Swan Song of the Tiger Daddy
In the span of 3 days, Charlie Sheen went from breaking the twitter record with the help of his anti-troll followers to debuting his live-streaming “Sheen’s Korner” on the internet which saw the same...
View ArticleAcademic Success Isn't Just About iPads
When you think of the “typical” American high school student, the words highly motivated, engaged, and working for a better future might not be what immediately comes to mind. A lot of recent research...
View ArticleThe Nature of the Social Mind
David Brooks had a great article (The New Humanism) on the Op-Ed pages of the New York Times yesterday where he argues that many of the policy failings of the past decades have stemmed from "a single...
View ArticleThe Power of Compassion as a Moral Force
Is compassion a moral force? The answer, according to many spiritual leaders like the Dalai Lama, is a resounding yes. The experience of compassion, they assert, has a radiating effect, extending...
View ArticleWolves in Sheep's Clothing
In 1989 Enrico Ponzo slipped on a ski mask and attempted to murder Mafia boss Francis Salemme, aka Cadillac Frank, outside an International House of Pancakes in Saugus, Massachusetts. The Cadillac had...
View ArticleThe Intuitive Calculus of Policy Decisions
Indecisiveness. Fickleness. Flip-flopping. Whatever you choose to call it, the notion that one's beliefs and opinions can change quickly, seemingly with the wind, is usually not seen as a mark of...
View ArticleWe're All Flagellants at Heart
Self-flagellation, it seems, has always been with us. From ancient cults of Isis and Dionysus, to the roaming flagellants of the European Middle Ages, to current examples of self-crucifixion in the...
View ArticleYou Aren't What You Eat: Judging Character From Food
When I was six my pet rabbit, Peter, went on a “vacation in Florida” and never came back. As years passed, I eventually intuited that he was likely not living out his golden years in the sand and sun,...
View ArticleWhat Does The Phrase "I Love You" Really Mean?
"I love you." That one little statement can mean so much. If you ask most people, they'll likely tell you that it stands as a sign of true long-term devotion and that men are much more hesitant to...
View ArticleHypocrisy Isn't Just For Politicians
Joe Scarborough had an interesting piece in Politico yesterday where he suggested that many on the left were engaging in moral hypocrisy by supporting President Obama's actions in Libya while they...
View ArticleParenthood and Delusions of Pleasure
There has been some internet chatter recently about the determinants of happiness and well-being, reminding me of blogosphere responses to a paper in last month's issue of Psychological Science.read more
View ArticleJapan Devastated: YouTube as Emotional Conduit
"We are left isolated" Katsunobu Sakurai, mayor of the Japanese city of Minamisoma, said with face drawn and voice strained, as he recorded a video pleading for assistance. His city, like many in...
View ArticleForbidding Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
It's no surprise that partners who are less interested in alternatives to their current relationship partners turn out to be more satisfied with those relationships. If you don't think the grass is...
View ArticleBarry Bonds and the Slippery Slope
For all his great accomplishments, Barry Bonds is likely to be remembered most for being convicted of obstructing justice. It appears that Bonds, like many baseball heros, succumbed to the use of...
View ArticleWhy "Torture" Is So Hard to Define
Torture, unfortunately, has been a part of human behavior for as far back as we can peer. You need only look to the events in Libya or Abu Ghraib to see its continuing presence. Whether it's used to...
View ArticlePrejudice from Thin Air?
As CNN just noted, Mel Gibson has "opened up" in a recent interview about his less than chivalrous behavior. As most everyone knows, Mel has been caught a few times over the past years spewing racist...
View ArticleThe Calculus of Compassion
Although human suffering has always been with us, the past few months have provided several vivid examples in quick succession. From the tragic consequences of the Japanese earthquake, to the...
View ArticleNewt Gingrich and the Vicissitudes of Character
In laying the groundwork for an expected run for the presidency, Newt Gingrich is seeking to reinvent himself, or at least part of himself. Not his mind, as almost everyone agrees that he is one of...
View ArticleSeeing Character?
If we told you that gossip can change how you perceive people, you probably wouldn't be surprised. But what if we told you it can change how you actually see them (or whether you even see them or...
View ArticleAccurately Assessing Sexual Orientation: Why Timing Matters
We spend a lot of time on this blog talking about how people judge the personal qualities of others. Nicholas Rule and colleagues have an intriguing new finding out today that examines a somewhat...
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