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David Lundberg Kenrick

About

The son of an evolutionary psychologist, David chose not to follow in his father's footsteps, instead attending New York University film school (though he has been beckoned into the "family business" now and then). He creates multimedia supplements for psychology textbooks, produced and edited videos for use in psychology experiments, and worked on documentaries about evolutionary psychology, including the BBC's "The Science of Seduction" and his current project "The Caveman Goes to Hollywood."

Recent Posts
Slugging Your Way to The Top
Why we think anyone interested in psychology or human nature should go see the Fighter, even if you don’t like fighting, you don’t like lower class Micks, and you don’t like spending ten bucks
Vengeance in Disneyland?!
 There is a psychology of revenge and a psychology of forgiveness.  Which one do you expect Junior to see when you take him to see a Disney-Pixar film?  
Fathers, sons, and dragons: Three generations bond at the movies
Almost 30 years ago, my father and I sat together in a dark theater to watch Return of the Jedi.   Recently, we drove with my son and my (much) younger brother to sit together in a dark theater to watch the animated movie How To Train Your Dragon.  The boys loved the movie, and we learned a little bit more about the psychology of father-son bonds
What secret is your spouse keeping from you?

The other morning my dad discovered a shocking family secret:  His own father had -- unbeknownst to him, to his sisters, or to their mother -- fathered a child with another woman.  That afternoon, he was still in an unsettled frame of mind, so we went to see a movie. We knew little about the film, so were surprised when it turned out to be about a family man who had, as a young fellow, fathered a child outside of wedlock, and then kept it secret for two decades. (coauthored by Douglas T. Kenrick)

The other morning my dad discovered a shocking family secret:  His own father had -- unbeknownst to him, to his sisters, or to their mother -- fathered a child with another woman.  That afternoon, he was still in an unsettled frame of mind, so we went to see a movie. We knew little about the film, so were surprised when it turned out to be about a family man who had, as a young fellow, fathered a child outside of wedlock, and then kept it secret for two decades. (coauthored by Douglas T. Kenrick)

Videogames, Fine Art, and Roger Ebert’s Surprising Controversy

You might find it astonishing to hear that Roger Ebert stirred up a massive storm of protest by suggesting that videogames are not art.  But considered in light of modern research and theory about the evolution of the human brain, what appears to be a tempest in a teapot is actually anything but trivial. (Coauthored by Douglas T. Kenrick)

You might find it astonishing to hear that Roger Ebert stirred up a massive storm of protest by suggesting that videogames are not art.  But considered in light of modern research and theory about the evolution of the human brain, what appears to be a tempest in a teapot is actually anything but trivial. (Coauthored by Douglas T. Kenrick)

How Al Gore, James Cameron, and YOU are Destroying Earth

 Pro-environmental attitudes often ironically inspire behaviors that are bad for the environment.  What can we do about it?   Coauthored by Douglas T. Kenrick  

 Pro-environmental attitudes often ironically inspire behaviors that are bad for the environment.  What can we do about it?   Coauthored by Douglas T. Kenrick  

Survival Is Memorable, But Do You Want to Go There?

How did the Hurt Locker beat out 9 other nominees for Best Picture, nearly all of which were more popular at the box office? Part of the answer is suggested by some intriguing research demonstrating people allocate special cognitive resources to thinking about survival. But then, if those who watched The Hurt Locker found it so memorable, why didn’t more people see it? 

How did the Hurt Locker beat out 9 other nominees for Best Picture, nearly all of which were more popular at the box office? Part of the answer is suggested by some intriguing research demonstrating people allocate special cognitive resources to thinking about survival. But then, if those who watched The Hurt Locker found it so memorable, why didn’t more people see it? 

Evolutionary Psychology and The Oscar Race: The Final Lap

2009 was a great year for movies, and the contenders for Best Picture dealt with many facets of the classical evolutionary themes. Which movie should win?    

2009 was a great year for movies, and the contenders for Best Picture dealt with many facets of the classical evolutionary themes. Which movie should win?    

Mating budget bankruptcy

What would it be like to be obese, friendless, and poverty stricken, living with a mother who hates you, and a father who rapes you? Most of us probably don’t even want to think about such questions, much less sit through a movie about just such a life. Nevertheless, if you haven’t seen Precious, you should. Not only does it tap interesting psychological processes, it may make you feel differently about your own life. Coauthored by Douglas T. Kenrick

What would it be like to be obese, friendless, and poverty stricken, living with a mother who hates you, and a father who rapes you? Most of us probably don’t even want to think about such questions, much less sit through a movie about just such a life. Nevertheless, if you haven’t seen Precious, you should. Not only does it tap interesting psychological processes, it may make you feel differently about your own life. Coauthored by Douglas T. Kenrick