Kristin Sainani (@kristinsainani.bsky.social)

Normal Curves Halloween episode is out! We discuss the classic 1974 "scary bridge" study and test the claim that fear makes you horny. Video: bit.ly/sexybridgevideo Audio: bit.ly/sexybridge

loading . . .

Scary Bridge Study: Can fear make you horny? #statistics #research #ttest What if a haunted house makes your date look hotter? This week we dive into the infamous Scary Bridge Study — the 1970s classic that launched a thousand pop-psych takes on fear and lust. It’s the one with the swaying bridge, pretty “research assistant,” and phone number scrawled on torn paper. The study became legend, but how sturdy were its stats? We retrace the design, redo the numbers, and see how many math errors it takes to sway a suspension bridge. Along the way we find an erotic-fiction writing exercise, Adventure Dudes choosing their own experimental groups, and snarky replicators who tried (and failed) to make fear sexy again. We wrap with what the latest research says about when fear really does boost attraction — and when it backfires spectacularly. A Halloween story of danger, desire, and unconscious sexual drive. Statistical topics Arithmetic checks Chi-square test Confounders GRIM test Inter-rater reliability Meta-analysis Negative control Randomization Replication Sample size Signal vs. noise Statistical sleuthing Subjective measurement T-test Methodological morals “Those who don't verify their numbers dig their own statistical graves.” “Famous doesn't mean flawless.” @NormalCurves https://bit.ly/sexybridgevideo