Posts in Social Science
What Listening to This Episode Says About You Personality
What Listening to This Episode Says About You Personality

Like astrology and psychics, online personality tests generally use the Barnum effect to trick you into thinking they have something meaningful to say. They're tricksy like that. But they have also been used for extremely nefarious reasons, and in one instance, an implementation that lead to the beginning of the end of democracy in America. Also, we take some personality tests in real time.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Social Science, Myth-Busting, PseudoscienceWWDWWDAbraham, Shanebraham, Online Personality Tests, Personality, Assessment, Psychology, the Self, Sonic, Psychics, AstrologyComment
O.K.
O.K.

English, particularly American English, is not only a weird hodgepodge of many other languages and cultures from around the world and at different times, but it is also full of expressions and sayings that, without context, sound like nonsense gibberish. Why do we say these things? What do they mean? And where do these sayings come from? Strap in because we are all in the same boat as we paint the town red in our deep dive about idioms! We had a lot of fun and hopefully you'll think it's oll korrect as well.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Liesure, Social ScienceWWDWWDAbraham, Shanebraham, Idioms, Expressions, Sayings, SkinOfYourTeach, Bite The Bullet, HistoryComment
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing

Turns out the method of persuasion we have all grown to love being on the receiving end of, condescending lectures and rhetorical questions, might not be the most effective way of connecting with someone and helping them change their mind. Motivational interviewing is not only a non-combative counseling style, it is also a strategy for being a good listener. You have probably heard something about it, so listen in to get the bigger picture.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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ABA, ACT, How To, Psychological History, Social ScienceWWDWWDAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, motivational interviewing, active listening, behaviorism, couseling, humanism, psychiatry, psychologyComment
Psychology of... Calendars?
Psychology of... Calendars?

You might have thought it was 2021, and for most people out there, it is. But around the world, some cultures still cling to alternative measures of time, mostly based on the solar cycle but numbered or ordered differently based on deeply held traditions and values. These alternative calendars celebrate important milestones, memories, and events that define a given culture, and preserving those traditions means the survival of the group as a whole.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Liesure, Philosophy, Social ScienceWWDWWDAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Calendars, schedules, 13 month year, months of the year, cultures, Gregorian, organization, time, philosophyComment
237 | Beyond Dog and Boba Fett
237 | Beyond Dog and Boba Fett

Bounty hunting isn’t just a slick lifestyle for a dude with big biceps and a horrible haircut. It can be a profitable and exciting profession, or a rather dull and routine one. The excitement depends who you’re after, but this ain’t the Old West no more.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Social Science, How ToWWDWWDAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Boba Fett, Bounty Hunters, Bail Bondsman, Steward, Criminals, Law Enforcement, Trial, Dune, Animal CrossingComment
236 | Don't You D.A.R.E.
236 | Don't You D.A.R.E.

Drugs. The single greatest threat that humankind has ever faced… according to Nancy Reagan. Politicians and depots have known for a long time that fear can unite a people. In the 1980s, stoking fear about and going to “war” with drugs gave the sheeple a common enemy to fear and stoked good fear for their warrior politicians. One of the ill-begotten ideas sprung forth was the D.A.R.E. program. This program was specifically ideological and eschewed empirical evidence. As such, this programs hemorrhaged money for years until it was finally abandoned. Learn about about the rise and epic fall of the D.A.R.E. program and share your D.A.R.E. stories with us!

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Children, Human Bias, Psychological History, Social ScienceWWDWWDAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Drugs, Psychedelics, Devil's Lettuce, Lettuce Head, Eternals, Chocolate Truffles, Reagan, War on drugs, Classism, Racism, D.A.R.E., PoliceComment
225 | Sleepless in Insomnia
225 | Sleepless in Insomnia

No, you can’t die from insomnia. But it super sucks. Did you know insomnia doesn’t mean no sleeping, just poor sleeping? You can treat it with therapy and practicing good sleep hygiene, unless it is caused by another external factor.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Diagnosis, Social ScienceWWDWWDAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Sleep, Sleepless, Sleep Hygiene, sleep disorder, Insomnia, Wakefulness, AwakeComment
222 | Kleptomania
222 | Kleptomania

This episode will investigate kleptomania, which deviates from traditional shoplifting and other types of theft in that it’s less about the item, and more about responding to urges. Specific conditions make one more likely to snatch meaningless things, which often leads to damaged social relationships, lost jobs, or heavy legal consequences. Fortunately, several therapies have been successful in treating this condition, helping individuals to respond more effectively to their urges and reducing the chances of trouble.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Disorders, Social ScienceWWDWWDAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Kleptomania, Disorders, Urges, Stealing, Habits, Habit Reversal, Worthless, PointlessComment
221 | Impulsivity and the Marshmallow
221 | Impulsivity and the Marshmallow

What to Expect:

This episode will highlight early studies of Walter Mischel that examined “delay to gratification” effects under various circumstances, and several follow-up studies looking at longitudinal impact of the initial results. While early results suggested correlations in predictive value toward future academic and behavioral success, these may have been overgeneralized from a narrow sample population, and ignorant of more potent variables in a child’s environment.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Social Science, Children, Education, Human Bias, Psychological History, Behavioral EconomicsWWDWWDAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Impulsivity, Marshmallow Test, Marshmallows, Pretzels, Self-control, DistractionComment
220 | Gross Sounds
220 | Gross Sounds

What to Expect:

Not gross mouth sounds. Or at least not on purpose. This discussion about not-a-disorder, but very real experience people have was a fun return to form with jokes and light-hearted banter and hopefully a less anxious Shane. We describe the various forms that misophonia can take, where it comes from, and manage it if you want to.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at 775.525.0908, at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Disorders, Social Science, The BrainWWDWWDAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, ShanebrahamComment
210 | Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex Work (But Were Too Afraid To Ask)
210 | Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex Work (But Were Too Afraid To Ask)

A lot of myth-busting and a little proselytization. We describe how people get started in sex work and the kinds of policies and practices that make it safe or extremely dangerous. Sex workers are people who need protection and support. The “righteous” policies that have tried to end or block sex work have only lead to the worst things that have ever happened to sex workers. There is a better way!

