Posts in Philosophy

165 | Human Nature

"Human nature" is often used as an excuse, explanation, justification, or assumption for the good and bad things that we do. Although we can make general statements about human voluntary and involuntary behavior, most of the time that people invoke this phrase, they claiming ignorance or giving up understanding. No more! it is difficult to argue that a behavior is "human nature" if not all humans do it. It's also nonsense to assume that studies of WEIRD populations reflect the majority of people. The most scientific thing we can say is that human nature is just what we do in the contexts in which we do it. It's the "what we do" part without the "why" part.

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.

Human Bias, PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerJuly 15, 2020Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Black Lives Matter, Human Nature, Nature, Kantor, J.R. Kantor, Behaviorism, WEIRD Populations, Research, Logical Fallacy, Circular ReasoningComment

162 | Why Do We Dream?

Dreams are nocturnal hallucinations we do while asleep. Why do we do it? There are some hypotheses, but how it works is more interesting. Specifically, we carry our experiences with us and they are cued by environmental stimuli. By the way, there is nothing to dream interpretation.

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Philosophy, The BrainScott Abraham MillerJune 24, 2020Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Black Lives Matter, Dreams, Dreaming, Perception, Stimulus Control, Dream Interpretation, PhilosophyComment

161 | Board Games

This is Abraham’s passion episode! We talk a bit about the history of tabletop games, what board games are, and why people do (or don’t) play them. Plus Abraham makes about 60 recommendations (see below). Let us be your board game bartender!

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PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerJune 17, 2020Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Black Lives Matter, Games, Board Games, Tabletop Games, Co=op games, Boardgamegeek.com, MansionsOfMadness, Chess, History, Last Person Standing, First Person Out, Group GamesComment

157 | Motivated Reasoning

Have you ever heard someone self-describe as “socially liberal and fiscally conservative?” If that grinds your gears, you might be avoiding conflicting thoughts altogether and falling victim to motivated reasoning. Life isn’t black and white, but if you’re comfortable in your own beliefs then you probably haven’t heard another opinion in a while. Behavior analysts especially should echo our essential attitude of Philosophical Doubt and always consider the unseen variables at play. The world is an ever-changing platform of complication and contention, but we can continuously work together for the greater good by monitoring our systems

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Philosophy, Human BiasScott Abraham MillerMay 20, 2020Abraham, RyanO, Alan, Motivated Reasoning, Skepticism, Rationalization, logical reasoning, SGU, Skeptics Guide to the UniverseComment

156 | Why? Our 3-Year Anniversary With Special Guests!

We turned 3! In celebration, the whole team gathered for a live stream in which we answered: Why do we use the word “why?” Why do we feel bored? What do we or don’t we physical distance? Why are we gross? and Why do we listen to podcasts? We also invite a special guest and audience participation with Q&A.

You can view the live stream event here: https://youtu.be/g2pw5jbVY70

We recommended several podcasts:

No Dogs in Space (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-dogs-in-space/id1495604041)
I Don’t Wanna Hear It (https://i-dont-wannahearit-podcast.com/)
Joe Rogan Podcast (http://podcasts.joerogan.net/)
The Brendon Show (https://brendon.com/podcast/)
The Hyper Conscious Podcast (https://www.thehyperconsciouspodcast.com/)
The Skeptics Guide to the Universe (https://www.theskepticsguide.org/)
Ask Women (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-women-podcast-what-women-want/id651219242)
Intelligence Matters (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intelligence-matters/id1286906615)
99% Invisible (https://99percentinvisible.org/)
Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard (https://armchairexpertpod.com/)

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152 | Why and How We Grieve

There have been proposed “stages” of grief and various ways of managing grief. Circumstances of trauma can also impact grief such as whether the event was expected or if it was a surprise. Furthermore, there is a clear behavioral process of how grieving works and implicated steps for managing grief in a healthy 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.

