Behavior and Belief

How can a lie become true? In this episode, Dr. Aaron Blaisdell and I create a game show that is actually a giant “human Skinner Box” to observe the formation of superstitious beliefs. And Dr. Samuel Veissière helps me design and perform a placebo reverse exorcism, harnessing the power of belief in both science and religion to convince normal people that a spirit has possessed their bodies.
Available with KZbin Premium - kzbin.infoorigi.... To see if Premium is available in your country, click here: goo.gl/A3HtfP

[@jazzygryphon]

I just realized experimenting with test subjects is basically pranking for science.

[@Schlimpiwe]

Really it's the other way around. Pranks are experiments with no real purpose and mostly dumb results lol

[@jiiheytch9426]

exactly what I thought.. use science to make pranks more effective lol

[@clickbaitcancer120]

its more like when the prank genre evolved into social experiments.

[@carsextendedwarranteecalle8749]

Well, guess I’m off to be a scientist!

[@Spooglecraft]

The only difference between science and messin around is writing it down.

[@hosseynshanbehzaadeh9342]

'Human Skinner box' sounds much more horrific than what it actually is.

[@benshaw8174]

Ok stupid chill out

[@CanadianLange]

lol i kept thinking that every once in a while xD

[@VincentVincent_89]

B3N Shawzy lmao I like how you had to add his name into this

[@batmanarkham5120]

Yet, maybe we all as members of the homo sapiens species might be living our lives in one giant skinner box

[@HorrorDox]

Sounds like a mystery of Seymour skinner

[@rowanl4354]

“Do you wanna know what makes the money come out?” “YES. It’s probably something really crazy” “It’s 30 seconds passing”

[@AlbertSatnoianu]

BRUH XD

[@IGjonathanmartinez1011]

“People don’t normally have feelings of decapitation and numbness, so either we’ve stumbled upon a way to summon a spirit or our belief manipulation is working” 😂😂

[@camilomanjarres1903]

That would be an unfortunate mistake

[@promethium-145]

@@camilomanjarres1903 Or a shocking breakthrough. Or both!

[@naomisims7230]

I think the young man who had the feelings of decapitation & numbness really "listened to his body", & became aware of how the experiment could affect him. He neither accepted any new belief nor rejected what occurred in the room.

[@crocoshark4097]

I just put your number of likes at the infamous 666 You're welcome.

[@Diego-ss7sg]

Person: *has transcending lucid psychological experience* Michael: sike get pranked

[@Reypstraptor4269]

Its actually their own brain playing pranks on them

[@Reypstraptor4269]

Also they didnt actually show telling her it was all BS.Did they even?I really wanted to se her reaction to being bamboozled.

[@CestSam]

I think Michael had some issue with it, her explanation of what occurred and what she felt seemed to affect him, even if he knows what's really taking place.

[@anechkagee5372]

You can interpret it in many ways. Maybe the spirit of her mother led her to this experience so they could connect. - Human desire to believe is also a powerful force.

[@Reypstraptor4269]

@@anechkagee5372 Whats a spirit?

[@Rodoadrenalina]

I want bloopers of people that knew Michael from youtube or memes

[@jakefromstatefarm1405]

Nice pic, Inside of Emptiness

[@Say10198]

No doubt thatd be great, from all the seasons..

[@jatin1032]

there was 1 episode in s1 where a person recognised him

[@ruinenlust_]

@@jatin1032 which episode?

[@Thoomas2001]

@@jatin1032 I watched all of S1 two days ago and don't even remember that lol

[@anfi7447]

imagine if they did the ritual without knowing they had accidentally performed a 1000 year old ritual lmao

[@briaiguess8834]

*conspiracy theorys* and then it wasnt fake at all!

[@vincenturquhart1370]

Hey vause here today we are conducting a totally harmless experiment *accidentally summons satan* oh fuck

[@windcorpOLEGSHA]

“Sadly, the results of the experiment were later found to be unreliable due to an unaccounted bias introduced by the sampling procedure, the possibility of information sharing between participants and the appearance of Satan.”

[@promethium-145]

I'll pay to see that!

[@vaider.teekzie4609]

@@windcorpOLEGSHA so they met satan?

[@Meg_Sanchez]

I loved the guy who figured out the Victory Vault at 11:48, Michael was like "who are you?"

[@projectorpc8832]

Well it would have been pretty interesting if he said he had a very analytical career like a software developer, mathematician or something related to the nature of the experiment like psychology.

[@chickenskink1]

​@@projectorpc8832 I wonder if there's any actual correlation between an "analytical" career and skeptical thinking/being very observant. Probably hard to operationalize though.

[@squidwardo7074]

@@projectorpc8832 yea i was thinking that guy is probably QA

[@sherbetttt]

everyone else: messing with door, pushing button, dancing that one guy: *seduce the machine*

[@CaptainGibbons]

Ah yes, the DND bard tactic

[@shlecko]

@@CaptainGibbons Nat 20

[@badasunicorn6870]

He's a bard

[@stevethea5250]

@@shlecko they just copied stranger things theme

[@ditzyrose700]

*teach the robot to love*

[@lagduck2209]

Where do they get people who dont recognize Michaeil?

[@bluebitproductions2836]

there are probably a lot of people who do, then they just cut them out because it messed up the experiment

[@charles7623]

At the same place they get people who are dumb enough to not think that something is up when there is lots of cameras around.

[@Armoliver]

@@charles7623 they are aware that it is an experiment , they just don't know what the experiment is , which means cameras are expected

[@nuloom]

besides the point above, @@charles7623, many cameras are hidden. For instance you can see the camera hiding in the "Should I die" episode, since it's clearly behind some fabric, because the view on the table where the participants are is distorted. You can't also see any other cameras in the room where the "reverse-exorcism" went, they are most probably hidden too.

