Posts in Psychological History
139 | Berserkers | Why We Do What We Do
139 | Berserkers | Why We Do What We Do

Going berserk! We discuss the etymology of the term “berserk” and the possible history of the eponymous people. Their “weapon” may have been running into battle practically naked screaming their heads off. Long ago, a priest speculated that consuming a specific mushroom caused their crazed bloodlust. However, there is reason to believe that it wasn’t mushrooms but instead may have been the nightshade plant, Henbane, or a lot of alcohol, or neither of those things. Also, historians want you to know that the berserkers may have bitten their shields in battle for some reason. Some interesting psychology to unpack with berserkers!

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Psychological HistoryScott Abraham MillerAbraham, RyanO, The Daily BA, Berserkers, Berserk, Warriors, Fighters, War, Battle, Bear-skin, Boar Skin, Intimidation, Psychedelics, MushroomsComment
136 | Psychedelics in Therapy With Stu Law (Part 3) | Why We Do What We Do
136 | Psychedelics in Therapy With Stu Law (Part 3) | Why We Do What We Do

Happy Holidays! Welcome to our third and final episode on psychedelics with Stu Law. In this discussion, we end with a note of optimism for what psychedelics might actually have to benefit people. Also, Stu makes jokes and is generally funny and engaging.

Survey ends in January!

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The Brain, ACT, Disorders, Psychological History, TherapyScott Abraham MillerAbraham, Neurology, Stu Law, Drugs, Psychedelics, Mushrooms, LCD, Acid, Marijuana, Consciousness, Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety, RFT, ACT, Relational Frame Theory, Acceptance and Commitment Training, Therapy, History, OptimismComment
135 | Psychedelics in Therapy With Stu Law (Part 2) | Why We Do What We Do
135 | Psychedelics in Therapy With Stu Law (Part 2) | Why We Do What We Do

A continuation of our discussion from the previous episode. This episode covers more of the process by which psychedelics work and more cautionary tales about what to be skeptical about in the wave of enthusiasm about research into psychedelic drugs for therapy.

Survey ends in January!

ATTENTION! We are doing a special promotion! If you complete a listener survey, you will earn a WWDWWD sticker in the mail and get entered to win a free t-shirt! The survey shouldn’t take longer than 3-10 minutes and is completely private. We will NOT share your data or information with anyone else. Follow this link https://forms.gle/ogarcXvK7RFZXytS8 to receive a sticker, be entered to win a free shirt, and to help us make the best show for you!

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The Brain, ACT, Disorders, Psychological History, TherapyScott Abraham MillerAbraham, Neurology, Stu Law, Drugs, Psychedelics, Mushrooms, LCD, Acid, Marijuana, Consciousness, Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety, RFT, ACT, Relational Frame Theory, Acceptance and Commitment Training, Therapy, HistoryComment
134 | Psychedelics in Therapy With Stu Law (Part 1) | Why We Do What We Do
134 | Psychedelics in Therapy With Stu Law (Part 1) | Why We Do What We Do

A skeptical but optimistic discussion about the use of psychedelic drugs for mental health. Stu and Abraham mostly unpack the history of psychedelics in this discussion. There are some jokes and light-heartedness, but the message is an important one. There are things to be excited about in the future of therapy with the assistance of psychedelics, but if we are not careful, then we might be plunged back in the dark ages of psychedelics for medicinal value.

Survey ends in January!

ATTENTION! We are doing a special promotion! If you complete a listener survey, you will earn a WWDWWD sticker in the mail and get entered to win a free t-shirt! The survey shouldn’t take longer than 3-10 minutes and is completely private. We will NOT share your data or information with anyone else. Follow this link https://forms.gle/ogarcXvK7RFZXytS8 to receive a sticker, be entered to win a free shirt, and to help us make the best show for you!

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The Brain, ACT, Disorders, Psychological History, TherapyScott Abraham MillerAbraham, Neurology, Stu Law, Drugs, Psychedelics, Mushrooms, LCD, Acid, Marijuana, Consciousness, Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety, RFT, ACT, Relational Frame Theory, Acceptance and Commitment Training, Therapy, HistoryComment
131 | Lead Poisoning Our Brains | Why We Do What We Do
131 | Lead Poisoning Our Brains | Why We Do What We Do

Shane and Abraham summarize and highlight the history of how humans came to have a loving relationship with lead. However, like some relationships, this was doomed to fail because lead was secretly plotting to kill us all along. We discussed what was so attractive about lead. What we learned about why it was bad for us. Why we increased our use of it anyway. And how lead intrudes into our brains to poison us. What a downer! But a fun and informative downer…

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Links for Today:

