Recommendations
- Abraham: Bonk (by Mary Roach; https://maryroach.net/bonk.html)
- Shane: The Last Equation of Isaac Severy by Nova Jacobs (https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Equation-of-Isaac-Severy/Nova-Jacobs/9781501175138)
Holidays 1/22/25:
- Celebration of Life Day
- Come in from the Cold Day
- Dance of the Seven Veils Day
- Library Shelfie Day
- National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day
- National Blonde Brownie Day
- National Hot Sauce Day
- National Polka Dot Day
- Roe vs. Wade Day
- Cancertalk Week
- Energy Saving Week
- Healthy Weight Week
- Hunt for Happiness Week
- International Hoof Care Week
Links and References:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763423002014#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20social%20play%20in,Kramer%20and%20Burghardt%2C%201998).
- https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.2345#:~:text=(c)%20Playful%20elements,of%20the%20interaction%20(P5).
- https://gizmodo.com/do-animals-have-a-sense-of-competition-1823122780#:~:text=Jennifer%20Nadeau&text=My%20expertise%20is%20with%20horses,in%20their%20own%20unique%20way.&text=If%20playback%20doesn't%20begin%20shortly%2C%20try%20restarting%20your%20device.
- https://youtu.be/OvUlOzqQtzc?si=Yfi9DpW3Rzb2wQle
- https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/galapagos-tortoise#:~:text=If%20a%20fight%20breaks%20out,and%20the%20battle%20is%20over.
- Franken, R. E., & Brown, D. J. (1995). Why do people like competition? The motivation for winning, putting forth effort, improving one's performance, performing well, being instrumental, and expressing forceful/aggressive behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 19(2), 175-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(95)00035-5
- https://online.eou.edu/resources/article/psychology-of-competitiveness/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Adulting/comments/1dn1jnx/why_are_some_people_so_competitive_about_life/?rdt=65364
- https://nitsjournal.com/psychology/why-do-humans-naturally-love-to-compete-besting-their-peers/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/socially-relevant/201506/the-psychology-competition
- https://vocal.media/men/the-innate-urge-why-humans-crave-competition
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-do-we-compete-dave-williams/
- https://medium.com/@mscarey/why-humans-are-driven-to-compete-ffacc5f313c6
https://www.statista.com/forecasts/884970/other-gambling-industries-revenue-in-the-us
Transcribed
20 JAN 2025 · Being stared at can be disconcerting the piont of sparking violent conflict. But why? Do other animals similarlty react to staring? We explore what it is about staring that can give rise to such intense reactions.
Join our supporters club: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and references:
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-truth-about-exercise-addiction/201706/whats-really-going-on-when-someone-stares-at-you
- https://www.businessinsider.com/how-we-respond-to-being-stared-at-is-an-evolutionary-trait-2017-6#:~:text=According%20to%20research%20discussed%20in%20another%20blog,or%20they%20are%20trying%20to%20intimidate%20us.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/scopophobia#eye-contact
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQD_YeI9TzY#:~:text=Few%20things%20are%20as%20creepy%20as%20turning,not%20paranoid%20it's%20'hardwired'%20into%20our%20brains
- https://www.verywellmind.com/scoptophobia-2671835
Weick, M., McCall, C., & Blascovich, J. (2017). Power Moves Beyond Complementarity: A Staring Look Elicits Avoidance in Low Power Perceivers and Approach in High Power Perceivers. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43(8), 1188-1201. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167217708576
Transcribed
15 JAN 2025 · What is Stendhal Syndrome? Also known as an “Art Attack,” this is a psychosomatic experience triggered by overwhelming encounters with art. Learn how stress, travel, and cognitive overload combine to create intense physical and emotional reactions in art lovers worldwide. From its origins in Florence to its curious scientific underpinnings, we explore the beauty—and mystery—of this unique phenomenon.
