Blog Post #3

    While listening to the lecture audio and viewing the corresponding slides for "10% of Our Brains & Out of Body Experiences," I was reminded of a recent film I saw called Late Night With the Devil.

    The film, set in 1977, which focuses on a struggling late night television host attempting to save his show by bringing on a psychic, a skeptic, and a purportedly demon-possessed young girl, was almost certainly (at least in part) based on the Bob Barker-hosted That's My Line television broadcast featuring James Randi and James Hydrick. In fact, the skeptic character in the film (named Carmichael Haig) is actually based off of James Randi, and both the character and Randi himself offered a monetary reward for anyone that could demonstrate scientifically-verifiable psychic abilities.

     (James) Hydrick, on the other hand, was not said to be the inspiration for Christou (the psychic character in Late Night With the Devil), though he may have been, with the detail possibly going unacknowledged due to the disturbing charges of child molestation that Hydrick was convicted of in 1989. Even so, both Haig and Christou's interactions in the film are so clearly inspired by the Barker broadcast (as well as other public, notable moments) that the characters reenact a number of events that actually took place, including Christou demonstrating so-called psychic abilities, Haig attempting to discredit him, Haig demonstrating similar abilities before explaining the rational explanation for them, and Haig offering a large sum of money to anyone that can demonstrate real psychic phenomena. The characters even share some physical similarities:

Left: "Christou," Right: "Carmichael Haig"

Left: James Hydrick, Righ: James Randi

    The difference between reality and fiction is that - while in real life Randi comes off as a kind of hero, exposing fraud and championing rational thought - Late Night With the Devil presents its own Randi character as a sort of villain, smugly dismissing anything and everything that's seemingly paranormal, even as the events during the broadcast become more sinister and unexplainable. When all hell unavoidably breaks loose in the final fifteen minutes of the film, we see the Randi character first offer the money he's carried with him all these years to the demon that reveals itself, before falling to his knees and attempting to worship the entity, and then finally, essentially, being vaporized in a most painful manner.

    This all makes me long for a time when television still produced programming like this, where the mystical and the rational could compete, with regular people charged with the responsibility of being the judge and jury overseeing the entire spectacle. I think America in the 1970s was much more spiritual and therefore open to these kinds of discussions, whereas now, the average American doesn't seem to be interested in conversations like this, and the television companies themselves seem far more comfortable producing mindless garbage that pushes a specific agenda while simultaneously avoiding anything that could be construed as politically incorrect. I miss when we could tune-in to events like this on live television, where a subsequent national conversation would take place, and we could all rationalize our positions and have deeper interactions with our fellow Americans. What a shame; those days seem to be gone.

The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan

The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan was published in 1995. This vast collection of essays delves into scientific exploration and mystery as it is found in life. Pseudoscience is evidently used to enhance knowledge and worldly wisdom of those who study its values. It is expressed how a lack of knowledge can lead to incorrect conclusions about the world and methods of scientific exploration, commonly referred to as fallacies.

One of the main points of emphasis in this book is the significance of scientific method expressed vicariously through Sagan’s involvement. Skeptical theory creation is expressed as widely important. We, as the readers, are prompted to curiously consider knowledge and information discovered in life, and to then seek out proof before accepting the pudding. In today’s world, it is credited that fake news and false information and theories are profoundly susceptible to being misconstrued by the public.

I enjoyed the quote where it is aforementioned that ““Faith is clearly not enough for many people. They crave hard evidence, scientific proof. They long for the scientific seal of approval, but are unwilling to put up with the rigorous standards of evidence that impart credibility to that seal.” page 58. This is indicative of human nature, and our instincts which seek for evidence, proof and truth. It also speaks to the part of us that is afraid of the truth, and reluctant to practice the means to finding a solution. 

I also found this next quote to be impactful: “If we can’t think for ourselves, if we’re unwilling to question authority, then we’re just putty in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens are educated and form their own opinions, then those in power work for us.” page 434. This quote is motivational for those who are oppressed and treated without respect, equality or honesty. It stresses the importance of public education and coming together to formulate ideas and solutions. 

This is relatable to our course because it emphasizes the importance and substantial impact of seeking out truth-based evidence in an extensive effort to avoid falling into fallacy-based beliefs and dishonest perspectives on the world. In today’s society, the media is a vector for false information at many turns, and it is critical to be educated concerning these risks.

