The Doc Analyzes Anything
The Doc Analyzes Anything Welcome to The Doc Analyzes Anything — the podcast where curiosity meets chaos (with a touch of credentials). Join Dr. Steve Sparks, BCBA-D, along with Kyle Steury (BCBA) and Brad Clements (actual veterinarian, occasional philosopher) as they take stabs at analyzing all kinds of human behavior — from the quirky to the downright confusing - using science and behavior analysis as their basis. Ever wonder why people clap when a plane lands? Or why your uncle insists on shouting during Zoom calls? We don’t have all the answers... but we’re happy to pretend we do. Powered by science. Driven by nonsense. Occasionally about cats. Disclaimer time: Remember, we’re here for curiosity and conversation, not clinical consultation. We break down behavior the best we can from a deterministic, science‑based perspective for education and, more importantly, entertainment purposes only. Nothing you hear should be taken as personal advice, diagnosis, or treatment — so relax, enjoy the analysis, and consult a qualified professional for any individual concerns. Subscribe, laugh, and learn something weird — because The Doc Analyzes Anything. Literally. Anything.
Episodes
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...
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 i...
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 ge...
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. ...
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 i...
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 thedocanalyzesanything@gmail.com
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 e...
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 ...
We got a cure for what ales ya! We're talking snake oil today. From grifters to modern-day alternatives, scientific evidence be danged! We talk the history, the promises, and implications of snake oil and its salespeople.
Have a topic you want us to tackle? Email thedocanalyzesanything@gmail.com
Niche interests! Are you a competitive unicyclist? LARPing extraordinaire? From ancient human behaviors to modern hobbies like car collecting and home theater setups, we discuss why people develop these passions, how communities form around them, and what drives our obsession with the obscure. In this episode, we explore a variety of niche interests, hobbies, and the cultural phenomena behind them, from hobby horses to unicycling a...
Ever notice that when something bad happens, part of you almost wants it to be really bad? Why is a broken bone more validating than a sprain? Why are people disappointed when the "storm of the century" turns into a few inches of snow? Why do some people seem to find comfort in talking about their suffering?
In this episode of The Doc Analyzes Anything, Dr. Steven Sparks, Kyle, and Dr. Meow Meow explore the behavioral science behin...
Today we're providing order to the chaotic world of hoarding and digital clutter. When does the concept of "waste not" mean you can't walk to your own bathroom? Is it psychology? Learning history? Is there anything even wrong with hoarding?
Also, what kind of pickles person are you?
We're here for it today.
As always, email thedocanalyzesanything@gmail.com if you have a topic you'd like us to tackle!
Extreme behavior! What is it and can we analyze it like any other human behavior? Also, who is playing Brad in the biopic? Lisa Nowak and the diaper journey, survival situations, and social norms. Dig into the real-life stories, psychological insights, and the thin line between normal and extreme actions today.
Have a behavior you'd like to see us analyze? Email thedocanalyzesanything@gmail.com
Today we explore the dark history of societal attitudes and policies concerning individuals with disabilities, from ancient times to today. With this context we then discuss a recent opinion released by the DOJ suggesting a reversal of policy precedent for home and community-based services for individuals with disabilities, an opinion at odds with the decisions of the Olmstead Act of 1999. This one wasn't too fun, but context for t...
In this 50th episode (woo hoo!) , we dive into the strange and entertaining world of conspiracy theories. From secret tunnels beneath Disney parks and hidden moon bases to claims that birds are government drones, we explore why these ideas capture people's imaginations. Along the way, we talk about what psychology tells us about conspiracy thinking, why our behavior may be prone to finding patterns and explanations during uncertain...
We're talking artificial intelligence! Whether it's making a picture of a squirrel with a top hat for us or all out world domination, imagine the future of human-AI interaction with us!
Have a topic you'd like us to analyze? Email thedocanalyzesanything@gmail.com.
Does your dog look at you and think "I wonder if this is truly all there is to life?" Is your cat plotting its great world takeover? Today we're talking animal cognition, language, problem-solving, and the differences between human and animal thought processes from a behaviorist lens.
Have an idea you'd like us to analyze? Email thedocanalyzesanything@gmail.com
Let's jump into the psychology and behavior behind life hacks. In this episode the Doc and crew examine their effectiveness, motivations, and potential pitfalls. From DIY solutions to clickbait tricks, discover what makes some hacks work and others fail. From boiling pasta tricks to the science of dowsing rods, discover what works, what doesn't, and what might just be a fun myth. Look for a chicken or two to make an appearance!
Hav...
Steve and Kyle team up in California while Chad joins from his cardboard box. We talk about the societal implications of denied access (you know, watching that celebrity roll up in the Lamborghini) and how simply through witnessing others enjoy various stimuli, those activities become conditioned reinforcers for us.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Human Behavior Analysis 08:00 Reinforcement and Its Implications 14:10 Generaliz...
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