374 episodes

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.

Why We Do What We Do Abraham

    • Science

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.

    Food Addiction

    Food Addiction

    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. 

    Recommendations
    Abraham: Hire someone to do yard workShane: Jelly Belly Jellybeans (https://www.jellybelly.com)May 22, 2024 Holidays:
    Bitcoin Pizza DayCanadian Immigrants DayEmergency Medical Services for Children DayHarvey Milk Day (California)International Day for Biological DiversityNational Maritime DayNational Solitaire DayNational Vanilla Pudding DaySherlock Holmes DayWorld Goth DayHealthcare Documentation Integrity WeekNational Safe Boating WeekNational Unicycle WeekNational Backyard Games Week
    Links and References:
    https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/food-addiction#:~:text=Changes%20in%20brain%20activity%20were,or%20continued%20eating%20%5B2%5D.https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder/mental-health-food-addictionhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/food-addictionhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6770567/https://www.virtua.org/articles/what-causes-food-addiction-and-what-are-the-signs#:~:text=Because%20everyone%20must%20eat%20to,at%20an%20even%20higher%20risk.https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-help/https://www.addictionhelp.com/food-addiction/statistics/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20study%2C%20food%20addiction%20was%20found%20in%3A&text=32%25%20of%20women%20who%20say,health%20is%20fair%20or%20poorhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8320638/

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    • 52 min
    Mini: Traffic Jams

    Mini: Traffic Jams

    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 References: 
    https://commuterbenefits.com/2020/02/5-ways-to-end-heavy-traffic/https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/congestion_report_04/executive_summary.htmhttps://www.autoblog.com/2022/11/03/phantom-traffic-jams-prevention-following-distance/https://youtu.be/iHzzSao6ypEhttps://youtu.be/Suugn-p5C1M

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    • 21 min
    Gambling pt. 2

    Gambling pt. 2

    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. 

    Recommendations
    Abraham: Dice Tower (https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dice+tower)Shane: Into It. Over It. - Interesting Decisions (2020-2023) LP (https://intoitoverit.bandcamp.com/album/interesting-decisions-into-it-over-it-songs-2020-2023)Holidays:
    Bring Flowers to Someone DayBuddha DayDinosaur DayEmergency Medical Services DayInternational Conscientious Objector DayInternational Kangaroo Care Awareness DayNational Chocolate Chip DayNational Juice Slush DayRelive your Past by Listening to the First Music You Ever Bought No Matter what It Was No Excuse DayInternational Family DayNational Straw Hat DayFood Allergy Awareness WeekHospital WeekNational Bike to Work WeekNational Women’s Health WeekDementia Awareness Week
    Links and References: 
    https://listverse.com/2024/04/14/10-things-you-never-knew-about-the-history-of-gambling/https://pausebeforeyouplay.org/2022/01/a-brief-history-of-gambling/#:~:text=2300%20B.C.%20The%20first%20known,casino%20is%20invented%20in%20Italy.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi3kQFYIleQhttps://gizmodo.com/how-casinos-use-design-psychology-to-get-you-to-gamble-1667182023https://www.mass.gov/info-details/treatment-recommendations-for-gambling-disordershttps://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/behavioral-addictions/https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gambling-disorder/what-is-gambling-disorder#:~:text=Repeated%20unsuccessful%20efforts%20to%20control,%22chasing%22%20one's%20losses.)


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    • 53 min
    Mini: Skin Idioms

    Mini: Skin Idioms

    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!

    Reference
    https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/81624/origins-19-skin-expressions
    Covering just five today


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

    • 13 min
    Gambling pt. 1

    Gambling pt. 1

    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 References: 
    https://listverse.com/2024/04/14/10-things-you-never-knew-about-the-history-of-gambling/https://pausebeforeyouplay.org/2022/01/a-brief-history-of-gambling/#:~:text=2300%20B.C.%20The%20first%20known,casino%20is%20invented%20in%20Italy.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi3kQFYIleQhttps://gizmodo.com/how-casinos-use-design-psychology-to-get-you-to-gamble-1667182023https://www.mass.gov/info-details/treatment-recommendations-for-gambling-disordershttps://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/behavioral-addictions/https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gambling-disorder/what-is-gambling-disorder#:~:text=Repeated%20unsuccessful%20efforts%20to%20control,%22chasing%22%20one's%20losses.)

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

    • 49 min
    Mini: Burning Books

    Mini: Burning Books

    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 efforts. 

    Links: 
    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-book-burning-printing-press-internet-archives-180964697/https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jefflib.htmlhttps://www.thedailybeast.com/the-library-of-alexandria-is-long-gone-and-all-around-us#:~:text=Historians%20believe%20that%20eventually%20around,of%20the%20Library%20of%20Alexandria.https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/11/virginia-school-board-book-burning

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

    • 13 min

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