Book Report- Going Clear

 Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

General Overview: The book Going Clear by Lawrence Wright discusses the origins and current status of the Church of Scientology. The book starts with the man who created this polarizing religion, L. Ron Hubbard. Wright takes us through Hubbard's life of shortcomings that brought him to create Scientology. Which Wright later mentions that the purpose of Hubbard creating Scientology was driven by money, as he believed it was profitable. He had believed that Hubbard wanted tax and legal benefits reserved for religious groups, as Hubbard had always struggled with money his entire life. On top of that, The Church of Scientology is a very controversial group, often being investigated for abuse amongst other things. But what makes Scientology the most intriguing, is Hollywood's and celebrities involvement in the church. A celebrity already has a high rank in the church just based off their social status, and an example of a high ranking scientologist is actor Tom Cruise. Like other scientologists, he encourages others to join the church, but won't discuss their practices. He gives people just enough information to intrigue them, and once people are hooked it's too late. If you want to know the secrets of Scientology, Going Clear is a great place to start.

Favorite Part: Throughout the entirety of the book, my favorite part is still the first few chapters discussing the origins of scientology and its founder L. Ron Hubbard. It's very interesting how someone such as Hubbard, with no extraordinary achievements and nothing special about him, created the polarizing "religion" of scientology. As someone who couldn't hold a steady job, Hubbard was always relying on small minuscule jobs to stay afloat. Similar to his so-called "career", Hubbard could never stay faithful in any of his marriages(3). In which he then blamed his wives and their inability "to take care of him" as the cause of his infidelity, and they forced him to look else where for love. But throughout his life, Hubbard has always blamed his shortcomings on something, even when they clearly are a direct consequence of his choices. He was failed scriptwriter, sailor, naval officer, and husband. He often spewed lies about the life he lived, often trying to make himself feel more important that he actually is. He exhibited a lot of traits relating to narcism, like believing he could do no wrong and playing his failures off on others. He was perceived as, "uncooperative, and lacking leadership skills". As bad of a person as Hubbard was, he was no idiot. Hubbard is what we call a "Selfish Critical Thinker". He's a very intelligent man and has very good analytical and comprehension skills, but instead of using these skills to help others he uses them to push his own agenda. Hence, the Church of Scientology. Manipulation under the guise of religion and science. Creating scientology earned him thousands of loyal followers and a feeling of power and importance that he had been yearning for his whole life. 

Related: One of the abilities of high ranking scientologists, also known as "Thetans", is their so-called telepathic abilities. They partake in a part of Scientology called Dianetics, in which these Thetans are able to achieve "the clear". In which they become aware of everything around them and achieve out of body experiences. This can directly be related to our 3rd lecture, in which people often believe that we only have access to 10% of our brains. But when we've finally unlocked the other 90%, that we can achieve telepathic abilities and psychokinesis. One of the core principles of Scientology is the so called super-human abilities that come with becoming "clear". Many scientologists have claimed to have out of body experiences as a result of following Hubbard's religious lessons, and have been able to move object with their mind or sense changes in energy. 

Creative: While I myself did not create this presentation, I believe this one throughly covers the ins and outs of Scientology. https://prezi.com/0dgevnhdembl/scientology-presentation/

Extension: From my own experience, oddly enough, I was first introduced to what Scientology was by Tom Cruise. How you may ask? When I was younger, I was watching Top Gun with my grandparents, and I remember my grandfather making a comment about what an excellent Cruise was. But, he was such a strange guy for joining scientology. At that point in time, I had no idea what he was talking about. Now, I just find it rather ironic that Tom Cruise was the first mainstream influence of Scientology I heard about, now knowing that's the reason why celebrities are recruited into the church. Quite frankly, the issue with scientology is the promise of whatever a person may desire, as long as they sign a billion-year long contract to the church. It's hard to get in, and even harder to get out. This "religion" is genuinely fall advertisement, and plays on people's belief in the super natural. Scientology uses Hollywood and celebrities such as Tom Cruise to manipulate others into joining. 

Blog Post 3

 The End of the World: Pandemics

        Back in the year 1999, I can guarantee that a decent amount of the population believed the world was going to end when the ball dropped on New Year's Day of 2000. People thought that computers and the other pieces of technology of the time were going to come alive and take over. As silly as it sounds, this was a rather common fear. People's imaginations have never failed to get the best of them, and it's evident that not much has changed. In a rather recent series of events, the Covid-19 pandemic erupted across the globe. With the rapid spread of the virus, people were quick to say the world was ending. Stores had empty isles and no stock. People were over buying products in a panic, the WHO determined the fate of an entire country, and it was the new normal to walk around with N-95's. Comparing New Years Eve of 1999 and the Covid-19 pandemic is rather intriguing, because in moments of hysteria people tend to always respond the same. People were whole heartedly convinced that Covid was never going to go away, and that it was going to kill most of the population. In 1999 the computers were going to run out of digits, and in 2020 people believed scientists would never create a vaccine for Covid. It's genuinely interesting to see how people respond in intense and fearful times, because there's a pattern in their behavior. In both instances, people created bunkers for when the end of the world came. Products flew off the shelves, and there's never been a higher sense of distrust between neighbors. The isolation from these scenarios quite literally threw people into a fear-frenzy. Religious leaders tried using the situation to control people with fear of the world ending, and every time it never happened they found reasons to push "Doomsday" back. These global scares really show a different side of humanity, and the way some people think.