Philosophy, ACTScott Abraham MillerApril 15, 2020Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Grief, Sadness, Harris, Russ Harris, ACT, Stages of Grief, Kessler, Kubler-Ross, Cues, Reminders, Skepticism, Loss, Autism, Disorder, Diagnosis, Death, Dying, COVID-19, Coronovirus, Pandemic, Why We Grieve, How We GrieveComment

146 | Right and Left Brain Personality

Begun in the work on patients with epilepsy, split-brain research suggested maybe people generally rely on one hemisphere of their brain over the other. Except, that doesn’t actually make any sense when you understand how the brain works. Although most people already know this, we expanded on this by elaborating on the history of this idea, and the one or two researchers who have continued to push this line of research despite its lack of fruitful outcomes… or general utility. Still, a lot to learn about this seemingly obvious urban myth.

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.

145 | Imposter Syndrome

We are not worthy! Many people who have accomplished a great deal in life nevertheless feel as though they don’t deserve their credentials, responsibilities, or accolades. This can manifest as people overworking themselves, procrastinating, or generally having the experience of fear and anxiety about themselves. Furthermore, people might fail to make contributions where they would otherwise be able to because they don’t trust themselves to fulfill the expectations that have been bestowed on them. Have you ever felt this way? You’re not alone. Let us know!

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.

Philosophy, ACT, Human BiasScott Abraham MillerFebruary 26, 2020Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Imposter, Lone Wolf, Expert, Fraud, Unworthy, Acccomplished, Accolades, Success, FailureComment

144 | Default Mode Network of the Brain

We do our best to define altruism through the ways others have defined it. We break down the philosophical traditions that have tried to define, explain, and promote altruism. We read from some religious texts on altruism. We failed to point out in this discussion that if someone were to intend harm and do good, that would technically meet the definition of altruism but also not be something we’d want to promote. In the end, we advocate for prosocial behavior and point out that the definition is not particularly helpful right now.

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Autism, The Brain, PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerFebruary 19, 2020Abraham, RyanO, Ryan, Default Mode Network, DMN, Brain, Neurology, Neuroimaging, Brain Science, Science, Autism, Alzheimers, SkepticismComment

142 | Altruism | Why We Do What We Do

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PBIS, PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerFebruary 5, 2020Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Shane Spiker, Altruism, Selflessness, Selfless, Unselfish, Religion, Christianity, Buddhism, Siddartha, Zen, Prosocial, GoodnessComment

140 | Sensory Integration Therapy | Why We Do What We Do

A potentially controversial issue in which we take on sensory integration therapy. Important to note that we are NOT criticizing occupational therapists. We dug deep into the literature on sensory integration therapy and told the story that the data present. That is, we take as diplomatic and charitable a position as we can while remaining honest. Science does not paint a flattering picture.

Survey ends in January!

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138 | Why People Do Stupid Things (Part 2) | Why We Do What We Do

This is a continuation of our discussion on the “stupid” things that people do. In this discussion, we cover procrastinating, eating junk food, buying super over-priced non-essentials, fashion, being late to things, and refusing to learn new things. We also summarize some basic themes of why people do things that appear to be stupid.

Survey ends in January!

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.

ACT, Human Bias, PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerJanuary 8, 2020Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Perspective-Taking, Stupidity, Why People Do Stupid Things, Rubbernecking, Parking, recyclingComment

137 | Why People Do Stupid Things (Part 1) | Why We Do What We Do

Happy new year! This is a nice light-hearted episode in which we armchair some explanations for why people do “stupid” things. Ultimately, stupid things aren’t really stupid after all. In a sense, this is an exercise in perspective-taking. We tackle 8 things in part one and 7 more in part two.

Survey ends in January!

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.

ACT, Human Bias, PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerJanuary 1, 2020Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Perspective-Taking, Stupidity, Why People Do Stupid Things, Rubbernecking, Parking, recyclingComment

130 | The Psychology of Humor (Our Funniest Episode Ever!) | Why We Do What We Do

Jokes and comedy! Or at least a general discussion of the psychology of humor. We brought in a special Guest, Stu Law, a behavioral psychologist, to discuss what he has learned about studying humor and comedy. We tell jokes, dissect humor, and prescribe ways to be funnier. Kind of. Mostly we discuss why certain things make us laugh and the process by which humor shifts and changes over time.

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.

