The Human Beast

My blog posts on religion have attracted a lot of controversy. Religious people are annoyed by my claim that belief in God will go the way of horse transportation, and for much the same reason, specifically an improved standard of living. Read More

It is a sad fact of human nature that we prefer mediocre products over better ones. This is one of our most frustrating qualities but also one of the most fascinating. Instead of bemoaning the fact that rap music sells more than jazz does, I want to investigate the wrinkles of the human psyche that make such tastes so prevalent. Read More

Religion may be one answer to the anxieties of life. People have never been more anxious. Yet, religion is in decline in developed countries. That is particularly true for younger people who stay away from church but flock to Facebook and other social media for answers to their narcissistic anxiety. Read More

That is what Rick Santorum claimed in a This Week interview with George Stephanopoulos that aired on February, 26. Santorum cited research for his conclusion. Or rather, a hazily recalled impression that some study had found that 60 percent of students lose their religious affiliation during the college years. Read More

There is a proverb to suit every occasion. That may be why proverbial wisdom contradicts itself so much. If a beautiful young woman is swept off her feet by a balding nerd, we say that opposites attract. When a couple meets in church, we say that birds of a feather flock together. Here are some contradictory pairs of popular sayings that are of interest to psychologists. Read More

In widely read earlier posts, I argued that the basic function of religion is coping with anxiety. More specifically, it helps people to deal with the stress of uncertainty from third-world living conditions (even if these happen to affect affluent people in countries like the U.S.). Read More

Of all the motivational problems that people encounter at work, the biggest may simply be getting through the day. Psychologists have a great deal to say about the problem of boredom and offer useful clues about how to get through the day without boredom. Read More

There is a dirty little secret that you will never hear from educators involved in programs for the "gifted." These intellectually precocious youngsters generally go on to lead lives that are, well, boring. Read More

In earlier posts (here and here), I documented a clear pattern where atheism blossoms in fast-paced developed countries but is virtually absent in less developed nations (1). The implication is that as countries around the globe get wealthier and more fast-paced, religion will decline. In a new study, I have found the most compelling evidence yet for this possibility. Read More

For those of us even vaguely concerned about global warming and ecological degradation more generally, there is a lot to hate about the automobile industry with its excessive consumption of limited resources and huge contributions to pollution and global warming. Read More

In a land of plenty, such as the U.S., one might reasonably expect that citizens would be happy and healthy, that they might work hard and enjoy social mobility. This is the American Dream. Yet, if a person wanted to realize the American Dream, they might consider doing it in Finland, Sweden, or even Japan. The very worst place for the American Dream is America itself. Read More

There is no doubt that some individuals, such as Steve Jobs, make enormous contributions to their fields that dwarf the efforts of peers in terms of practical consequences, intellectual advancement, creative achievement, and so forth. Read More

Business analytics software company SAS was recently named the best place to work for the second year running according to Fortune's list of the 100 best companies to work for. Why are SAS employees so happy with their jobs? Read More

Statistics Canada recently released the findings of the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Study. Fewer than one Canadian in 20 meets recommended levels of physical activity. Yet, some Canadians, even some obesity specialists, are in denial that inactivity accounts for Canada's obesity epidemic. Interpretation of the Canadian findings are of direct relevance to U.S. Read More