Blog Post 2

 Pseudoscience: Astrology

        While reading the first lecture on comparing the types of thinking, the section on pseudoscience intrigued me. Mainly because pseudoscience is more discreetly woven into mainstream media than expected. Hence the topic of this post: Astrology. According to The National Library of Medicine, "At least 40% of Americans, for example, believe in extra-sensory perception and 25% believe that the position of the stars affects life on Earth". So at least a quarter of the American population believes that astrology actively affects their day to day life. For context, America has a population of 333.3 million people, so a lot of people practice this pseudoscience. You often hear of people asking each other what their sign is, or their behavior makes sense because of their astrological sign. People often go to psychics and tarot readers to get their astrology reading, or purchasing a subscription from an astrology cite for the same service. So this is a fairly profitable pseudoscience for anyone who believes in it.

    Now what is Astrology? Astrology is the divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events by their positions and aspects. Having a bad week? That's because the moon's in retrograde. Went on a bad date? That's because he was a scorpio. These are common scenarios in which people use astrology to try and make sense of the events in their lives. People have also been known to use astrology to predict the kind of day they're going to have or what they should expect to happen, this is also called a horoscope . These horoscopes claim to be "comprehensive, accurate, and intelligent", when in fact they're quite the opposite. Another clear indicator of pseudoscience is the use of imprecise, scientific-sounding language. So the claim of accuracy amid other such things is incorrect. And the astrology readings given to people are usually rather vague, that way if the reading isn't completely accurate to what happened in someone's life there's a loop hole. Therefore allowing this practice to not be disproved, but then on the slight chance the reading is correct, this is the evidence used to support the practice. So astrology tends to be very misleading in regards to what people expect.

Blog Post 1

 Clairvoyance: Lorraine Warren

    While reading Lecture 2: The Jersey Devil, a topic that was briefly touched on caught my attention: clairvoyance. According to the Oxford Dictionary, clairvoyance is the supposed faculty of perceiving things or events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact. In this lesson a specific clairvoyant was brought up, and if you're familiar with The Conjuring movie series, then you've most certainly heard of Lorraine Warren. Throughout the series of movies, Lorraine and her husband Ed travel around the world in pursuit of demons, witches, and ghosts who haunt the living. They're best known for the containment of the cursed Annabelle Doll, which resides in their personal museum of horrors. Lorraine is able to look into the past and see into the future of others with her clairvoyant abilities. She's helped with exorcisms, possessions, and banishing demons. But due to her clairvoyant abilities, she's hyper aware of her surroundings. It's almost as if her "6th sense" is both a blessing and a burden.

    In the lecture slides, I find it interesting that it gets mentioned that Lorraine was in contact with the cryptid(an animal that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist) known as "Big Foot".  Lorraine had claimed to have telepathically been in contact with a creature she believed to have been Big Foot. The creature had apparently sent her mental pictures as a way of communicating and Warren had described this creature as "intelligent". Now when others with clairvoyant abilities have been questioned about Big Foot's elusiveness, they suggest that the creature probably possesses a power of invisibility. The clairvoyant ability is already considered a "hallucination" under psychiatric standards, and there's very much a lack of belief from the scientific community regarding this ability. So with the little faith already instilled in people with clairvoyant abilities, the answer being "invisibility" isn't entirely convincing.  According to Susan Blackmore, in "Blackmore's 1st Law", people's,"desire to believe in the paranormal is stronger than all the evidence that it does not exist". As much as entertaining the idea of Big Foot's existence as well as clairvoyant ability would be interesting, its existence just isn't plausible. The claims of seeing into the future and telepathically being able to communicate just can't be proved, there's no evidence that can be collected to prove or disprove this. The only evidence that can possibly be collected is the testimonials from these clairvoyant people, which is a tell-tale sign of pseudoscience. And as stated in our lectures, pseudoscience relies on fast thinking and heuristics. Once again using Big Foot as an example, simply suggesting that the creature is invisible isn't a well thought out answer. It's an answer given with little to no thought or reflection, and doesn't help support the idea of Big Foot or clairvoyance. It's gives no reassurance, presents no facts, and does nothing to help support the claim.

Book Report - The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

 General Overview

    Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark is a collection of essays focusing on various arguments for skepticism and scientific understanding. Published in 1995, The Demon-Haunted World sees Sagan valiantly attempt to impart the rules and fundamentals of the scientific method, while simultaneously discussing the importance of critical, scientific thinking, all for the purpose of teaching discernment between fact and superstition; science and pseudoscience. Sagan explores these themes through a variety of lenses, including historical, philosophical, and personal perspectives, making the book a diverse exploration of the importance of scientific literacy.