[@josephhollandpontes1030]

Come on!!! Flatearth’s obviously 🙄

[@aadiMjoahi]

"I have been watching a lot of horror movies lately" Yes Michael, we can tell.

[@professorbaxtercarelessdre1075]

lol

[@Lilith_The_Earthling]

Underreated comment lmao

[@AnimusPrime87]

The most unbelievable part of this entire series is that they get all of these random participants that somehow don’t recognize Michael.

[@LandHooman]

They probably ask if they’ve heard of them before they get participants

[@ellaphant-6885]

They probably just cut out the people that recognize him and just keep who the people who don't.

[@abstract5249]

@@ellaphant-6885 It's also possible some people did recognize him but were told (or simply assumed) that this was just one of many projects Michael is involved in. It's not uncommon to see influencers, celebrities, KZbinrs, and other media figures working on different things.

[@alishahernandez13]

@abstract5249 not to mention, they usually disguise these studies as other, different experiments. Like, if Michael asked any of us to go into that box for a TV show, we're not immediately thinking of the Skinner box theory thing. We're just excited to be lab rats, no?

[@austinbaker8042]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@austinorlando4326]

I love that line: "How can this not be real if a guy in a white labcoat is taking it so seriously."

[@user-kt3ti9rm1n]

😂

[@legoleviathan6411]

You almost have 555 likes

[@add852]

You have 555 likes

[@legoleviathan6411]

Aw two people liked it and ruined it

[@Serkant75]

Labcoat convinced me everytime

[@timothyalan34]

I love how every experiment like this ends with Michael walking into a room and essentially going, "yeah, this was all bullshit and your reaction was a lie, so thank you for your contribution to science."

[@JohnFKennedy420]

Timothy Alan truth😂 especially the last one lmao

[@Ptaku93]

Subjects' reactions weren't a lie though. They weren't actors. If you claim they lied about their experience, then frankly you have no idea what placebo effect is

[@redond8847]

Lmaoooo

[@Ptaku93]

@@____-pb1lg naah, I don't. You have to explain rather than just throw words like an angry child

[@admiralamel9563]

@@____-pb1lg who hurt you ,little boy?

[@menthols4625]

Michael was not happy with "Priest Calahan", so much so that he got replaced by the psychologist and just became a human prop. Poor guy, he has probably been trying to act for 40 years at this point.

[@itsfreezinginhere764]

Lmao

[@CravensBen]

I FELT that

[@vincevvn]

Yea… dude looked exactly like someone acting like a priest from a movie 😂

[@rowanl4354]

He’s the funniest part of the whole video lmao. The real MVP

[@justaway6901]

The same way you don't use an actor when performing surgeries. The actor is understandably poorly equipped.

[@reakwondachef6828]

*Michael at the end of the game show* "Yea basically you're a human pigeon but keep the change"

[@mesadrums375]

“What’s the difference between what we did today and what an actual priest can do?” “that’s a really controversial question”

[@kenzybeats9546]

MeSaDrums 😂 heard the way he cut in real quick too

[@GavinRemme]

I was wondering if he'd ask this

[@satyu131089]

They didn't take advantage of children like many actual priests! That's a difference!

[@jaysol8084]

They probably didn't want to piss off any religious people. But it is a valid question and we should question everything.

[@josephfield6903]

satyu131089 priests aren’t taking advantage of other children. Yes there are that still do and that’s horrible, but the reason many people become priests is that they genuinely believe in what they do.

[@iiib2975]

"you can't just put people in a box, they're quite clever" something only an alien would say

[@marcelnowak402]

Ah yes, the good old "haha humans dumb" joke

[@iiib2975]

Oh yeah... lets hear your clever joke . So we can identify U in the spectrum of how much of an asshole U R by your so called sarcasm.

[@avnishshrivastava2272]

@@iiib2975 dude you didn't had to go that far

[@xxxx-jh5vc]

@@iiib2975 see you next tuesday.

[@klejnotnilu5181]

I don't think alien would say that people are clever

[@ShawnZRice]

I love how they didn't have the heart to tell the lady that it was a rigged experiment. After she went on about how profound it was for her seeing her mom and all, she probably would have broke down and started crying.

[@promethium-145]

The experiment being rigged doesn't really invalidate the woman's beliefs. It's not like the experiment created her beliefs. It seems like there's something extra going on here.

[@livethefuture2492]

She already had those beliefs beforehand, the experiment merely triggered those beliefs and that is her own personal experience that she felt. For her may as well have been real. In a placebo the trigger can be fake, but the effects can be real.

[@lordlightskin2591]

Imagine she found this video

[@erinmcdonald7781]

Actually, I'm sure they must've explained things to her, but probably kept it off camera due to the profound nature of her experience. It would've been unethical for them not to disclose this to her. Also, it would be devastating to find out later accidentally.

[@YanaPetruk]

@@livethefuture2492 she just lied. that's all

[@gabriels335]

That guy revealed so much about fear, self-restriction and regret instead of superstitious behavior! I feel like if i push the button, my time is up. by the end... Can I push the button now? /timer done "I feel like i should have pushed the button" That was so insightful to me.

[@nujuat]

Imagine signing up for study and Vsauce Micheal Here enters the room

[@placeholder4988]

HOWARD BOYD sure

[@ellie1435]

IT'S A TRAP!!!

[@jeffborders5526]

Ok so whatever he TELLS me they're testing for.. just take that idea and throw it out the window and try to recollect what kinds of odd patterns you've noticed happening to you in the week long lead up to the experiment. "How many peculiar posters did I see on the way here?? What did he change in the matrix?!?"