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at 775.525.0908, at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Children, Myth-Busting, Sex, Social ScienceGuest UserAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Capitalism, Sex, Sex Work, Prostitution, Trafficking, Pedophilia, Moral High Ground, Mortal Kombat, DecriminalizeComment
208 | I Give You Feels, You Give Me Money Part 2
208 | I Give You Feels, You Give Me Money Part 2

We pick up on the hooks that companies use to reel you in. Whether for selling a product, soliciting donations, or modifying your behavior in general. Ad campaigns are crafted with great detail, incorporating emotional and social elements that influence our behavior in unique ways. If there’s a story to tell, a product to sell, or someone in need, these folks know how to get you to participate by playing into our emotional reactions to certain scenery.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at 775.525.0908, at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Social Science, Human BiasGuest UserAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, ShanebrahamComment
207 | I Give You Feels, You Give Me Money Part 1
207 | I Give You Feels, You Give Me Money Part 1

This episode will highlight the clever ways advertisers manipulate consumer behavior. Whether for selling a product, soliciting donations, or modifying your behavior in general. Ad campaigns are crafted with great detail, incorporating emotional and social elements that influence our behavior in unique ways. If there’s a story to tell, a product to sell, or someone in need, these folks know how to get you to participate by playing into our emotional reactions to certain scenery.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at 775.525.0908, at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Social Science, Human BiasGuest UserAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, ShanebrahamComment
205 | 1847: A Cannibal Story
205 | 1847: A Cannibal Story

We explore one of the most extreme circumstances imaginable to try to understand the actions of the surviving (and not) members of the Donner Party. This group of emigrants spent nearly a year attempting to cross the relatively unknown American frontier only to be trapped in a substantial snowstorm which left them immobile in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Yes, they ate their dead. Yes, they killed some people for “food.” And more…

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at 775.525.0908, at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Psychological History, Social ScienceGuest UserAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Donner Party, Cannibalism, California Trail, When Things Go Wrong, Native Americans, Ikes, Black Card, Sandwiches, Punk, Emigrants, Manifest Destiny, Sierra NevadasComment
204 | Book Cover Judgement
204 | Book Cover Judgement

Dwight was kind of right: first impressions can be extremely important. This is a discussion about something called the “Halo Effect.” The halo effect is not in relation to the video game “Halo” but is the bias we have to automatically assume positive things about someone based on a single characteristic such as attractiveness. It can either elevate our opinion or sour it depending on the characteristic. But people are doing this to you too! We break down the how and why as well as bringing a little skepticism.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at 775.525.0908, at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Human Bias, How To, Social ScienceGuest UserAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Black Lives Matter, halo effect, horns effect, horns and halos, beautiful people, book cover judgement, judge a book by its cover, Kendrick Lamar, Ibram X Kendi, How to be an antiracist, first impressions, Dwight ShruteComment
202 | Extreme Altruism
202 | Extreme Altruism

This is a discussion as normal, but also is a story about four people who found themselves in a unique situation. In this episode, we dig into the psychology of people who, while alive, donate organs anonymously to strangers. We review how organ donation works, the advantages and disadvantages of living donors, and why people do it.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at 775.525.0908, at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Social Science, LiesureGuest UserAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, Organ Donors, Organ Donation, Altruism, Extreme Altruism, Kindness, Strangers, Dance Gavin Dance, Strawberry's Wake, Afterburner, Cloudkicker, Solitude, kidney.orgComment
199 | Teaching Prejudice
199 | Teaching Prejudice

In 1968 following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., Iowa teacher Jane Elliott developed a classroom exercise in the effects of prejudice by separating her third-grade class into two groups by eye color. Through a series of contrived narratives, the two groups became at odds with each other, exhibiting such volatile behavior reminiscent of racial tensions so common in the news. The effects of the exercise seemed to instill a sense of empathy among the students for what it felt like to be marginalized or oppressed. While it can only offer insight into what oppressed populations truly feel, it was a powerful exercise that was able to be modified for use with other populations including businesses, correctional facilities, and college campuses. Each iteration yielded the same lessons that decades later seem just as necessary, if not more.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at 775.525.0908, at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Children, Psychological History, Social ScienceGuest UserAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, prejudice, racism, history, blue-eyes, brown-eyes, eye color, Jane Elliot, classroom, bigotryComment
198 | Rebels and Iconoclasts
198 | Rebels and Iconoclasts

We were thinking of the history of punk and straight-edge and hippies and that lead us down the path of a survey of counter-culture in general. Largely in the US and somewhat in other parts of the world. We enumerate the various cultures, explain why they form, why they sustain, how they change, and what role they serve. Plus some silly outtakes at the end.

Listen in, and remember that you can reach us directly at 775.525.0908, at info@wwdwwdpodcast.com, through the comments below OR on social via @wwdwwdpodcast or #wwdwwdpodcast.

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Liesure, Social Science, Psychological HistoryGuest UserAbraham, Shane, Shane Spiker, Shanebraham, rebels, sub-culture, counter-culture, iconoclasts, punk, straight-edge, #edge4ever, metal, america, boston tea party, Mormons, Puritans, Persecution, Bomb City, Spray paint the walls, Mastermind, tattoos, piercings, hippies, peace, anti-warComment