    Throughout the book, Sagan breaks down the reasons skepticism and critical thinking are necessary for processing reality and fundamental truth. Sagan simultaneously highlights the different forms of mis-and-disinformation in the many facets of media and society, illustrating the ways in which myths, pseudoscience, and unfounded beliefs often prey on our cognitive biases and emotional responses. For these reasons, Sagan urges us to think carefully about the information we encounter, and encourages us to question, verify, and look for evidence before believing something.

    Most importantly, Sagan's writing style makes the proposed complex scientific concepts easily digestible and comprehendible for a general audience. This allows for a more sufficient grasp of the material in the book, and creates a rhythm to the reading that makes the words flow easily and succinctly.

Favorite Part

    My favorite part of Sagan's book is Chapter 7, "The Demon-Haunted World." In this chapter, Sagan delves into the historical and psychological reasons behind human beliefs in demons, gods, and other supernatural entities. It is Sagan's assertion that these beliefs, while comforting, often stem from a lack of understanding and a need for simple explanations of complex phenomena. While I disagree with the idea that these reasons are the sole cause of our belief in the mystical and supernatural, Sagan convincingly argues for a higher standard of evidence for these things than has previously been accepted. For this reason, as well as the fact that this chapter directly ties in to our class discussions about our propensity for finding patterns and meanings in everything, this section of the book resonated with me the most. I whole-heartedly agree with Sagan that belief in the extraordinary should not be accepted and propagated without a higher standard of evidence, and wish that many others - particularly those working in the religious field - would come to the same conclusion. Perhaps they should read Sagan's book to gain a more well-rounded worldview.

Relation to Class

    The Demon-Haunted World directly ties into our course's focus on developing a skeptical mindset and understanding the methodology behind scientific research. Sagan's numerous essays underscore our course's focus on the many ways in which our thought processes can be flawed, such as cognitive biases, logical fallacies, and our susceptibility to pseudoscience. Like our course, Sagan illustrates the ways in which these facets of our cognition can distort our perception of reality and impede rational decision-making, thus aligning the book with the themes of evidence-based reasoning and the dangers of confirmation bias taught in the course.

    A specific example of this would be Sagan's examination of the human tendency to perceive patterns and attribute meaning to random events, discussed in the chapter "The Dragon in My Garage." In this essay, Sagan describes a hypothetical scenario where someone claims there is a dragon in their garage but provides explanations that make it impossible to test or verify the claim. This analogy illustrates the concept of unfalsifiable hypotheses, which are assertions that cannot be proven or disproven. This portion of the book ties into our course's exploration of logical fallacy, as relying on unfalsifiable hypotheses can lead to logical inconsistency, such as the special pleading fallacy, where one makes an exception to a general principle without adequate justification, often to protect a claim from criticism. This demonstrates the importance of scrutinizing claims and avoiding logical fallacies, a main tenet of our course.

Creative Element

    For the creative element of my book report, I chose a YouTube video by author, historian, and professional skeptic, Michael Shermer. In Shermer's "How to detect baloney the Carl Sagan way," Shermer explains Sagan's “Baloney Detection Kit” from his book The Demon-Haunted World, which outlines tools for critical thinking and skepticism. Shermer explains how to use these tools to evaluate claims and distinguish between science and pseudoscience.

    This was a fun little video in that it directly ties to Sagan's book, our class, and the world at large. Shermer breaks down Sagan's principles into a bite-sized, easy-to-digest format, thereby allowing virtually anyone to understand the process and utilize it themselves. Shermer then provides practical examples of applying critical thinking in everyday scenarios, thus reinforcing the course's teachings on skepticism and logical analysis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn7jVTGjb-I

Extension

    Obviously, Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World is more prescient than ever, and more pertinent now than perhaps any other time in history. Both misinformation and disinformation are so frequently and widely common, spread, and unchecked in 2024 that discernment, critical thinking, and logical consistency are absolutely essential for properly processing information. For these reasons, the critical thinking skills outlined in this book are necessary when evaluating the frequent contentious aspects of our society, such as politics, religion, and law. By utilizing these tactics in the current climate, we can provide rational, coherent arguments for our beliefs and values, and refute the many ideas proposed that are without basis or justification. A strong, unwavering standard for evidence of claims is an absolute necessity, and the guidelines for skepticism outlined in The Demon-Haunted World provide the perfect instructions for the ways in which to evaluate and scrutinize the many forms of questionable ideas that proliferate our lives. Long live Carl Sagan! (R.I.P. Carl Sagan).

Loch Ness Monster

 Loch Ness Monster

This is an alleged image of the Loch Ness Monster, and subsequent images of the monster’s presumed habitat.