[@magnushenriksen204]

Vanessa you mean

[@orgyduster266]

“How much damage, can the human body withstand?” *Pulls out club

[@theshakes]

One thing I love about Vsauce is it gives us a glimpse into the rabbit hole and an opportunity to get a feel of just how deep it goes. Michael kind of waves you over to the edge and asks, "You wanna see somethin' cool?" and has you lean over and peer down, deep into some abyssal well of knowledge and right as you start getting vertigo, he grabs you by the back of your shirt, pulls you back to safety and says, "Ain't that some shit?"

[@BradenBest]

That's a cool observation, but I gotta say, when you

[@axrah8406]

@@BradenBest continue....

[@BradenBest]

@@axrah8406 Oh, I forgot I wrote that, lol. I was making fun of the way youtube randomly cuts comments off in the middle of the

[@sigmarulesog984]

Just like he interrupted the doctor by saying And perhaps the priest do cause and connection with divine but we don't know.

[@nah656]

Lol shut up

[@chelelee6321]

This was so eye opening. As an adult, I've never been very religious but more skeptical of it all. Now I can see how the brain works regarding religious awakening. As a child, I have been to revivals where so many people were "touched" and many even "saw God". I didn't experience that so I wondered what was wrong with me. Well, according to this, it wasn't that God chose to show himself to others and did not care for me. As a child it is very easy to believe this and it actually affected my life. As I got older, I convinced myself that those people did not actually meet God, they lied. But now I see its not one or the other. Meeting God is very real to the person experiencing it, so they didn't lie. God also didn't personally appear to others and not me. Its just the way my brain is wired. After all these years, this is a comforting conclusion. I'm glad I saw this.

[@bitsybowser3056]

some of them were lying , i been there also.

[@PlanetXtreme]

that sucks. But at least you know now.

[@myronplatte8354]

I've never seen God, but... impossible things have happened to me.

[@promethium-145]

I feel inclined to doubt your explanation as well. I think it's possible that something might have been happening. But this all seems like a lot to decode. I mean, someone feeling like their head was detached? Why is that happening?

[@Thrlta]

If you weren't predisposed to theistic inclinations early life you are unlikely to conjure up a deity in your mind.

[@taylorlindberg522]

Lmao the doctor’s reaction when Michael said that “god” might’ve been part of the reason they had such a personal experience 😭😭ahaha

[@kennethlatorre5269]

I think the doctor knew why Michael said that, and it is not because he believes the divine could have been part of it.

[@jan_Masewin]

Just as he said, each participant brings in their own pre-existing beliefs which influence their experience. So religious belief is pretty relevant

[@bbry000]

I wonder how many times people saw Micheal and freaked out because they recognized him and he couldnt use the footage

[@semaj_5022]

I'm guessing their screening process was both psychologists verifying their mental health for experimentation, and have never seen Vsauce or Michael before haha

[@vincenzoalbanese6021]

Like others have suggested, probabily in the survey they have to answer if they watch regularly KZbin or not, and theoretically by answering "YES" they don't pass for the experiment

[@TheRoyalsWasTaken]

*MANY*

[@someonez]

I would guess not so many tho.. idk some of my friends watch YT non-stop and I was surprised to learn they didn't know PewDiePie so the same probably goes for Vsause. Not to mention many of the contestants are 40+ years old and probably have never heard of the Legend that we have here

[@TheRoyalsWasTaken]

@@someonez aww yes

[@missylissy200]

"When I said I was Vanessa, that was a lie" *Music intensifies* "Or was it"

[@billywhizz09]

Michael is trans

[@MakkusuOtaku]

@@billywhizz09 Or is he? @o@

[@watch426]

@@MakkusuOtaku Or is she? o@o

[@SimoneDePascalis]

Great, I've been missing Vsauce-BrainCraft crossovers so bad

[@benshaw8174]

I wanna like but I’ll ruin the 69 likes

[@vincenturquhart1370]

Would have been cool to let all the contestants talk to each other after one round and then send them back in for round 2 and see how that affects their behaviour

[@TheMidnightLibrary]

The point is to manipulate the belief of an individual, to see if it’s possible to induce a feeling of possession. If they had allowed the test subjects to talk in between rounds, the experimenter would then have not one person’s belief system to attempt to manipulate, but multiple. Whether we realize it or not, we are influenced by what others think and feel. It would hurt the integrity of the experiment.

[@vincenturquhart1370]

@@TheMidnightLibrary no it would be a completely different experiment

[@TheMidnightLibrary]

@@vincenturquhart1370 no, it wouldn’t. It would be the same exact experiment, but with an added variable just because you think it would be cool.

[@vincenturquhart1370]

@@TheMidnightLibrary same experiment but testing another variable because it would be cool to see the results. hope this clarifies things for you.

[@ritsbat2026]

9:50 "'excuse me do you have a moment to talk about jesus christ"

[@promethium-145]

Are you talking about JWs or Mormons? Cuz this is a BRUH moment.

[@meggiemoo931]

Michael: *sets up placebo effect experiment* *accidentally speaks to God*

[@Alex_K221]

megan rebeschi So speaking to himself then? :-)

[@RobertsBiezais]

@@Alex_K221 Eminem

[@stevethea5250]

@@RobertsBiezais theme song is just stranger things

[@dancingbanana168]

I don’t believe in god

[@sdrawkcab_emanresu]

@@dancingbanana168 I think believing in God gives people so much, like hope and happiness and these things, what is similar to the things a God promises. Do maybe, even if there was no God (what we do not know) the believing in God has so much advantage, that i cannot understand, why people shoes no to believe. But that's my opinion amd just a pretty long way to ask you: "why not"? I would really be interested, to hear the opinion of the others side

[@ClaustroPasta]

Lol that doctor “and now she's dancing, just like Skinner's pigeon”

[@EddyConejo]

I bet she was a spy from the gobernment... *JUST LIKE PIGEONS.*

[@yuyu8478]

@@EddyConejo thanks i needed that laugh

[@justthatgirl-ct4jo]

Lol

[@stevethea5250]

@@yuyu8478 timestamp

[@ceds7987]

the doctor looks like johnny sins btw

[@pixol6368]

I like Michael so much, he clearly doesn't believe in god but still doesn't want to offend anyone, even when its just science stuff 26:30

[@Karpaneen]

I kinda liked that Michael clearly saw that the doctor didn't intend to claim that the priests are wrong or offend them but the way he put it would make some people take it as such. So he quickly intervened/spoke over him in order to not cause a controversy when the episode aired and to give religious people the benefit of the doubt.

