Pop-Culture Couch
Welcome to "Pop-Culture Couch"! I'm Maegan, your host and fellow pop-culture enthusiast with a unique blend of expertise in behavioral psychology, data science, and UX research within the world of video games. With a deep passion for the brain, behavior, and breaking down big psychological concepts into bite-sized pieces, I’m here to help you unravel the psychological themes woven into our favorite movies, TV shows, and video games.
"Pop-Culture Couch" is all about breaking down complex psychological concepts into digestible, relatable insights using the lens of popular culture. Whether it’s analyzing the cognitive bias in your favorite superhero film, exploring theories of choice and consequence in narrative video games, or learning about attachment theory through hit TV series, this podcast is your go-to place for thoughtful and entertaining discussions.
Join me on the couch as we dive deep into the world of neuropsychology, one pop-culture reference at a time. Together, we’ll discover the amazing ways our brains interact with the stories and characters we love, making the complex world of psychology both fun and accessible.
Intro and Outro music was created for me by Han Htet of Han Solos.
Want to hear me wax poetic even MORE at psychological themes in our favorite media? Tune in to my other podcast, Clever Ghouls, where I dig into these topics through the lens of horror films specifically.
Pop-Culture Couch
Humor as a Coping Mechanism in Comedy Sitcoms
In this episode of "Pop-Culture Couch," I dive into the role of humor as a coping mechanism, using beloved comedy sitcoms "The Office," "Community," and "Parks and Recreation" as case studies. We'll explore how psychological theories such as Relief Theory, Benign Violation Theory, and Broaden-and-Build Theory are illustrated through humorous scenarios and character interactions in these shows.
By analyzing key scenes and character interactions, we uncover how these shows illustrate important psychological processes that help reduce stress and enhance well-being. Join me on the couch as we unpack the psychological foundations of humor in our favorite TV comedies and learn how laughter can be a powerful tool for coping with life's challenges.
My intro/outro music and all sound fxs were created for me by Han Htet of Han Solos.