The Loch Ness Monster is a gargantuan marine creature who is believed by some to inhabit the Loch Ness territory of Scotland. Much of this evidence supporting its alleged existence, however, has been widely discredited over the years, and is most commonly believed to be a mythological creature of fairytale origin. The history of these sightings date back to ancient times. Stone carvings of the past additionally depict the monster in terrific form. The first ever recorded observation of the monster occurred in the 7th century biography of St. Columbia. It is noted that in 565 AD, the monster bit somebody in the water and was preparing to attack another person, when Columba intervened and ordered the beast to retreat. Upon this obedience, occasional sightings were the only reports of this mysterious creature. The alleged encounters are mostly inspired by Scottish folklore, with its abundance of mythical water-adjacent beings. In 1933, the monster gained more attention, as a road adjacent to the Loch Ness Lake offered two tourists in a vehicle to obtain an unobstructed view of a creature “comparable to a dragon or prehistoric monster”. The story became famous in the Scottish newspaper, with many subsequent observations from other tourists in tow. Reporting of the beast has continued throughout the years, but without discernible evidence, there can be no confidence in confirming either the existence or fictionality of this mythological being.

Book Report - The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

 Overview

"The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark" by Carl Sagan explores the importance of scientific thinking and skepticism in the modern world. This book was published in 1995 and explores how humans use pseudoscience and the paranormal as a way to broaden our understanding of how the universe works. The series of essays he wrote explain how a lack of scientific literacy and critical thinking can lead to false beliefs and make individuals susceptible to incorrect scientific explanations of how the universe works. Sagan emphasizes the importance scientific method has on questioning and understanding the world. He advocated for education that fosters curiosity and skepticism. In his essays, he discusses historical examples as well as personal examples to emphasize the relevance the use of science has on everyday life and why society should use reason and evidence as opposed to superstition and misinformation. This book defends rational thought and calls for individuals to cultivate their own critical thinking skills. This book is exceptionally relevant today since misinformation can spread very easily.

Favorite Part

My favorite part of the book was Chapter 12 titled "The Fine Art of Baloney Detection." In this chapter, Sagan provides a practical guide to critical thinking and skepticism. The term he uses for this guide is the "baloney detection kit". The kit consists of tools and techniques used to evaluate claims and arguments. These techniques include the evaluation of claims and arguments, the reliance of well-established scientific principles, and the need to debate evidence. Sagan's emphasis on critical thinking can relates to concepts we discussed on logical fallacies and cognitive biases. One of the fallacies discussed was that of ad hominem attacks. This fallacies can be described as an attempt to attack a person in an argument on things that do not pertain to the actual argument itself. This chapter stands out since it critiques pseudoscience and illustrates how scientific thinking can be applied to how we learn new information and use critical thinking.

Connections to the Real World

After reading this book, it has become clear that using scientific reasoning and critical thinking is crucial for addressing many real-world issues and clearing up misinformation. In this digital age, we consume so much media and information from a multitude of sources. Some sources are reliable and others are not. Some times it is hard to tell which sources are credible. This rapid spread of information can be detrimental during times of increased media output. These topics include elections, pandemics and other hot issues. One connection I would like to make is to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, there was a plethora of misinformation spread about the virus, treatment, and public protocols such as the lockdown and mask wearing. Sagan's emphasis on scientific methods and critical thinking can empower individuals to discern credible evidence from falsehoods. This encourages individuals to make informed decisions based on evidence rather than emotion or ignorance. This book is not only a critique of pseudoscience but a powerful tool that can be used to make scientific inquiries and promote skepticism. The alignment of Sagan's ideas with real-world issue problem solving demonstrates the relevance and practicality his work holds beyond the classroom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUgdrno-2xY

Blog Post 3 - Learning Styles

The notion of learning preferences and cognitive styles, how people like to work or think adds another layer of complexity. While these factors do influence learning, they are not always fixed and can vary depending on the context or type of information being learned. For example, someone might prefer visual aids for complex concepts but rely on auditory explanations for straightforward facts. While the concept of learning styles and Gardner’s multiple intelligences offer valuable insights into individual differences in learning, they should be integrated into a broader educational approach that emphasizes evidence-based practices. The emphasis should be on creating flexible and inclusive learning environments that accommodate more to diverse needs.

Blog Post 2 - Dualism

Dualism, the notion that the mind and body are fundamentally distinct and separate, has been a significant part of philosophical and psychological discourse. It often aligns with folk psychology and intuition—suggesting that our mental experiences, thoughts, and consciousness exist independently of our physical bodies. This idea can be compelling, as it resonates with personal experiences of self-awareness and imagination, where one might feel that the mind can transcend physical limitations. The concept of dualism, while intriguing and intuitive, in my opinion appears to lack empirical support when scrutinized through the lens of modern science. The idea that the mind can function independently of the body is not supported by current scientific findings, which suggest that mental states are fundamentally linked to brain activity. Dualism seems more conceptual than factual.