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Children, Psychological History, The BrainScott Abraham MillerAbraham, Lead, Shane, Shanebraham, Shane Spiker, Lead poisoning, Poison, Poisoning, children, Conspiracy, Violence, History, Leaded Gasoline, automobiles, Cars, Lead paint, health, unhealthy, contraception, sweetener, cosmetics, metalComment
127 | Sleep Paralysis: Demons and Ghosts in the Night | Why We Do What We Do
127 | Sleep Paralysis: Demons and Ghosts in the Night | Why We Do What We Do

Experiencing ghosts, aliens, curses, or a demon sitting on your chest while you sleep are common reports from people who have experienced sleep paralysis. Although distressing, sleep paralysis is not indicative of some cognitive or neurological disorder. We try and set the stage for why this process feels so frightening, who experiences it, why we experience, and how often we experience it. Whether you have heard about it or not, there is probably something new for you to learn!

ATTENTION! We are doing a special promotion! If you complete a listener survey, you will earn a WWDWWD sticker in the mail and get entered to win a free t-shirt! The survey shouldn’t take longer than 3-10 minutes and is completely private. We will NOT share your data or information with anyone else. Follow this link to receive a sticker, be entered to win a free shirt, and to help us make the best show for you!

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Spooky, Diagnosis, Disorders, Psychological HistoryScott Abraham MillerAbraham, October Spooky Psychology 2019, Unconscious, sleep paralysis, demons, ghosts, witches, curse, parasomnias, sleep, disorder, sleep disorder, alien abduction, conspiracy theories, nightmareComment
120 | Sign Language With Primates | Why We Do What We Do
120 | Sign Language With Primates | Why We Do What We Do

People have been curious about the language of other species, and specifically if other species can learn human language. In the 1960’s and 1970’s some researchers in the United States believed that they had broken the species language barrier by teaching primates sign language. But where are all of the signing apes now? Shane and Abraham discuss the history and controversy of the trials and attempts to teach language to primates.

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Psychological History, Human Bias, Myth-BustingScott Abraham MillerAbraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Poor Science, Sign Language, Chimps, Monkeys, Skepticism, Nim Chimpsky, Herbert Terrace, Washoe, Apes, Chimpanzees, Communication, Language Barrier, LiguistComment
119 | Twin Studies | Why We Do What We Do
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.

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Psychological History, Research, Philosophy, GeneticsScott Abraham MillerAbraham, Shane, Shanebraham, Twins, Twin Studies, Monozygotic Twins, Dizygotic Twins, Embryo, Zygote, Birth, Pregnancy, Research, Bubble Bursting, Shared Environments, Poor Science, ExperimentationComment
113 | You Know Less Than You Think: The Dunning-Kruger Effect | Why We Do What We Do
113 | You Know Less Than You Think: The Dunning-Kruger Effect | Why We Do What We Do

A common cognitive bias we have is that we tend to think we are better informed and experienced in things that we really are. The examples are practically endless and everyone does it. What are you worse at than you think? Listen in as Shane and Abraham (Shanebraham) describe the study that started a tsunami of research on basic human fallibility. Also, find out what lemons have to do with a bank robbery in the late 1990’s…

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Human Bias, Psychological History, PhilosophyScott Abraham MillerDetention, Dunning-Kruger Effect, Cognitive Bias, You Know Less Than You Think, McArthur Wheeler, Skepticism, Shanebraham, Shane, Abraham, Lemon JuiceComment
110 | Diagnosing Mental Health Disorders | Why We Do What We Do
110 | Diagnosing Mental Health Disorders | Why We Do What We Do

One of the most controversial and interesting topics in psychology is understanding how we diagnose mental health disorders. Shane and Abraham explain the history of diagnosis, list some of the diagnostic systems around the world, and some of the major criticisms of these systems. Learn something new about how we diagnose mental health issues.

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Psychological History, Therapy, Diagnosis, Disorders, The BrainScott Abraham MillerHumanism, Mental Health, Mental Health Disorders, ICD, DSM, Behaviorism, Freud, BF SkinnerComment
109 | The Downfall of Mental Hospitals | Why We Do What We Do
109 | The Downfall of Mental Hospitals | Why We Do What We Do

Did you know that in the middle of the 20th century there was an effort to move individuals suffering from mental health issues out of the sometimes terrible hospital conditions out to… well not much it turns out? Shane takes the lead on this well-researched and important historical look at how we have treated individuals with mental health issues, where they ended up, and where we are today.

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Disorders, Psychological History, TherapyScott Abraham MillerDeinstitutionalization, Mental Hospitals, Insane Asylum, Dorothea Dix, Thorazine, Homelessness, Humanism, Transinstitutionalization, Psychiatric HospitalsComment