Links for Today:

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/11/how-the-zombie-fungus-takes-over-ants-bodies-to-control-their-minds/545864/ (narrative description of the cordyceps fungus taking over ants)
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/04/cordyceps-zombie-fungus-takes-over-ants/ (mostly images of insects infected with cordyceps fungus)
https://youtu.be/XuKjBIBBAL8 (video documentary of the cordyceps fungus in ants)
https://www.livescience.com/51764-wasp-spider-zombies.html (zombie spiders! When wasps plant their larva in spiders)
https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/mind-controlling-wasps-enslave-zombie-spiders-build-them-perfect-nest/ (elaboration on wasps turning spiders into zombies)
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/08/zombie-flies-mind-control-fungus-animals/ (video of flies being zombified by fungus; gross)

Interview, Philosophy, How ToScott Abraham MillerNovember 13, 2019Abraham, RyanO, Stu Law, Humor, Comedy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Anit-humor, Jokes, Deadpan, Stand-up, hilarious, funny, culture, Politically Correct, hahaComment

121 | A Brief Introduction to Punishment | Why We Do What We Do

We’ve all heard of it. We all know what it is. But technically most people use the term imprecisely relative to behavior scientists. Did you know that there is a distinction between positive and negative punishment? Or that perhaps one of the biggest take aways that punishment is an effect, not a process? This discussion briefly introduces the concept of punishment without an in-depth and nuanced explanation for now. We are just laying the groundwork for grander things to come!

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119 | Twin Studies | Why We Do What We Do

In 2018, astronaut Scott Kelly went into space for a year while his identical twin brother stayed on earth. The purpose was to study genetic changes that occur by spending time in space. Twin studies have been a staple of psychological research since the late 1800s. But many people don’t know about the underlying philosophy of twin studies, how they have been used, and what we can learn from them. Turns out this research method is a lot less robust than it seems. Learn about what the “shared experience” hypothesis is and how it weakens the execution of psychological research and testing using twins.

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.

118 | Positive and Negative Reinforcement in Schools | Why We Do What We Do

Positive and Negative Reinforcement are very misunderstood terms. Both of these are incidental processes that occur without deliberate manipulation from teachers or administrators. However, teachers and administrators do intentionally use positive and negative reinforcement strategies. Listen in to learn what these might look like in a school setting and a thorough description of what those processes are.

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.

PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerAugust 21, 2019Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Behavior Modification, Behaviorism, Bmod, Learning, Behavior Analysis, Habits, Positive Intervention and Supports, Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Schools, School Discipline, Good Behavior GameComment

117 | Who Still Uses Behavior Modification? | Why We Do What We Do

Many people have expressed concern over various corporations using “behavior modification” to increase consumer engagement. Specifically, there is concern that these strategies create addictive behaviors. We thought this would be a good time to answer the questions: what is behavior modification? Who still uses behavior modification? And, how does behavior modification work? You might be surprised to learn how common this process is and how many places this still occurs.

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PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerAugust 14, 2019Abraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Behavior Modification, Behaviorism, Bmod, Learning, Behavior Analysis, Habits, Addiction, Social MediaComment

116 | Why Are Some People Picky Eaters? | Why We Do What We Do

Why are some people picky eaters? Is it because of evolution? Parenting? Some combination of both? The outcomes of poor nutrition from food selectivity go further than the health effects. Learn about the psychological damage of picky eating and how it starts in the first place. Shane and Abraham summarize a slew of research articles that explain how and why some people become picky eaters.

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.

PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerAugust 7, 2019Abraham, Shane Spiker, Call of the Void, High Place Phenomenon, Don't Jump, Suicide, Imp of the Perverse, Death Drive, Drive to Return to an Inanimate State, Will to Live, Survival, Curiosity Comments

115 | Leaning Over the Edge: The Call of the Void | Why We Do What We Do

Sometimes you might find yourself entertaining self-destructive thoughts such as jumping from a high place, or driving off the road. Edgar Allen Poe referred to this as the “Imp of the Perverse.” But why do we experience these things? Does everyone experience this? What does it all mean? Shane and Abraham take the jump and dive into this topic that lures us over the edge. Listen in as we unpack what is happening when we have these strange impulses to do harm.

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.

PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerJuly 31, 2019Abraham, Shane Spiker, Call of the Void, High Place Phenomenon, Don't Jump, Suicide, Imp of the Perverse, Death Drive, Drive to Return to an Inanimate State, Will to Live, Survival, CuriosityComment

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