Blog post 3 - Ivory in medicine

    As many are aware, there has been a major global issue involving the trade of ivory and illegal poaching of elephants to acquire this material. This trade of ivory has been around for some time and this material has become as valuable as gold. Ivory has become so popular that it is referred to by some as "white gold". There are various reasons as to why ivory is worth so much; one reason being its supposed medicinal purposes and positive affect one's health. Some examples of what ivory is believed to do is heal or alleviate illnesses and sickness, treat sores and boils, alleviate aches and pains in the body, and even heal broken bones. There are even stories of ancient Chinese emperors who used ivory chopsticks and claimed the chopsticks would change color when in contact with poisonous food. Although it is illegal in most places to buy and sell ivory, it is still accessible via the black market. Some buy the ivory in chunks while others buy it in powder form. Some even sell pills that are said to contain ivory powder.

    So is there actually anything special about ivory that makes it worth buying. Ivory is composed of collagens and calcium based minerals that are found in bones. Collagen is the protein that is found in skin, tendons and other tissues. In animals such as elephants, their tusks are made of ivory and have nerve canals running to the tip. The belief that ivory can have positive medical value is based entirely on folklore dating centuries ago in Asia. Ivory has not been proven to alleviate or prevent any medical issues or symptoms. Some people may claim that their symptoms felt alleviate after using ivory products but this could be due to a placebo effect or the addition of other medicines.

Blog Post 1 - Subliminal Messaging

   From my perspective, the idea of subliminal messaging as a tool for influencing behavior is largely overstated. The concept of subliminal messaging can be quite appealing—offering a seemingly effortless way to change behavior or improve performance. However, the reality seems to be that the effects of such messages are minimal and not reliably replicable. This aligns with Pratkanis' view that perceived effects might be more about belief and expectation rather than actual efficacy. While the idea of subliminal messaging can be intriguing, it seems to be more a subject of psychological curiosity than a practical tool for behavior modification.

Blog post #3

Subliminal Messaging - More Myth Than Reality

After our lecture on subliminal messaging, I've been paying closer attention to advertisements and marketing strategies. It's fascinating how the idea of subliminal influence has taken root in popular culture, despite lack of scientific support. I recently watched a movie where the plot hinged on hidden messages in advertising, and it struck me how this concept has become a trope in entertainment. In reality, our class taught me that while subtle messaging in ads can influence us, the idea of subliminal messages controlling our behavior is largely a myth. This got me thinking about how we often underestimate our own agency in decision-making and overestimate external influences. I've noticed friends jokingly blame their impulse purchases on "subliminal advertising," which shows how ingrained this concept is in our thinking. Understanding the truth about subliminal messaging has made me more aware of the actual techniques marketers use and has helped me become a more conscious consumer.

Book Report- FlimFlam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions

Overview: Throughout history there's been a myriad of conspiracy theories and other extraordinary claims beyond scientific understanding, but are any of them true? Through “Flim-Flam!” former magician James Randi utilizes his skepticism and dives deep into multiple psychic claims and conspiracy theories. Randi uses methodical approaches to prove these claims scientifically plausible or not. He emphasizes the crucial importance of questioning claims and demanding logical proof along with them. While delving into each subject he's skeptical of, his goal is to teach readers to successfully guard themselves from deception and lessen the spread of false information. 

Favorite Part: Although all the topics Randi discusses in his book are interesting, my favorite part as a whole was his investigation of The Bermuda Triangle. I had very little knowledge on The Bermuda Triangle and the disappearances within it before reading, but after I was fully fascinated. Randi first gives readers a rundown of the numerous accounts and stories within the western part of the North Atlantic ocean. One of the captivating stories being the disappearance of Flight 19, where 14 naval aviators vanished on December 5, 1945 after losing contact during an overwater training flight over the Bermuda Triangle. The United States Navy made an effort to search for the lost aviators, but never found a trace. All these disappearances led people to speculate that extraterrestrial beings or supernatural forces played a part in these tragedies. 

Randi believes otherwise and begins to think rationally by diving into evidence and the conditions of each documented disappearance. Randi not only finds that many cases seem to be majorly exaggerated, but he also finds that many of the cases can be explained through natural phenomena. When looking into the case of Flight 19, Randi begins to provide examples as to what could have led to the vanishing. He lists navigation mistakes, record-keeping errors, and even some remains that have been recovered could account for these mysterious events. Randi also explains the hazardous weather conditions within The Bermuda Triangle like hurricanes, waterspouts, etc.. These conditions are more plausible reasons for these events rather than other worldly beings or supernatural forces. After his thorough investigation, Randi effectively shows that The Bermuda Triangle myths and folklore is a creation of human psychology and not a crazy unsolvable mystery.