[@wolfiemuse]

@@Karpaneen Yeah. Even though scientifically speaking, there’s more evidence to prove what a planet millions of miles away is composed of than to prove the existence or legitimacy of religions - it’s nice to see he was considerate. I’m sure we will get more scientific minded people by being gentle around their preconceived beliefs at first rather than to outright disagree

[@_sushishi_]

@@wolfiemuse Well, I don't think he is just being considerate, the research really doesn't (and depending on the thing, can't never) prove out a religious or spritiual consideration. For me it was a nice and necesary philosophical wink after the (lol) assumption of 100% fact implied in the doctor's statement.

[@lunakoala5053]

@@_sushishi_ You can't prove that something doesn't exist in general. period. I can't prove their isn't an invisible unicorn next to you, but I would still admit you to the psych ward if you seriously told me you believed that. That's why reasonable people generally agree to put the burden of proof on the person making a positive claim. So I'm pretty sure, Michael was just being considerate.

[@dnoodspodu1159]

25:27 Taking at face value everything people are saying for whatever reason

[@TheEmpireDabsBack]

You know the worst thing is, I remember a few years ago doing a survey for being in an experiment and now it's all making sense. I was totally declined entry and now I know it's because I was an avid watcher of vSauce and KZbin. I would have adored being able to be a part of any of the Mindfield experiments. 😱

[@ely1725]

So that's why none of the people know who Vsauce is.

[@kimberliecarlson4338]

Ee

[@chickenskink1]

Did they actually ask you whether you watch Vsauce?

[@TheEmpireDabsBack]

@@chickenskink1 IIRC it did ask me to pick from a list, if I watched "any of these popular KZbin channels"

[@chickenskink1]

@@TheEmpireDabsBack Oh wow! That's crazy haha

[@BygoneT]

"People are quite clever" Also people: Let's dance so we can cause rain

[@DBZHGWgamer]

clever and smart are very different things.

[@miguelcdlm13]

"one flap of a sea gull's wings would be enough to alter the course of the weather forever" - Edward Norton Lorenz :v

[@dayraje]

@@miguelcdlm13 *could be...

[@dayraje]

The butterfly effect

[@a_businessman]

ok d4 c

[@niydfass1060]

Doctor: some priests may have convinced themselves that are speaking to the divine- Michael: *PANIC MODE*

[@ilichantoniocamachosolis4108]

@Ved Kolambkar i can´t find that quote, google only found 4 results and all of them are about the movie "Red Estate"

[@AlexGarcia-xw4ts]

Ved Kolambkar that’s not a Stephen hawking quote

[@erisskathi4298]

@Ved Kolambkar “All these people faking quotations from me, as if it makes them seem smarter? Don’t these people know that google exists?” -Albert Einstein

[@RavinderSingh-tn7zi]

@Ved Kolambkar actual quote is "I don't fear God, I fear his believers" ~Stephen Hawking

[@99fulgur]

"I like to use quotes to seems like i have a personality" -Dude nº 936441

[@Silverandgold01]

the reverse exorcism just reminded me of the demonic possession accusations from the '80s, when confessions were basically forced out of children. policemen and therapists repeatedly asked kids "what happened to you?" and it was a whole "believe the children" movement so they legit just wouldn't take no for an answer. so the kids made up experiences in their minds- the adults being so serious about the whole situation actually made the children manufacture false memories; they were lying but not consciously. they knew they were supposed to say something so, they reported something. a ridiculous number of teachers and fathers and people of authority were thrown in jail or had their names and reputations permanently vandalized over what turned out to be.. nothing.

[@ItsOttis]

A great movie example of this is "the hunt"

[@sipelpoiss]

26:33 It almost seems like that was an "ideological" disclaimer that Michael wanted to or had to state (due to the other producers), to prevent alienating a portion of the audience. Regardless, it is quite an absurd thing to say within the context of this whole series, which seeks to find answers through empirical studies.

[@Azide_zx]

its to prevent angering the audience when a topic that sensitive is being discussed. i can see why he would want to keep his reputation more peaceful and doesnt want to upset people since his videos usually dont discuss topics this controversial

[@tonyI0]

Is it wrong though? It’s not a testable hypothesis. It would be wrong to claim th evidence either does or doesn’t support it.

[@keep-ukraine-free528]

In the credits, they list two legal advisors - one a large legal firm. So maybe the disclaimer was also legally required. Legalese (arbitrary human rules) always complicate or preclude performing good science.

[@sipelpoiss]

@@keep-ukraine-free528 That's an interesting point, and it's unfortunate if that really is the case - it undermines science.

[@maybee2379]

Of course the girl with a “healing crystal” necklace was the most susceptible to suggestion

[@AbandonedVoid]

This is actually a really good point. Susceptibility is tied closely with belief, and people that already engage in spiritual altered states of consciousness like meditation are likely going to have more dramatic effects in a ritual like this.

[@beatshack]

@@AbandonedVoid True. But, as we see with the placebo effect, belief itself is extremely powerful. It can alter our brain chemistry and bodies... maybe it can alter our perceptions, our abilities to 'see' things our eyeballs can't.

[@Ajira28]

I envy her, I am so cynical. I wish that I could see my mother again. That would be an amazing gift.