Recommendations
- Abraham: Ichika Nito - Metaphor (https://youtu.be/kDJ_EOGu07E?si=xGounQiRhXke2EXF)
- Shane: StoryGraph
Holidays 1/15/25:
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Day
- Hat Day
- Humanitarian Day
- Museum Selfie Day
- National Bagel Day
- National Booch Day
- National Fresh Squeezed Juice Day
- National Pothole Day
- Strawberry Ice Cream Day
- Wikipedia Day
- Cuckoo Dancing Week
- Energy Saving Week
- Home Office Safety and Security Week
- International Snowmobile Safety and Awareness Week
- National Mocktail Day
- National Obesity Awareness Week
- Sugar Awareness Week
- Universal Letter Writing Week
Links and References:
- https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220110-stendhal-syndrome-the-travel-syndrome-that-causes-panic
- https://www.healthline.com/health/stendhal-syndrome#basics
- https://collection.thedali.org/mDetail.aspx?rID=2004.1&db=objects&dir=DALIART&osearch=Painting&list=res&rname=&rimage=&page=2
- https://www.scielo.br/j/anp/a/3yRYFFQsTRBfhjCzGPjnsNm/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9470992/
- https://www.brandeis.edu/peacebuilding-arts/current-projects/impact/pdfs/q2-beyond-rationality.pdf
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9605088/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032723003725#:~:text=Highlights&text=The%20prevalence%20of%20psychosomatic%20disorder,increased%20in%20the%20third%20wave.
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21521-psychosomatic-disorder
Transcribed
13 JAN 2025 · Why is that every animals as a latin "sciency" name? How are these names created? This is the area of the esoterically named binomial nomenclature. These are some of the questions given to us that we attempt to answer.
New full length episodes on Wednesdays.
Support us on patreon: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References:
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-020-01344-y
- https://byjus.com/biology/binomial-nomenclature/
- https://www.britannica.com/question/Why-is-Latin-used-for-scientific-taxonomy
Transcribed
8 JAN 2025 · The ivy league school club is enduringly exclusive. We trace the origins of the term "ivy league," the history of those schols, and the factors that perpetuate their olympian status in the eyes of the general public. Welcome to the big ivy leagues!
Recommendations
- Abraham: Squid Game (season 2) https://www.netflix.com/title/81040344
- Shane: Corporate Rock Sucks (https://www.jimruland.net/?page_id=2561)
Holidays (1/8/2024):
- Argyle Day
- Bubble Bath Day
- Earth’s Rotation Day
- International Typing Day
- Midwife’s Day
- National English Toffee Day
- National Joygerm Day
- National Snuggle a Chicken Day
- National Winter Skin Relief Day
- Show and Tell Day at Work
- Take the Stairs Day
- War on Poverty Day
- World Literary Day
- Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
- National Lose Weight/Feel Great Week
- National Soccer Coaches of America Week
- National Thank Your Customer’s Week
- New Years’ Resolution Week
- Someday We’ll Laugh About This Week
Links and References:
- https://www.mastersportal.com/articles/1958/what-are-ivy-league-universities.html
- https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/
- https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/ivy-league-schools
- https://chibe.upenn.edu/news/psychology-today-how-elite-colleges-divide-us-and-what-we-can-do-about-it/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/25/opinion/vance-trump-republicans-elite.html
- https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/139-fruits-of-the-ivy-vine#:~:text=Foundings%3A%20By%20clergy%2C%20for%20clergy,Testaments%20in%20their%20original%20languages.
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/07/trump-republicans-harvard-yale
- https://www.scotusblog.com/2023/06/supreme-court-strikes-down-affirmative-action-programs-in-college-admissions/
- https://eimpartnerships.com/articles/dei-program-reductions-in-higher-ed-navigating-a-changing-landscape
Transcribed
6 JAN 2025 · Start with: What is the purpose of education? If the answer is to produce intelligent, competent individuals, that means we care about how effective education is. If we care about how effective it is, then we should consider variables we know impact effectiveness. One of those is classroom size. The smaller the ratio of students to teachers, the better the outcomes. We'll explain better in the episode.
Support us on Patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References:
- https://nwef.org/2021/08/23/do-class-sizes-impact-student-outcomes/#:~:text=%60%60Overall%2C%20research%20shows%20that%20students%20in%20smaller,the%20National%20Council%20of%20Teachers%20of%20English.
- https://www.furman.edu/blogs/benefits-of-a-small-class-size/#:~:text=Correlation%20between%20class%20size%20and%20student%20achievement,-Small%20classes%20facilitate&text=One%20study%20found%20that%20one,give%20immediate%20feedback%20on%20assignments.
