How Do You Know?

Education

The Hidden Education Missing in "Educated"

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on October 11, 2021

Tara Westover's "Educated" describes her experience growing up without a formal education. Yet other factors involved in the way she was raised prepared her for extremism.

Tara Westover's "Educated" describes her experience growing up without a formal education. Yet other factors involved in the way she was raised prepared her for extremism.

Friends

Mutual Understanding and Political Disagreement

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on October 5, 2021

How can we have respectful and reasonable political disagreements? How do we change extreme views? A friendship and discussion group tackles these issues.

How can we have respectful and reasonable political disagreements? How do we change extreme views? A friendship and discussion group tackles these issues.

Psychology

Is This Psychology's Most Ironic Research Fraud?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on August 21, 2021

Dan Ariely, author of "The Honest Truth About Dishonesty," appears to have faked data on a study he led on honesty.

Dan Ariely, author of "The Honest Truth About Dishonesty," appears to have faked data on a study he led on honesty.

Career

The Great Bobo Scapegoat

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on August 11, 2021

A viral article blames the creative class for ruining U.S. society. What does this sociological analysis do for broader society?

A viral article blames the creative class for ruining U.S. society. What does this sociological analysis do for broader society?

Stress

You Were Not at a Mass Shooting

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on July 19, 2021

Even those of us who have no personal experience with traumatic events, like mass shootings, may respond to ambiguous information as if we do. Psychology helps explain why.

Even those of us who have no personal experience with traumatic events, like mass shootings, may respond to ambiguous information as if we do. Psychology helps explain why.

Body Language

Wait, Smiles Do Make You Happy?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on July 15, 2021

Can smiling make you feel happier? The science said one thing, which was repeated by journalists and commentators. Then the science said something else. Where are we now?

Can smiling make you feel happier? The science said one thing, which was repeated by journalists and commentators. Then the science said something else. Where are we now?

Academic Problems and Skills

A Philosopher Asks, 'Why Do Scientists Lie?'

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on June 9, 2021

Why do scientists lie? A philosopher explores the role of the scientific community.

Why do scientists lie? A philosopher explores the role of the scientific community.

Academic Problems and Skills

The Science Reform Brain Drain

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on June 3, 2021

Over the last decade, science reform has been key to improving psychology. Now reformers are leaving the field. Why?

Over the last decade, science reform has been key to improving psychology. Now reformers are leaving the field. Why?

Personality

Does Facebook Know You Better than Your Spouse?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on March 13, 2021

If you tell Facebook what pages you like, how well can it predict your personality? How would it make those predictions?

If you tell Facebook what pages you like, how well can it predict your personality? How would it make those predictions?

Personality

Can a Selfie Predict Your Politics?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on March 7, 2021

A machine learning algorithm can predict whether someone is liberal or conservative from a photo alone.

A machine learning algorithm can predict whether someone is liberal or conservative from a photo alone.

Ethics and Morality

The Other Legacy of the Stanford Prison Experiment

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on January 28, 2021

The Stanford Prison Experiment's most important lessons were not about prisons, but how we do research. We still haven't learned one of them.

The Stanford Prison Experiment's most important lessons were not about prisons, but how we do research. We still haven't learned one of them.

President Donald Trump

The U.S. Capitol Rioters' Deeper Cause

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on January 7, 2021

The riot at the U.S. Capitol yesterday cannot be explained by misinformation.

The riot at the U.S. Capitol yesterday cannot be explained by misinformation.

Dunning-Kruger Effect

Dunning-Kruger Isn't Real

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on December 30, 2020

What's the problem with the psychology effect the internet loves? And what does it mean for science reform?

What's the problem with the psychology effect the internet loves? And what does it mean for science reform?

Sex

Sexuality, Social Justice, and Science Reform

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on December 22, 2020

A Ph.D. student raised questions about her advisor's research. What happened next underlines the need for science reform.

A Ph.D. student raised questions about her advisor's research. What happened next underlines the need for science reform.

Personality

What Personality Predicts: A Success Story

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on December 12, 2020

Researcher Chris Soto reviewed what life outcomes personality traits can predict. His results are a bright spot amid psychology's replication problems.

Researcher Chris Soto reviewed what life outcomes personality traits can predict. His results are a bright spot amid psychology's replication problems.

Academic Problems and Skills

We All Knew? Psychology's WeWork Problem

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on December 5, 2020

New research examines how well laypeople can judge the reliability of science. How does this relate to a recent business implosion?

New research examines how well laypeople can judge the reliability of science. How does this relate to a recent business implosion?

Self-Control

How Willpower Wasn't: The Truth About Ego Depletion

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on November 28, 2020

Modern willpower research had hundreds of studies supporting it. Now, the most rigorous study finds NOTHING. What happened?

Modern willpower research had hundreds of studies supporting it. Now, the most rigorous study finds NOTHING. What happened?

Motivation

Theory of a Scientific Revolution

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on November 26, 2020

Sociologists argue that there's "no theory" in modern scientific reform. Is that right?

Sociologists argue that there's "no theory" in modern scientific reform. Is that right?

Sport and Competition

What Can Bring Christians and Muslims Together?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on August 23, 2020

What is the One Weird Trick for creating harmony among Christians and Muslims? And how well does it actually work?

What is the One Weird Trick for creating harmony among Christians and Muslims? And how well does it actually work?

Personality

How Is Personality Related to Your Social Patterns?

Alexander Danvers Ph.D. on August 7, 2020

Social lives involve patterns—conversations short, long, and in between. What does that tell us about our personalities?

Social lives involve patterns—conversations short, long, and in between. What does that tell us about our personalities?