[@josephfield6903]

Abandoned Void That’s true. It’s really interesting too because it works in a religious perspective as well. Scientifically, if a person believes in this sort of stuff then they’ll be more susceptible to it. But also, in a religious standpoint it makes sense that a person who prays a lot will probably be more likely to see signs than a person who doesn’t.

[@elibelknap9771]

@@Ajira28 i feel you. Many people like to say they are cynical and intellectual. not saying Im the latter by any means, if people say I am but thats cool but i wont make that claim. Those people dont take into account how fucking depressing being aware of the truths of life can be.

[@felixroux]

"How could this not be real if a guy in a white lab coat is taking it so seriously?" -Vsauce, Michael here, 2019

[@wta1518]

You got her name wrong. It's Mind Field, Vanessa here

[@bluffy-38]

dude looking like johnny sins out here

[@intellectuallyhot3407]

The irony of this comment in 2021 is unreal

[@sambuddhasamanta9885]

@@intellectuallyhot3407 Aptly said

[@paul_particularlyunhappynut]

@@bluffy-38 bruhhh he does

[@charlief.7588]

“Not on victory vault” that was absolutely genius Michael

[@wombat4191]

The guy that did nothing is my hero! Also, the dude that figured it out, impressive.

[@nicho8]

can't believe michael ski​nn​еd people in this one. truly dedicated to his craft

[@ham1847]

True 😠 I’m sad about this

[@donovanholm]

Lie he didn't just skin people

[@meepmeep4311]

True dedication

[@IRsBlueManMoney-Channel]

Have you been reading Anthony Fantano’s comment sections?

[@wta1518]

uMm aCtUaLlY hE dIdN't. ThAtS nOt WhAt SkInNeR bOx MeAnS. fAcTs xD

[@thebiggestbigmacever6315]

Fake Priest: “I’m father Callahan” Michael: “I’m about to end this man’s whole career”

[@thebiggestbigmacever6315]

@Daniel Chang why are you booing me I'm right

[@MegaDudeman21]

@@thebiggestbigmacever6315 right? about what?

[@AMan-xz7tx]

MegaDudeman21 yes

[@MegaDudeman21]

@@AMan-xz7tx no?

[@loog8621]

MegaDudeman21 perhaps

[@TheOpalHammer]

"You can't just put humans in a Skinner box" *proceeds to put humans in a skinner box*

[@jacobthecat258]

I cracked up when he introduced himself as Father Callahan.

[@GMAH111]

Michael be like "dont scare off my christian viewers sciencebro"

[@ltariku]

right😂the way he yelled "AND PERHAPS THEY ARE"

[@thatguyhanzo3468]

The comment I was looking for, that moment was simultaneously hilarious and really scary for humanity, the fact that that's necessary is ridiculous to me

[@cosmossci4883]

Smart for business but perhaps bad for the development of critical thinking in some of his audience

[@daan9211]

@@cosmossci4883 ok give critical proof he doesnt excist

[@cosmossci4883]

@@daan9211 What you're doing is an attempt to shift the burden of proof. Many believers try and do this because they can't prove their god exists. It is on the one who makes the claim to provide proof not the one who is skeptical of it. Sadly many people who are religious do not know how to think critically which is why religious people often make fallacious arguments like what you're doing right now. The main issue with the abrahamic religions, and many other religions as well, is that they rely on blind faith rather than sound evidence. You can have faith in anything, but it doesn't make it a fact. Also a personal issue I have with some religious communities is that they discourage questioning.

[@jessephillips1233]

I used to work at a casino - the patrons who played slots developed extremely elaborate rituals to "boost their luck" that would entail all sorts of spurious behavior - like getting up and sitting back down or wiping the screen in a specific pattern etc. I called this behavior "pigeon-ing" after the Skinner behavior experiments.

[@dickfitswell3437]

I was that guy that when their ritual fails and they move to a different row of slots...I Swoop in for the kill and with in a minute or so I usually always win. I was just in the Riverboats in Lake Charles. On our way back to Houston. My buddy sat at a Blackjack table and i went and lurked around the $5 Slots. Up gets an older lady. I swooped in. Put a $20 in. Bet max. Less than 2 mins later I walk over to my buddy and said Im cashing out and will be out in the car.(only planned on a 1hr visit) and he said why and i said ive won $723.00 & he said BS weve only been here maybe 10 mins. Then I showed him 3 reciept vouchers (I cashed out 3 times. Prevents me from spending lots). Did the same thing at Mandalay Bay except it was walking from lobby to elevator. Saw a lady w/ quarter bucket cup get up mumbling so I threw a 5$ in and maxbet and sirens/bells went off before she even got out of the aisle. $1800.00. She came back and tried to argue that it was her winnings and she wasnt done on that machine. She lost the argument w/security/pit etc. Moral of the story. Find those superstitious slot gamblers and lurk until they leave then swoop in. I think Friends had a episode on the same thing. Phebo was involved

[@angelica3744]

Yup! That's exactly how it works. Also the reinforcement schedule of gambling makes it such an easy addiction to fall into.

[@annec3571]

I’ve known ladies that *have* to use the exact same slot machine every time they gamble, or else they won’t play. One lady was at the same machine for 33 years straight

[@shimalding]

I'm seeing a lot of this behaviour in gacha games - and online games with rng driven loot in general. People create the most elaborate rituals to crack the system.

[@rabnadskubla8594]

@@shimalding I've been doing that with Fire Emblem Heroes. I like to summon from the bottom left since I think it might work for me better.

[@Workin2anEarlyGrave]

paused to pop some corns when michael said: "now I was watching a lot of horror movies lately.... and it gave me an idea."

[@Repah]

I just imagine going to one of these things and recognizing vsauce but not saying anything since you wanna see his antics in person.

[@klaricev3274]

Michael: WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE VATICAN.