Related: Randi’s writing can easily connect to confirmation bias and patternicity. I have a belief that many people want to think crazy and unexplainable events happen and there is no reason behind them besides supernatural or extraterrestrial beings. Instead of looking deeper into these subjects and attempting to rationalize these stories, people find patterns in them that don’t make sense. The Bermuda Triangle for example, the many disappearances within that area are publicly coined to be an unsolvable mystery. The people that coin these unsolvable mysteries don’t dive beneath the surface and see that these events could be explained through natural occurring events like poor weather or mistakes and errors made by the people that disappeared. I think people make up crazy stories and believe folklore because it's way more appealing and interesting than rational minded thinking. They link these disappearances as one and create bogus myths that all these events were caused by one underlying issue, which is alien encounters and other mysterious forces. In all reality, there is no pattern between any of these stories really. False information spreads like wildfire, and the most interesting and eye-catching reason will be the most popular. 

Creative: I’ve never heard of James Randi before reading this book. After reading, I was left with questions as to why Randi dedicated the entire years of his life to exposing fallacies and myths within pseudoscience. Especially after being a magician himself for so long, who’s job is to fool and dazzle the audience. While researching Randi I came across the committee of Skeptical Inquiry, which Randi is a co-founder of. I’ve created a slideshow that delves into the Committee of Skeptical Inquiry for better understanding. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fWjQGHzo8EoQsqdluYgiOWTzJBAgTIUik3B8kPGnapI/edit?usp=sharing

Extension: I myself am an admittedly gullible individual. I easily will believe psychics, conspiracy theories, myths, you name it. I am naturally not a skeptical person when it comes to things, but this book has changed my views. Seeing how many false beliefs people have makes me question my own. I should demand and look for plausible explanations behind things being told to me before I believe them. I should hold skepticism to a higher importance, and make sure things are true before I spread information that may not be. For example, I simply believed the Bermuda Triangle disappearances were the doing of aliens or other forces out of anyone’s hands. In all reality the disappearances could be explained through natural occurrences. More people should read this informational book, not just because it’s entertaining, but because it could help halt the spread of false information

 

Blog post #2

Mass Delusions in the Age of Social Media

Our lecture on mass delusions and hysterias really resonated with me, especially when considering how social media might be amplifying these phenomena. I've observed how quickly misinformation can spread online, creating what seems like mass delusions in real-time. For instance, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw friends and family sharing and believing in various conspiracy theories and unproven cures. It reminded me of historical examples we studied, like the Salem witch trials, but occurring at an unprecedented speed and scale. What struck me most was how intelligent people I know fell for some of these ideas, illustrating how susceptibility to mass delusions isn't about intelligence but about psychological and social factors. This insight has made me more mindful of my own social media consumption and more critical of information I encounter online. It's also sparked interesting conversations with friends about the role of platforms in spreading or curbing misinformation. Understanding mass delusions has given me valuable tools for navigating the complex information landscape of our digital age.

Blog Post #1

The Persistent Myth of Learning Styles

I've always thought I was a "visual learner," preferring diagrams and charts over written explanations. It wasn't until our class lecture on learning styles that I realized this widely-held belief isn't supported by scientific evidence. This revelation made me reflect on how easily we can accept and internalize pseudoscientific ideas, especially when they seem to explain our personal experiences. I noticed that many educational websites and even some of my previous teachers promoted the idea of tailoring teaching methods to individual learning styles. Now, I understand that while people may have preferences, there's no evidence that matching teaching styles to these preferences improves learning outcomes. This realization has made me more critical of other commonly accepted ideas about learning and cognition. It's a perfect example of how pseudoscientific concepts can permeate our daily lives and influence our self-perception and decision-making, highlighting the importance of scientific literacy in navigating the wealth of information we encounter every day.

Book Report - Viral BS: Medical Myths and Why We Fall for Them

 

General Overview: 

Viral BS: Medical Myths and Why We Fall for Them by Dr. Seema Yasmin is an interesting dive into the world of medical misinformation. Dr. Yasmin, who’s both a doctor and a journalist, takes us on a journey through some of the most common health myths out there. From the idea that cell phones cause cancer to the belief that vaccines can lead to autism, she breaks down why these myths persist and how they spread so easily. She illustrates how these myths gain traction, often fueled by social media, cognitive biases, and the emotional pull of sensational claims. The book offers a critical look at how misinformation can influence public health and personal well-being, providing readers with practical tools to recognize and challenge false health advice. The book is packed with real-life examples and scientific explanations, making it both informative and engaging.

What’s really cool about this book is how Dr. Yasmin explains the psychology behind why we fall for these myths. She talks about how our brains are wired to believe sensational stories and how social media amplifies misinformation. By the end of the book, you’ll have a better understanding of how to spot fake health news and why it’s so important to rely on credible sources. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to navigate the sea of health information out there with a critical eye.  She even finished out the book with a personalized BS checklist to compare work in our daily lives, so we can decipher information and sources for ourselves.

rampant. 

