Episode 66: You Know What Is WEIRD? | Put Em On The Couch Podcast

Welcome to the 66th episode of Put Em On The Couch! In this engaging installment, hosts Jason McCoy and Nelson Beaulieu explore the concept of "weird" through four distinct psychological lenses, providing a comprehensive analysis of what makes something appear strange or out of the ordinary.

We start with a thought-provoking clip from Gov. Tim Waltz and J.D. Vance using "weird" to critique political ideas and opponents. How does the term shape our understanding and perception of various topics?

Jason and Nelson delve into four key perspectives on what defines "weird":

1. Understanding: Does the behavior or idea challenge our comprehension, making it appear "weird" simply because it is not easily understood?
2. Norm Violation: Does the behavior or concept violate societal or cultural norms, leading us to label it as "weird"?
3. Moral Violations: Does the behavior breach moral or legal standards, contributing to its classification as "weird"?
4. Statistical Uniqueness: Is the behavior statistically rare or deviates from the norm, which might make it seem "weird" in comparison to the average?

The episode also explores real-world examples, including RFK’s unusual fascination with roadkill and the effects of brain parasites on behavior. Insights from Dan Dennett on microorganisms that influence the brain provide an intriguing addition to our discussion.

Additionally, we examine the concept of W.E.I.R.D. (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, Democratic) and its impact on social science and psychology. How does this framework influence our understanding and categorization of "weird" behaviors?

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Keywords: weirdness, psychological lenses, political rhetoric, clinical psychology, James Joyce, brain parasites, RFK, Dan Dennett, W.E.I.R.D., social science, human behavior, understanding norms, moral violations, statistical uniqueness

Hashtags: #Weirdness #PsychologicalLenses #PoliticalRhetoric #ClinicalPsychology #JamesJoyce #BrainParasites #RFK #DanDennett #WEIRD #SocialScience #HumanBehavior