[@anoyint]

M O R T I S

[@schincouch5567]

where does it say that prove it

[@fiberpasta526]

@@schincouch5567 it's a reference.

[@oniruddhoalam2039]

@@schincouch5567 It is a joke.

[@kaliyuga3563]

I NEED TO FINISH WHAT I STARTED

[@Bane_Diesel]

PRESS IT FO TIMES OUT COMES DA MONEY lol

[@zachyaninek2658]

Orangebike666 Exactly

[@Sorest2]

Pepega

[@teenisteenis9642]

MADE A SISTA WORK HAWD FO HER MONEY

[@chemicalbrother5743]

lol

[@dweezildee]

lol

[@nathanknapp3802]

I think this is the first episode I've seen with an experiment that I was dubious about. I don't feel like the human Skinner Box worked as intended. Pigeons don't have the capacity to understand filming or television, so Skinner's original experiments lacked any prescriptive nature. The game show prescribes the idea of being a "contestant," and therefore requiring that the subject perform in some way. I think that the superstitions would've developed in a situation without the game show background, to be sure. I just suspect that the superstitions either developed faster or were flashier because of the setup.

[@samiershovo]

Imagine someone has been doing this experiment for thousands of years saying someone has created us and we should pray to him for everything.

[@Cameroner1]

Father Callahan. I'm dying. Did the actor choose that name?

[@mickblock]

Seems like it, since Michael was like … OMG we're gonna have to change that!!

[@DBZHGWgamer]

I bet they didn't really give him a name so he just came up with one on the spot.

[@mimszanadunstedt441]

@@mickblock Michael did it, he was just pretending he didn't to add entertainment value.

[@pzgamerch]

@@mimszanadunstedt441 yeah he love to make that type of joke all the time

[@doomerbloomer6160]

@@mimszanadunstedt441 I don't think so, before he looked at the camera to say that his eyes drifted to his crew members behind him. Seemed like he was genuinely surprised

[@mahendrapooran2724]

14:02 "Now I've been watching a lot of horror movies lately and it gave me an idea." That doesn't sound good

[@santerisalmivuori3872]

But it totally did.

[@justhereinthemoment]

when i was a little kid i thought pressing the A button on my controller would make the game loud faster and i think thats is decent example of what you were testing during the start, a lot of kids had the same idea too. pretty cool i think

[@caroline6218]

8:46 I actually laughed out loud at his reaction when the money came out. I can relate because I probably would have said “oh shit!” as well.

[@gustabarba]

doctor: - many priests may themselves be convinced that they are facilitating communication with the divi... michael: - AND PERHAPS THEY ARE

[@v.r.kildaire4063]

i know right

[@gwemlgweml9015]

I loved the look he gave Michael when he said that 26:40 😂👌

[@bendejo8]

Don't wanna trigger anyone

[@syonmazer4133]

Exactly rofl. Gotta keep people happy I guess.

[@rakelodakel]

Nice save, yeah.

[@brotherjay9744]

Thank you for doing this study. I appreciate it

[@EverGarcia109813]

A truly great episode because the topic was so powerful.

[@SyeFiChannel]

that chick: woah i don't wanna be possessed michael: *evil laughter*

[@Dalton-ke9rw]

she said she is also already possessed lol

[@kitno6415]

she bad doe

[@promethium-145]

@@kitno6415 She got the drip though.

[@courtneysiefring6080]

S hi kwnbdufnf

[@user-lq9uh2gz3e]

human skinner box sounds like something from the saw movies

[@GigaDanMan]

Human Skinner Box or Human-Skinner Box? The importance of a hyphen! haha

[@CaveyMoth]

Or something from a certain gif I saw that used to be popular a while ago...

[@VeganSanatani]

Lol..😂

[@George_vv]

To be fair, the show Taskmaster did the Skinner Box thing with humans in season one where they had to score 11 points in a squash court. It wasn't the exact same as they did have a specific action to do but it still had the same effect. Also, coincidentally one of the contestants was Frank Skinner. Fun Fact.

[@ishxshxrmx]

I'm addicted to these mind field videos, and don't want them to be over!!!

[@chadevans3683]

This experiment reminds me of when I was younger and I would blow in the Nintendo cartridges believing that was what was making them work

[@shybandit521]

I mean I'm pretty sure it actually does kinda help, dust in cartridges isn't good. However, we blew in them so much there is no way there was dust in them. We just kept blowing because it worked the first time.

[@kingoffline3188]

we were human Pigeons because i didn't do it just once, but twice and more.... i thought it made game loads faster.

[@undeniablySomeGuy]

wait but it does

[@plokijum]

Moisture in the plug makes electrical signal stronger. Is what I believe. But who knows. I also believe vaccines are effective and that seems to throw off everybody. Maybe I'm just crazy.

[@SMBH-M87]

@@plokijum lol. dude, recently saw my aunt and apparently she is an anti-vaxxer... definitely one of the more uncomfortable conversations I had 😂

[@chilk4508]

If you were to rub Michael’s head like a genies’s lamp he’d probably give you three of these episodes

[@santerisalmivuori3872]

Somebody must've rubbed it real good, since he gave us all of the seasons for free......

[@Reco-Sco]

@@santerisalmivuori3872 You're welcome.

[@t-rex9809]

I'd love Micheal to sugandesenuts

[@goawaymolly5853]

I feel like if Vsause was German in the 1940s he'd be on trial in Nuremburg.

[@eddiejeffrys1985]

I miss this series and seeing Michael more frequently. These are my go to videos when I'm going through a tough time emotionally.

[@cthulhufhtagn2483]

Michael: "I don't think it's ethical to tell someone they're possessed by a demon." Also Michael: Proceeds to convince them that HE is possessing them with a demon. Also, wouldn't a reverse exorcism be an endorcism?

