4 chapters across the catalog
A viral social media trend known as "The Bird Test" uses a partner's reaction to a casual comment about a bird to gauge the health of a relationship. Based on research by John Gottman regarding "bids for connection," the test measures whether a partner "turns toward" or ignores their significant other. Psychologists warn that while the underlying science of micro-connections is valid, using hidden recordings to test partners on TikTok can be a boundary violation.
Media reports show long lines of asymptomatic individuals seeking COVID-19 tests before holiday gatherings. Critics argue this reporting encourages healthy people to seek unnecessary medical validation, characterizing the phenomenon as a psychological operation.
Implicit Bias Testing and Scientific Validity Concerns
The "Affective Lexical Priming Score" and other implicit bias tests are examined for their scientific validity. A past NBC News segment is referenced where even "experts" in racial issues and civil rights leaders showed a "preference for white" according to the automated tests. The hosts argue that these tests are "parlor trickery" used to label all participants as racist regardless of their actual beliefs or backgrounds.
The Dress Color Meme and Global Psychological Programming
The hosts analyze the viral "The Dress" meme, debating whether the garment is blue and black or white and gold. They suggest the rapid global spread of the image was a coordinated test of psychological programming and social media speed. The discussion touches on how people defend their perceptions and the potential dangers of such mass influence.
