Summary & key points
In the hit car enthusiast movie The Fast and the Furious (2001), strong-man car group leader Dominic Toretto is at his car shop when Brain (played by Paul Walker), disguised as a police officer, is enjoying his tuna sandwich. Walker’s character Brian is there to infiltrate the group as a mole. There is flirtatious dialogue going on between the waitress, Mia – Dominic‘s sister, and Walker‘s character. When the rest of the gang comes back, the character who likes Mia sits down next to Walker and tries to intimidate him with physical body language and prolonged eye contact. As Walker leaves, the few exchange words before a fight breaks out between them. When Toretto is summoned, he asks a question probably intended to be humorous, and only then does he intervene. Toretto breaks up the fight and inquires about the identity of the tuna-eating stranger. He lets him leave, only after flexing his power and telling him that he lost his job because he knows the employer in question is Harry's. Dom flexes that he has that sort of power and influence. Toretto’s General lack of urgency while all the events were going on, the nature of his questions in response to requests for action, plus his lack of depth in his understanding of the person with whom he’s dealing, all represent the lowest form of the Inference attribute.
Explicit Frank Underwood's MOST TERRIFYING words: "We don't submit to terror ... we make the terror."
Summary & key points
In season 4, episode 13 (chapter 52) of the hit Netflix show called House of Cards (2016), President Frank Underwood and Vice President Claire Underwood are in the situation room watching a terrorist threat come to fruition. In the live feed, the domestic terrorists are shown decapitating a hostage. Almost everyone in the room reacts with a gasp, body movement, or utterance – except Frank and Claire. This complete lack of bodily or verbal reactions demonstrates the Sensation attribute. Frank Underwood is scary sometimes.
Summary & key points
In the hit Nintendo 64 video game called The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000), the young hero named Link has to save the world before the moon comes crashing down in three days. Link must help the Happy Mask Salesman recover a powerful but dangerous mask called Majora's Mask. Throughout the game, Link never talks. But, he does gasp and make other sounds in response to events. Notably, when Link puts on any of the major transformation masks in order to take other forms, he screams out in pain until his bodily form change is complete. Link's lack of verbal replies but audible reactions demonstrate a near-bottom example of the Volubility attribute.
Summary & key points
In the hit Marvel cinematic universe movie Doctor Strange (2016), talented Neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange suffers a tragic car accident which ruins his medical career. After finding and joining a group of witches and sorcerers, he learns that Kamar-Taj, the group's compound, is under attack. A former member turned rogue named Kaecilius is the attacker. He confronts Doctor Strange on a long stairway. When Kaecilius says "How long have you been at Kamar-Taj, Mister ...," Strange answers with his formal title, "Doctor." A confused Kaecilius replies with "Mister Doctor," and Strange quips back: "It's Strange." Still confused, Kaecilius replies with "Maybe, but who am I to judge." In this brief exchange, Doctor Strange's simple responses cause confusion over his name, and this lack of clarity demonstrates a well below-average example of the Readability attribute.
Summary & key points
On September 9, 2009, rapper and fashion icon interrupted Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards while she was giving her award acceptance speech for Best Female Video. Kanye grabbed the microphone and pronounced that Beyonce, another female music artist, had a better video. As Taylor Swift was giving a touching speech, Kanye hijacked the moment and began with "Yo Taylor ... Imma let you finish, but ..." Kanye West became an instant meme and Taylor Swift fans were not happy. Beyonce herself reacted with a shocked facial expression, as did many others. While the incident appears to showcase Kanye's utter inability to read the room, the context of the situation is important. Many award shows strive to entertain viewers through cheeky stunts, as these are part of American pop media culture. Kanye West, being an entertainer, recognized an opportunity to do the same, although it did not sit well with many viewers and critics in hindsight. Kanye West's ability to modify his behavior in the spirit of contributing to the award show, and subsequent inability to stop when he went too far, demonstrates a below-average example of the Apperception attribute.
Summary & key points
In season 2, episode 24 ("Valley Girls") of the hit TV show Gossip Girl (2009), high schooler Blair Waldorf is vying for prom queen as she discovers new information about her progress. During the prom queen announcement portion of the school function, Blair accuses Chuck of sabotaging her with fake votes against her. However, others were scheming against Blair and Chuck actually submitted 150 votes in order to help Blair win prom queen. Blair's use of deductive reasoning and analyses of Chuck's actions, although incorrect, demonstrate an above-average example of the Inference attribute.