[@god8020]

Well when you put the demon in it means that it's going to be temporarily and that nothing was "wrong" with them before that.

[@cthulhufhtagn2483]

@@god8020 Yeah, I know. I just thought that was ironic.

[@bruhmantri410]

the hell with terminology

[@PredatorH2O]

Yeah it's not exactly the same. If they believed that they were possessed by a demon before coming it could affect many things like how they see themselves. So it is surely more ethical to pretend you're the one behind it.

[@watch426]

No, it's exnorcism ; )

[@RoxtarFreak]

Just now remembering I could never be on Mind Field because I would recognize Michael right away 😢

[@briaiguess8834]

pretendd u dont

[@briaiguess8834]

unless its a video about lies then oof

[@mohdqayemhussain5553]

I have this kinda cool thought that if Michael invites me for an experiment i'ma pretend i don't know him or anyone and then in the middle of the experiment say "Hey Vsauce! Michael here"

[@taherpatrawala_]

@@mohdqayemhussain5553 Damn dude you sound scary

[@plokijum]

I would also pretend to not know his so I can get a chance to sit in the same room with him.

[@bunnybro5977]

"I felt the everlasting love and joy of god cover me" "Yeah,this was an experiment" "Yea,the church and it's symbols and rituals never really appealed to me" That was such a quick 180 there's a whole Initial-D soundtrack for it

[@oreoluwa_aaa]

😂😂frr

[@promethium-145]

She probably felt it because of something apart from the room. Did you consider that?

[@corylayton9803]

@@promethium-145 yep, still bs

[@promethium-145]

@@corylayton9803 I doubt it.

[@dafta31]

Thank you Michael. You are such a smart person. And the way you presented this experiments was respectful and unbiased. I wish I get to be as good as a speaker as you are.

[@louisbowels6858]

"Human Skinner Box" is a terrifying combination of words

[@Unknowniiwjsjsjaja]

Louis Bowels ΨΣS ∇ΣRΨ DΔΠGΣRΩUS βΩI

[@Migweegin]

Nice stolen comment Mr. Bowels

[@s0uls4nd]

@@Migweegin shut up mr.robloxkidcringe

[@urble]

The term "Human Skinner Box" has some very gruesome undertones...

[@mihaimihai7673]

I'm feeling the same thing LOL

[@apalepeks2000]

Just as your profile picture

[@elibelknap9771]

Your profile pic looks like an inbred version of Dorothy from the golden girls

[@cranberrychili2260]

Ikr

[@SentinelGhost]

It activates the money by putting the lotion on its skin.

[@logancox1035]

Michael, you're gifted, and now you're possessing people with science. You have the power to do great things. And with great power comes great responsibility. You can't just give people demons for fun.

[@kennethlatorre5269]

What?

[@user-tr9of6sl4p]

Moral of the story, people will believe ANY old shit if you tell them its 1000 years old 😂

[@gabeangel8104]

Do you know what I always find most amazing? That no one ever recognises Michael and goes ‘this has to be a vSauce experiment, I am definitely not going to trust whatever is happening here’! Seriously though, these videos are always so interesting and give a great insight into how we function as humans. It’s kinda sad in this one with the woman who thought she saw her mother. Her subconscious obviously provided something she desperately needed and I hope it won’t mess her up to find it wasn’t really what she thought. I hope she went and got some kind of counselling afterwards.

[@LordTurnip_]

I think they cut out people who notice him

[@luclatinette]

They screen the participants, i'm sure they ask questions about interest in edutainment and if they watch informative videos on youtube or something to that effect.

[@Murkus]

I think the point here is that her experience was real and valid regardless of if this was an experiment or a ritual. I do hope she finds peace, but seeing her mom in this way could've helped her find it.

[@gabeangel8104]

Lord Turnip yeah I hadn’t thought of that. You’re probably right.

[@gabeangel8104]

Markass yeah I hope she sees it that way. I guess it depends on if she is the sort of person who needs to feel that there really is an actual angel that actually did reassure her or if she is the sort of person who feels a sense of resolution from having had the experience.

[@vitusgrnborg5040]

Thank you Michael, very cool!

[@kalle8348]

Tak Vitus, meget sejt!

[@sarcashd3991]

why just why ........AM I LYING TO MYSELF ARHHHHH

[@Counter-Intuitive]

Props to the black gay guy for being the only one to figure it out

[@MrSubscriber77]

Mexicans

[@MNMNMNMNMNMNMNMNMNMNMNMNMNMN]

Top kek

[@daddyascii9040]

this is one of the most impactful videos in the series for my understanding of psychology

[@samudrajs5409]

I just keep recommending it to people. Great episode.

[@izaquanjmooki2174]

Anyone else get tricked into thinking Michael was Vanessa? He almost got me but I’m too smart for his deception.

[@carealoo744]

This comment is amazing

[@CharlesEtienne]

Or are you?

[@cuspurs]

I once dated Vanessa. As soon as she spoke through Michael, I felt the same connection we had. I know it was her. It was magical.

[@ham1847]

Or is he?

[@christiandaniel1864]

Trump no ur dumb

[@Westwoodshadowgaming]

The DR's reaction when Michael said it could be god was priceless.

[@giancarlosrosales6728]

It was basically "are you shitting me"

[@ViratKohli-jj3wj]

@@giancarlosrosales6728 hold my beer

[@Ptaku93]

It just showed the dr didn't think about a very important angle to the whole charade. Thankfully Michael did and provided a nice perspective shift for him

[@Lucan47]

@@Ptaku93 Oh yeah, that little smug smile sure showed his perspective shift lol

[@Ptaku93]

@@Lucan47 just because he wasn't able to comprehend or seriously consider the perspective shift doesn't mean it wasn't intended on Michael's part

[@cynthiaestrada8318]

Ambivalence, ambiguity is something we must all learn to live with. It's frightening at first and then humbling.

