The guest, Michael Norton, is a social psychologist, and the discussion draws heavily on social psychology research and principles.
As a social psychologist, West draws from research and empirical studies in this field to support her insights.
The episode draws upon concepts and research from the field of social psychology, particularly in relation to language and its impacts on human behavior and perception.
The podcast episodes provided cover a range of topics that fall under the broad field of social psychology, including research on rituals Michael Norton (on rituals), the psychology of loneliness and friendship #799 - David Robson - The Science Of Building Genuine Friendships, the impact of social dynamics in the workplace The problem with being "too nice" at work | Tessa West, the role of language and in-group identification They/Them, LatinX, Rigged: The history behind three words, the psychological factors in intergroup relations and prejudice From the Vault: The Minimal Group Paradigm, as well as the social psychology of phenomena like alien abduction claims The Alien Abduction Phenomenon of the Mid-20th Century.
These episodes demonstrate the wide applicability of social psychology principles in understanding human behavior, cognition, and interactions across various contexts, from personal relationships to cultural and political dynamics.