The Narcissus in All of Us

Society has an incentive to socialize men to hide their emotions.

Gender

Congressmen Shape Laws to Favor Their Daughters

Ilan Shrira on January 16, 2016

Children influence their parents' values in ways that parents might not be aware.

Children influence their parents' values in ways that parents might not be aware.

Confidence

'Fake It Till You Make It' Turns Out to Be a Good Strategy

Ilan Shrira on January 2, 2016

Why overconfidence brings high returns and carries little risk.

Why overconfidence brings high returns and carries little risk.

Family Dynamics

Risk of Child Abuse Differs Between Siblings

Ilan Shrira on May 31, 2014

Are older siblings in a family more likely to be physically abused than their younger siblings? Does the number of children in the family affect the likelihood of abuse?

Are older siblings in a family more likely to be physically abused than their younger siblings? Does the number of children in the family affect the likelihood of abuse?

Media

Modern Fame Means Not Going Hungry

Ilan Shrira on May 19, 2014

Frank Wills started his Friday night graveyard shift uneventfully. Working as a security guard at an office building, the 24-year-old would soon find something that would launch the biggest political scandal of the century and catapult Frank into overnight fame.

Frank Wills started his Friday night graveyard shift uneventfully. Working as a security guard at an office building, the 24-year-old would soon find something that would launch the biggest political scandal of the century and catapult Frank into overnight fame.

Stress

Manage Stress by Creating an Out-of-body Experience

Ilan Shrira on May 13, 2014

What do you say to yourself when you’re worrying about an upcoming event, like going on a job interview, or speaking in public?

What do you say to yourself when you’re worrying about an upcoming event, like going on a job interview, or speaking in public?

Fantasies

Movies of the Future Will Resemble Real Life Less and Less

Ilan Shrira on February 23, 2014

In the 1981 film My Dinner with Andre, the entire story depicts two men meeting at a restaurant and having a conversation. Just two guys talking about themselves for 110 minutes, all in the same scene—no flashback sequences, no emotional outbursts, no getting up to use the bathroom.

In the 1981 film My Dinner with Andre, the entire story depicts two men meeting at a restaurant and having a conversation. Just two guys talking about themselves for 110 minutes, all in the same scene—no flashback sequences, no emotional outbursts, no getting up to use the bathroom.

Memory

When Things Go Right

Ilan Shrira on March 23, 2013

Having read millions of words, we’ve developed habits that affect how we interpret the rest of the world we lay eyes on.

Having read millions of words, we’ve developed habits that affect how we interpret the rest of the world we lay eyes on.

Charisma

Bringing History Back to Life

Ilan Shrira on October 3, 2012

Despite how easily you can summon an image of Abraham Lincoln and how much information that’s known about him, we’ll never know what his voice sounded like. We’ll never have a sense of whether he was charismatic, warm, or even likeable.

Despite how easily you can summon an image of Abraham Lincoln and how much information that’s known about him, we’ll never know what his voice sounded like. We’ll never have a sense of whether he was charismatic, warm, or even likeable.

Friends

Imagining Other People's Choices Clarifies Your Own

Ilan Shrira on April 19, 2012

Many of our decisions are tied to how we view ourselves and how other people see us. We know that getting a tattoo, buying an SUV, becoming a vegetarian, dating on-line, moving to New York City, and getting back together with a spouse who was unfaithful, are all behaviors loaded with personal and social meaning.

Many of our decisions are tied to how we view ourselves and how other people see us. We know that getting a tattoo, buying an SUV, becoming a vegetarian, dating on-line, moving to New York City, and getting back together with a spouse who was unfaithful, are all behaviors loaded with personal and social meaning.

Relationships

Power Connects People

Ilan Shrira on February 7, 2012

When you think of people who are strongly driven to acquire power, what kinds of things do you imagine they are after? Is power about having: influence over others, money, status, glory, independence, self-confidence?

When you think of people who are strongly driven to acquire power, what kinds of things do you imagine they are after? Is power about having: influence over others, money, status, glory, independence, self-confidence?

Therapy

Why the Fight Against Terrorism Is like the Fight Against Cancer

Ilan Shrira on October 2, 2011

The campaigns against cancer and terrorism have changed from attacking the enemy head-on to a more indirect attack.

The campaigns against cancer and terrorism have changed from attacking the enemy head-on to a more indirect attack.

Bias

Why Are Grades Highest at the Most Prestigious Schools?

Ilan Shrira on August 27, 2011

Student grades have been rising steadily over the past few decades, but only at some schools. What causes this, and how likely is it to continue?

Student grades have been rising steadily over the past few decades, but only at some schools. What causes this, and how likely is it to continue?

Environment

How You Know Eyes Are Watching You

Ilan Shrira on February 16, 2011

You know that feeling you get when you're being stared at? Here's how it works.

You know that feeling you get when you're being stared at? Here's how it works.

Education

The biggest regret of your life

Ilan Shrira on September 18, 2010

If you could live your life all over again, what would you do differently?

If you could live your life all over again, what would you do differently?

Health

How do you imagine yourself beyond your 70th birthday?

Ilan Shrira on July 16, 2010

Think of the last time you went to buy a funny birthday card for a friend. Can you remember what some of the cards said, what their punchlines were? Chances are many of them joked about old age leading to memory loss, senility, loss of sexuality, or physical disabilities. 

Think of the last time you went to buy a funny birthday card for a friend. Can you remember what some of the cards said, what their punchlines were? Chances are many of them joked about old age leading to memory loss, senility, loss of sexuality, or physical disabilities. 

The movie delivers powerful messages about gender, powerlessness, human nature, Western values—and the significance of Dorothy's last name.

Narcissism

How to brag about yourself without being seen as narcissistic

Ilan Shrira on January 22, 2010

By now you're probably aware of a widespread cultural norm that discourages you from boasting about yourself too much, earning you labels like self-absorbed, narcissistic, even obnoxious. 

By now you're probably aware of a widespread cultural norm that discourages you from boasting about yourself too much, earning you labels like self-absorbed, narcissistic, even obnoxious. 

Personality

Prior convictions and the end of ideology

Ilan Shrira on November 7, 2009

At what point do our beliefs begin to harden and become so resistant to change? 

At what point do our beliefs begin to harden and become so resistant to change? 

Depression

Increasing self-control by appreciating nothing

Joshua D Foster on September 21, 2009

Would you rather have one cookie now or two cookies an hour from now? What's missing from this question that might help you (and your kids) make better decisions?

Would you rather have one cookie now or two cookies an hour from now? What's missing from this question that might help you (and your kids) make better decisions?