[@corywittamori896]

Honestly amazing stuff. Truly profoundly thought provoking. . Id love to be an honest subject for any of these experiments. For the sake of understanding

[@aaandag9688]

I was so goddamn angry when she didn't even close the door after she switched techniques

[@Tabby-nw3bu]

10 y/o Me: *Flushing ice down the toilet to increase the chance of a snow day*

[@CrashDunning]

We did that too!

[@r.r1328]

hmm..

[@halbkuppe4895]

i wasn't quite THAT dumb when i was ten.

[@Jam-zt4xe]

Yeah a butterfly affect might work on it lmao

[@plokijum]

That's cute if you were 5.

[@travel.thoms.travels7678]

I am really enjoying this series!!!

[@desperate-and-confused]

Reverse Exorcism is when the demon tells the priest to exit the child.

[@Purple_Sloth]

oh gosh

[@BlowOnMyMagicFlute]

😨

[@chungusballshd8743]

Ok that is actually funny XD

[@MargeTheDog]

I would like to see Miriam's reaction when they told her the ritual was fake

[@josephfield6903]

Marge The Dog I wanted to see it too

[@RocKnMetaL97]

I bet Michael would've tell her "etc etc YET your experience was real, what do you think about that?"

[@klaus254]

I'm sure she was saying the truth. Studies shows religious people tend to be more delusional than non-religious. Come on, you know these people believe in invisible things.

[@gianb3952]

I doubt they even told her

[@dited358]

​@@klaus254 Lol no studies have shown that, stop lying to push your narrative. The big bang is invisible too if you're gonna make that argument.

[@regiets1]

-no clickbait title -smooth segues -"I'm gonna perform a reverse exorcism" ~performs reverse exorcisms Worth. Every. Penny.

[@jodinha4225]

Pinormous dude michaels segues are so good you don’t even notice them

[@peterbeadman9010]

I feel bad that I didn't have to pay now because thease programs are so good. That said I am glad I can watch them as I can't afford to pay. I appreciate this fantastic freebie. X

[@farn69]

@@peterbeadman9010 same, I've learned really much from his videos. If I have the financial ability to support his content I would be very glad to do so.

[@finitesource9643]

Is segues even a word

[@GamingOS]

@@finitesource9643 yes

[@gianlucamorelli]

i keep watching or listening to this video in auto play every now and then and i think is the most amazing thing ever as it shows how gullible and dishonest with ourselves we can become for the sake of preserving certain core believes radicated in our brains. I don't even think it is our fault consciously, it's just like that and that's it. Painful to watch, but it is what it is.

[@sophovot5079]

when i was a kid, my friends and I used to believe that for one specific traffic light you had to touch the screws above the button for it to turn green I think kids are very prone to these superstitions, I had all kinds of weird beliefs like that in elementary school.

[@rockingamingwiththesahit2145]

There are buttons under the signals in my country.

[@DUDERMANx]

Oof... how do you tell that last subject that she really didn't see her dead mom? I got uncomfortable as she described her perceived experience

[@lagduck2209]

Yeah same thought, i think like they shouldnt debrief her. (Or probably Michael is playing with us and thats an actor too).

[@altonio123]

Well I think maybe she being deceived into thinking she was being part of real religious acts does not take away from the fact that she did imagine very vividly the image of her mother, and she felt confortable with her. Maybe it didn't happen in the real world, but i guess it could be a real experience for her anyway, and one in wich she should be able to feel confort remembering it in the future.

[@blueraspberrylemonade32]

Reminds me of the sensory tanks

[@deejayhamm]

@@lagduck2209 How do I know your not an actor also?

[@actionpoker7C2H]

@@deejayhamm Never have I felt more like I am on an episode of Mind Field. How do I know I'm not an actor?

[@Bronco541]

"I want to perform an accessory assisted reverse exorcism" "mmmmmm" *concerned expression on his face* an accurate response.

[@kamu747]

Followed by Psychiatrist: "you would like to experimentally induce a spirit possession experience" Micheal: Right! Psychiatrist: "I like that" Big smile on his face. Me: Lol. Just a Bunch of mad scientists these ones. Lol.

[@laislyra5512]

@@kamu747 yeah, he said "I like that" and kept smiling creeply afterwards, I was like, what's going on??? XD

[@promethium-145]

@@laislyra5512 This is kind of SUS!

[@TheUnderscore_]

@@kamu747 He's a psychologist tho, isn't he?

[@kamu747]

@@TheUnderscore_ Indeed. Indeed.

[@entropie-3622]

Using the regular timer for the vault game is actually more devious than a random one would have been, if you thing about it. If a person in the vault game actually would come up with a behavior pattern that would start whenever money was released and would end about 30 seconds later, they would "predict" the money without fault.

[@D-Man_Jam]

19:41 you can tell the priest was an actor because he called that cross a crucifix, when a crucifix is a cross with Jesus on it. That cross didn't have a Jesus statue on it making it just a cross.

[@locke_ytb]

Normal people: *messes with door, button and dancing* That guy:

[@thoticcusprime9309]

that guy lmao

[@otwieraczdopiwa19]

Maybe Ill touch the button, maybe I won't xd

[@trevorowen9687]

18:13 You can’t fool me with Johnny Sins I know exactly what’s about to happen with this “reverse exorcism”.

[@RichConnerGMN]

yeah it's not just demons that are gonna be going in that patient's body

[@redshu2]

Gonna be millions of unborn babies

[@PRubin-rh4sr]

I always love the post-action scenes with VSAUCE MICHAEL HERE explaining to the people scientific things and them nodding

[@karankewat1.10]

This is enlightening! Thankyou 😄

[@theartsywhale]

"Now ive been watching a lot of horror movies lately, and they gave me an idea." NO MICHAEL STOP-