'Westworld' Video Essay: Everything You Need To Know About The Bicameral Mind

Westworld is easily one of the most popular shows on television right now. Every new episode is discussed in great detail, and we even have our own discussion after every new installment on our podcast Decoding Westworld. We'll have our usual spoiler questions from the most recent episode later this morning, but in the mean time, why don't we explore a complex concept that was brought up in Westworld early on in the series.

A new video essay takes a look at the bicameral mind theory, proposed by a psychologist named Julian Jaynes. The theory was mentioned in Westworld, and as the hosts of the titular theme park become more self-aware, driven by their own developing free will instead of programming by the engineers and storytellers, we see how it's becoming more and more relevant in the show.

Here's the Westworld video essay about the bicameral mind from Jonathan Holmes:

The bicameral mind theory isn't anything that needs to be figured out on the show, but learning more about it helps us understand the core of Westworld. It's not just the old sci-fi story of hyper intelligent androids become self-aware and defying their program. This is a show about humanity becoming self-aware of what they think they know about themselves and the decisions they make. And that's a large reason why I hope the theory about William being the Man in Black from 30 years ago turns out to be true. It will go a long way to explore the essence of human nature through a character like that.