Favorite Part:

My favorite part of this book was section 6 detailing or debunking rather the premise that we inherit trauma from previous generations, most immediately our parents. This example was one of many outlined by Dr Yasmin in substantiating the claim that people took a small portion of data from an “uninterpretable” study and ran with the results pawning it off as a breakthrough in epigenetics rather than what it was, a fascinating discovery that only really warrants further research.  This topic was especially interesting to me in the sense that the term generational trauma is used heavily in society today.  The reason someone uses the term is far less important than the fact that the term itself was born in a false extrapolation of a small sample size experiment with a limited scope.  It would be far more interesting if this study was continued with a larger sample size.  

Related: 

Speaking to how this book is related to class material, I think it lends itself to fast thinking the best.  One of the first lectures we went over in class warned us about the downsides of fast thinking and confirmation bias.  How confirmation bias can fit any data well if we retroactively hypothesize the results of the data.  As this isn't the scientific method, it's a slippery slope that allows for many people to get caught up in falsehood and echo chambers.  When hearing concurrent ideas and supporting rhetoric, it's hard to challenge ideas. Science only progresses when ideas are challenged and experimented on.  Without experiment and the presentation of all the data and not just the cherry picked data, science remains stagnant. 

Creative:

In the book, the author gives a checklist for evaluating future material, here's my spin on the same checklist:

The Smalling BS Checklist:

1 Who is making the claim? Are they themselves a reliable or credible source?  Are they the primary source of the information? Do they stand to gain from their perspective?

2 Are the Graphics true to form?  If images are used in the article or writing, have they been doctored, are they the original images, or do they show the entire picture/situation?

3 Follow the money!  Who stands to gain from this? The author? The organization funding the study? Who stands to gain from this narrative and who is framing the argument as it is framed and delivered?

4 Who benefits/ who is harmed?  Is the information targeted to one side or the other? Who stands to gain from this information or more specifically, who stands to benefit from the way this information is presented?

5 Common Sense!  Does this make sense?  Is the author or funding credible?  Does this pass the sniff test?

6 Keep an Open Mind! Don't get bogged down supporting one side or another, stay open to new information.

7 Occam’s Razor.  The simplest explanation with the least amount of assumptions is usually the right one.

8 Test the claim! Can the results be replicated?  Can the results be disproved?

9 Are ideas driven by science or are they driven by personal bias? 

10 Community Acceptance!  Is the study or data accepted across multiple fields or is it an outlier, untouched by other research topics

11 Transitive Property Gaps?  If this then that.  Are there gaps in knowledge or leaps of faith taken to conclude a certain point?

12 Question Authority! Do subject matter experts substantiate the claim?  Do governments or universities have a vested interest or grant at stake in a certain outcome?

Extension: 

 Especially in our recent history, Covid-19 embodied a population of people exposed to a plethora of data and a multitude of narratives.  People were so desperate for information many people fell prey to misinformation and other branches of fast thinking.  ITs important in science and in our own lives to have a high standard for information and to avoid doing what the NY Times writer did in my favorite section.  Which was cherry picking confirming data from a small study and expanding on it to make sweeping generalizations about trauma and coining the phrase “generational trauma”.  This isn't to say she's wrong or that the term does not have a place in science, simply that the supposition is presumptuous and unsubstantiated currently. 

Blog Post #3

 This topic captivates me, especially given my interest in astronomy and the perennial question of whether we are truly alone in the universe. The question of extraterrestrial life is both fascinating and enigmatic, presenting a paradox where it could be simultaneously all-encompassing and yet unanswerable. The concept of alien abductions adds a particularly intriguing layer to this discussion. Our lectures on false memories, lucid dreams, and the impact of leading questions shed light on how these phenomena can often explain supposed encounters with extraterrestrials. Despite these explanations, the idea of alien life remains persistently compelling and culturally significant, reflecting our deep curiosity about the cosmos.

One instance that I found particularly striking was the Varginha incident, which was explored in the documentary "Moment of Contact." This case involved numerous witnesses, including children, who reported seeing strange, unexplainable events. What makes this case especially compelling is that the testimonies were remarkably consistent, even among those who were separated and questioned independently. Despite the potential for coaching or influence from authorities, the similarity in accounts, particularly from children, stands out as a significant aspect of the case. This consistency among diverse witnesses adds an intriguing layer to the debate about the existence of extraterrestrial life and raises questions about the reliability of such accounts.

The persistence of these reports, especially in an era where investigative techniques have evolved, makes the Varginha incident even more intriguing. Despite the advancements in questioning and evidence collection since 1996, the core methods of interrogating witnesses and suspects have not fundamentally changed. The consistency in the testimonies of ordinary citizens, children, and even government officials in the Varginha case challenges us to reconsider the possibility of extraterrestrial life or a potential cover-up. It underscores the enduring mystery of whether we are alone in the universe or if there are more profound explanations yet to be uncovered.