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In the Eye of the Beholder

The science of social perception.

Attention
When Does Classifiable = Beautiful?

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on January 31, 2014

When observers’ attention is drawn to the fact that a person belongs to two categories, the reaction is negative. But when attention is drawn away from the fact that this person represents a categorization problem, the person is viewed more positively.

When observers’ attention is drawn to the fact that a person belongs to two categories, the reaction is negative. But when attention is drawn away from the fact that this person represents a categorization problem, the person is viewed more positively.

Altruism
When the Goal of Generosity Looms Larger

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on December 19, 2013

Is giving $100 to your public radio station on the last day of their pledge drive different from giving $100 to the same station on the first day of the pledge drive? Logically speaking, it shouldn’t make a difference; a dollar has the same value whether it’s donated early or late. But psychologically speaking, people do seem to perceive a real difference.

Is giving $100 to your public radio station on the last day of their pledge drive different from giving $100 to the same station on the first day of the pledge drive? Logically speaking, it shouldn’t make a difference; a dollar has the same value whether it’s donated early or late. But psychologically speaking, people do seem to perceive a real difference.

Personality
When Perspective Taking Backfires

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on November 23, 2012

Recent studies suggest that the relationship between perspective taking and stereotyping is not as simple as it seems. Under certain circumstances, taking another person's perspective can lead to increased, rather than decreased, stereotyping.

Recent studies suggest that the relationship between perspective taking and stereotyping is not as simple as it seems. Under certain circumstances, taking another person's perspective can lead to increased, rather than decreased, stereotyping.

Optimism
Your Will Seems Stronger in the Future

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on November 1, 2012

The future seems to be wide open to multiple different outcomes, but no amount of exertion can change the past. According to recent research, this is why people believe their will to be stronger when it comes to future events than it was in the past.

The future seems to be wide open to multiple different outcomes, but no amount of exertion can change the past. According to recent research, this is why people believe their will to be stronger when it comes to future events than it was in the past.

Motivation
Accidentally On Purpose

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on May 1, 2012

Imagine that Bob cleans his gun while plotting to kill his uncle. Suddenly, the gun accidentally goes off and the bullet hits a pedestrian walking down the street, killing the pedestrian instantly. Bob runs over and discovers that the pedestrian is his uncle. How responsible is Bob?

Imagine that Bob cleans his gun while plotting to kill his uncle. Suddenly, the gun accidentally goes off and the bullet hits a pedestrian walking down the street, killing the pedestrian instantly. Bob runs over and discovers that the pedestrian is his uncle. How responsible is Bob?

Law and Crime
Wicked Desires

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on April 17, 2012

Recent research suggests that people consider someone who benefits from misfortune to be morally culpable even if that person had no role in causing the misfortune.

Recent research suggests that people consider someone who benefits from misfortune to be morally culpable even if that person had no role in causing the misfortune.

Embarrassment
Underestimating Embarrassment

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on April 2, 2012

Research suggests that people who are in a position to give help regularly fail to take the perspective of the potential help-seeker.

Research suggests that people who are in a position to give help regularly fail to take the perspective of the potential help-seeker.

Ethics and Morality
Why Are People Willing to Let Bad Things Happen?

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on March 7, 2012

Which is morally worse: Pushing someone overboard to drown or doing nothing to save someone who is clearly drowning? Recent research suggests that people are more willing to opt for inaction because they know that, in general, others are more lenient toward non-actors than toward actors.

Which is morally worse: Pushing someone overboard to drown or doing nothing to save someone who is clearly drowning? Recent research suggests that people are more willing to opt for inaction because they know that, in general, others are more lenient toward non-actors than toward actors.

Bias
Success Is in the Eye of the Beholder

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on August 4, 2011

Performing an act intentionally - that is, through conscious choice - has the effect of making ‘success' seem just a bit more successful.

Performing an act intentionally - that is, through conscious choice - has the effect of making ‘success' seem just a bit more successful.

Attention
Are Powerful People More Memorable?

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on July 14, 2011

Recent research by a team of researchers led by Nathaniel Ratcliff of Penn State University suggests that the mind is exquisitely sensitive to power. Holding everything else constant, individuals with high social status are better remembered than those with lower social status.

Recent research by a team of researchers led by Nathaniel Ratcliff of Penn State University suggests that the mind is exquisitely sensitive to power. Holding everything else constant, individuals with high social status are better remembered than those with lower social status.

Ethics and Morality
Judging the Sin By Judging the Sinner

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on June 23, 2011

Who's more evil, someone who abuses a person or someone who abuses a cat? Recent studies in social psychology suggest that distinctive behavior can carry disproportionate weight in people's moral judgments.

Who's more evil, someone who abuses a person or someone who abuses a cat? Recent studies in social psychology suggest that distinctive behavior can carry disproportionate weight in people's moral judgments.

Motivation
Reaching Your Goals...Vicariously

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on June 2, 2011

The researchers wondered whether merely watching someone successfully complete a goal would lead people to be less motivated when they subsequently performed the same task.

The researchers wondered whether merely watching someone successfully complete a goal would lead people to be less motivated when they subsequently performed the same task.

Race and Ethnicity
What Do People Believe About Genes and Race?

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on May 4, 2011

My colleagues and I have been digging deeper into what people believe exactly about the biology of race. In particular, we have been investigating people's beliefs about genetics.

My colleagues and I have been digging deeper into what people believe exactly about the biology of race. In particular, we have been investigating people's beliefs about genetics.

Race and Ethnicity
The One Drop Rule: How Black Is "Black?"

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on April 7, 2011

According to actress Halle Berry, regardless of how her one-quarter Black daughter Nahla ultimately chooses to self-identify, as long as she has “one drop” of Black blood, the world will see her as Black. Is this true?

According to actress Halle Berry, regardless of how her one-quarter Black daughter Nahla ultimately chooses to self-identify, as long as she has “one drop” of Black blood, the world will see her as Black. Is this true?

First Impressions
"Reading Into" the Actions of Others

Jason Plaks Ph.D. on December 9, 2010

What sorts of things do people spontaneously infer about a stranger based on a single action? In other words, in what ways do people automatically go beyond the action itself and "read in" additional information?

What sorts of things do people spontaneously infer about a stranger based on a single action? In other words, in what ways do people automatically go beyond the action itself and "read in" additional information?