- https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/southeast/aar/u_03-2019.asp#:~:text=At%20primary%20and%20secondary%20levels,tables%20and%207%20figures.)%22
- https://educationdata.org/public-education-spending-statistics
- Dee, T. S., & West, M. R. (2011). The Non-Cognitive Returns to Class Size. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 33(1), 23-46. https://doi.org/10.3102/0162373710392370
Transcribed
1 JAN 2025 · We got to 400 episodes! Let's take a look back into the past... not really, but we'll stalk about nostalgia—what it is, how it works, and why it’s more than just longing for the good old days. From its origins as a “psychological burden” to its modern role in fostering social connections and shaping behavior, we uncover the science, emotions, and even the marketing power behind nostalgic experiences. What do Mario Kart, Grandma’s cooking, and political slogans have in common?
Recommendations
- Abraham: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/)
- Shane: Heatonist (https://heatonist.com)
Holidays:
- New Years Day (Happy New Year!)
- Apple Gifting Day
- Bonza Bottler Day
- Commitment Day
- Ellis Island Day
- First Foot Day
- Haitian Independence Day
- National Hangover Day
- New Year’s Dishonor List Day
- Polar Bear Plunge or Swim Day
- Public Domain Day
- Ring a Bell Day
- World Day of Peace
- Diet Resolution Week
- End of Kwanzaa
- National Time Consciousness Week
- Silent Record Week
- National Bath Safety Month
- National Black Diamond Month
- National Blood Donor Month
- National Mentoring Month
- National Oatmeal Month
- National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Links and references:
- https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/nostalgia.htm?s1sid=lsz8dq0gz6mg5d24830y74aa&srch_tag=rul2ujrdy7iu2nqaub2m4svysdlqvoyj
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/benefits-of-nostalgia_n_4031759
- Sedikides C, Wildschut T, Arndt J, and Routledge C. (2008). "Nostalgia: Past, Present, and Future." Current Directions in Psychological Science. http://www.wildschut.me/Tim_Wildschut/home_files/Sedikides,%20Wildschut,%20Arndt,%20%26%20Routledge,%202008,%20CDir.pdf
- https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/nostalgia-cowbells-meaning-life
- https://www.the-scientist.com/death-by-nostalgia-1688-69596
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352250X22002445#:~:text=Nostalgia%20regulates%20pain%20through%20the,also%20early%20sensory-related%20processes.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X22002664#:~:text=Nostalgia%20(a%20sentimental%20longing%20for,most%20defining%20and%20impactful%20characteristics.
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/nostalgia-brain-science-memories
- https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/nostalgia
- https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/nostalgia4.htm
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/mar.21872
- https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/edcollchap/book/9781529214789/ch005.xml
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352250X22002767
Transcribed
30 DEC 2024 · The tongue map neatly divides taste into salty, sweet, sour, and bitter zones on which we can taste only those specific flavors. Turns out, it’s wrong. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating science of taste, debunking myths, exploring how our taste buds really work, and uncovering why this debunked idea keeps coming back.
Become a member: patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
Links and References:
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/neat-and-tidy-map-tastes-tongue-you-learned-school-all-wrong-180963407/
- https://www.wired.com/video/watch/taste-map
Transcribed
25 DEC 2024 · It's Christmas! Let's finish out the year with a chill retrospective on the year we are leaving behind. We recap our year as podcast, movies and TV we watched, and books we read. Plus we review some of our stats and accomplishments. Happy holidays and see you for full length episodes in 2025!
Links:
- https://www.princeton.edu/news/2024/03/28/daniel-kahneman-pioneering-behavioral-psychologist-nobel-laureate-and-giant-field
- https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4824199-2024-paris-olympics-takeaways/
12/25/24
- Pumpkin Pie Day
- Day of Winter Walks
- Decembeard
- any others…? Oh yeah, Christmas!
Recommendations
- Abraham: Start or join a secular social group
- Shane: Baking
Transcribed
23 DEC 2024 · Another continuation of our discussion about the fall-out of the recent US election. In this discussion, we consider the implications for immigration on the economy, civil liberties, and democracy in our country. Its small but mighty, if we do say so ourselves. Let's fight for our fellow humans from wherever they hail! We are stronger together than apart.
Become a supporter: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
We are now on BlueSky @wwdwwdpodcast.bsky.social
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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.
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| Author | Abraham |
| Organization | Abraham |
| Categories | Social Sciences , Education , Philosophy |
| Website | www.spreaker.com |
| info@wwdwwdpodcast.com |
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