The Doc Analyzes Anything | Episode 60: Beards

What exactly did people see in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in 1966? Was it a massive winged creature with glowing red eyes? A disoriented bird? Or something else entirely? In this Halloween bonus episode of Doc Analyzes Anything, the crew dive into the strange history of the Mothman legend, exploring the reported sightings, the infamous Silver Bridge collapse, and the evolution of a local story into one of America's most enduring paranormal mysteries. But we're not just here for the spooky stories. We're also taking a behavioral science perspective on why people experience seemingly paranormal events, how expectations influence perception, and how a story can shape what people see and believe. Have any ideas for us to analyze? Email [email protected]

Why did the Satanic Panic sweep across America in the 1980s and 1990s? And what does it have to do with Dungeons & Dragons, heavy metal, Pokémon, and Halloween? In this Halloween episode of The Dog Analyzes Anything the whole gang digs into the history and psychology of the Satanic Panic, a period when fears of Satanism and alleged ritual abuse spread through communities, media, and popular culture. We also look further back at how religious and cultural attitudes toward the occult, magic, and pagan traditions evolved over time, why Dungeons & Dragons became a target, how popular music and children's entertainment were accused of promoting Satanism, and why moral panics tend to emerge during periods of social change. If you enjoy conversations at the intersection of psychology, science, culture, and everyday life, like, subscribe, and email us at [email protected].

Why do we have government in the first place? Why do people accept being governed by a relatively small group of people, and what happens when those people start prioritizing power over the people they're supposed to serve? This episode of The Doc Analyzes Anything takes a behavioral and historical look at government, from early rulers and monarchies to modern democracies, political parties, and the systems designed to keep power in check. We also ask a question from a behavioral perspective: What reinforces political behavior, and what happens when power itself becomes the reward? As always, this is a conversation, not a lecture. Expect behavioral science, historical detours and a few Star Wars references along the way. Have a topic you'd like us to analyze? Email [email protected]

What happens when a 61-year-old Australian farmer shows up to a 544-mile ultramarathon in overalls, takes out his false teeth, and proceeds to completely dominate? Meet Cliff Young. In this episode Dr. Sparks, Kyle, and Dr. Meow Meow dive into the bizarre and incredible story of the farmer who spent his life running after sheep and then discovered that apparently running for five straight days wasn’t that big of a deal. We get into hysterical strength, the limits of human performance, whether your brain really holds back your physical strength, how athletes keep pushing the boundaries of what seems possible, and the psychological and physiological ingredients behind extreme endurance. We also somehow end up discussing potato-based espionage, absurdly muscular dogs, smooth-brained koalas, chickens, and whether Dr. Sparks could redirect a moving vehicle with his body. You know. Science. Have an idea you'd like us to analyze? Email [email protected] Subscribe for more psychology, science, strange behavior, questionable hypotheticals, and stories that make us ask: Why would somebody do that?

This episode discusses romantic partner abuse, including physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. Listener discretion is advised. Why does someone stay in an abusive relationship? Why does abusive behavior sometimes escalate over time? And can we examine the variables that contribute to abuse without excusing the person engaging in it?  Dr. Sparks and Dr. Meow Meow take a behavior-analytic look at romantic partner abuse. Both hosts share experiences from their own past relationships as they explore how learning history, reinforcement, aversive conditions, isolation, manipulation, and deficits in coping skills can contribute to patterns of abusive behavior. The conversation also turns to the experience of the person being abused: why leaving isn't nearly as simple as outsiders sometimes imagine, how manipulation and isolation can change the way someone interprets their own situation, and why leaving an abusive pattern can be so difficult. Understanding the variables that influence abusive behavior does not excuse it. A scientific analysis of behavior can help us understand how these patterns develop while still holding people accountable for the harm they cause. If you or someone you know is experiencing relationship abuse, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential support 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also text START to 88788. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

What is the meaning of life? We don’t know. But apparently Steve decided Costco was the appropriate place to figure it out. This week, the crew abandons anything resembling a planned episode and instead asks the important questions: Why do we keep buying the same crap? Is routine comforting us or slowly crushing our souls? Why do expensive things stop being exciting approximately 14 minutes after we buy them? And if the sun is eventually going to consume the Earth anyway, why exactly are we stressing about that meeting on Tuesday? Along the way, we wander through midlife crises, consumerism, retail therapy, 98-inch televisions, guitars we desperately wanted and then stopped playing, whether humans are destined to destroy themselves, the psychological fallout of COVID, the virtues of sitting on the porch watching Westerns, etc.  Also discussed: living alone in the Alaskan wilderness, opening a brewery, building bunk beds from hell, Costco landmines (available in bulk, presumably), and whether disrupting the mundane parts of life might actually make life feel a little more worth living. Is there a profound behavioral lesson buried somewhere in all of this? Probably. Did we find it? You’ll have to listen. Welcome to The Doc Analyzes Anything, where science and psychology walk into a bar and occasionally get distracted in the dairy aisle. Have a topic you'd like us to analyze? Email [email protected].

In this episode, The Doc and crew explore the history, psychology and science of men's facial hair, focusing on why men grow beards and what reinforcers may be obtained along the way. Join us as we discuss cultural trends, historical styles, and the science behind facial hair choice. Have an idea you'd like us to tackle? Email [email protected]

Are we actually wired to follow rules? In this episode of The Doc Analyzes Anything, Steve, Kyle and Brad take a behavioral look at rule-following, rule-breaking, and the social norms that shape what we consider “acceptable” behavior. Answer: Cultural selection, reinforcement, punishment. Question: why do people follow rules even when nobody is explicitly forcing them to? The group digs into why some rules survive while others disappear, and how countercultures can challenge and evening change societal norms. And, naturally, we'll get spectacularly sidetracked. Is breaking a rule always a bad thing? When does challenging a social norm become meaningful change? And how much of our behavior is really about following rules versus avoiding punishment and accessing reinforcement? Have an idea for an episode topic? Email [email protected].  

In the scope of human history, dating used to be associated with courtship, family pressure, and survival. Now it’s app fatigue, mixed signals, and wondering whether a first date or a first text is somehow harder. Dr. Steve, Kyle, and Dr. Meow Meow unpack what changed, why it changed, and examine everything from old-school engagement timelines and Christian purity culture to the rise of online dating.

What makes human language different from communication in other animals? And how does language shape the way we think, learn, interact, and understand the world? In this episode Steve, Kyle and Chad take a deep dive into the behavioral science of human language. We explore the evolution of language, verbal behavior, concept formation, stimulus equivalence, and the ongoing debate between B. F. Skinner's behavioral approach and Noam Chomsky's theories of language. The conversation covers everything from why your dog responds to its name to why hearing your own name can cut through a crowded room, to how phrases like "pre-owned" vs. "used" can change the function of the words we say. Novel sentences? Or existing behavioral repertoires? why reinforcement can account for more complex language than people often assume, and how metaphors, autoclitics, and verbal behavior allow us to communicate increasingly complicated ideas. What is the FOXP2 gene? We're not entirely positive, but we'll take a look at it. Email us at [email protected]