Ulterior Motives

How goals, both seen and unseen, drive behavior
Art Markman, Ph.D.
Association for Psychological Science

The Value of Proper Police Lineup Procedures

Police lineup procedure has been influenced by psychological research. One thing the police do is to minimize the effects of distinctive features of faces. Here's why they do that.
DonkeyHotey via Flickr

New Data Confirms Increased Political Polarization

As the Presidential election in the US approaches, it is interesting to think about how political affiliation works.
Sterling Publishers used with permission

Should You Play Brain Games?

Brain games are marketed as a way to improve general mental agility. A new analysis explores the (shaky) evidence for this claim.
pixabay.com

Why Some People Blame the Victims of Crime

There are many situations in which people blame the victims of crimes for what happened to them. Are there factors that predict when this happens?
Sven Volkens via Wikimedia Commons

Kids Learn That Robots Are Not Just Things

One of the most complicated tasks children have to perform is learning about the types of objects in their world. Robots are a particularly complicated kind of object.
Vimukthi via Wikimedia Commons

People Think Popular Actions Are the Right Actions

How do people figure out what they should be doing? New research explores the relationship between the way you explain things and your ethical judgments.
US Navy via Wikimedia Commons

Video Game Play Benefits Coordination

Over the years, I have written a lot about both the potential dangers and benefits of playing video games. Does game play benefit coordination?
Pixabay

Kids, Chimps, and Cooperation

People are pretty good at sharing when they are cooperating. When does that ability develop? Is it uniquely human?
RichardGiles_WikimediaCommons

Talent Matters for Excellence

When looking at the performance of a world-class performer like Usain Bolt, it is easy to ask about the role of talent in highly skilled performance.
freestockphotos.biz

This Is the Secret to Getting Anything Done

We've all had the experience of intending to do something and then forgetting when the time comes to do it. This happens because you are not reminded to perform the action.
Upsontedmuilo via Wikimedia Commons

Specific Commitments Can Change Behavior

Psychology has learned a lot in experimental studies about how to change behavior. Will that work in the real world?
Ammodramus via Wikimedia Commons

Juries, Lawyers, and Race Bias

Juries are a central part of the legal system. Racial bias can cause significant problems in juries. Are lawyers sensitive to the biases of jurors?
Mikepena via Wikimedia Commons

Parents Affect Their Children’s View of Intelligence

It is not surprising that parents influence their children's beliefs about intelligence. How they do it is surprising.
NeetiR via Wikimedia Commons

Power, Status, and Perspective-Taking

Power can make you less sensitive to other people's perspective. But, what about status? New research explores differences between power and status.
Kafuffle via Wikimedia Commons

Skilled Performance Takes More Than Practice

There has been a big debate in psychology about whether elite performance reflects talents or skills. A new meta-analysis helps to resolve this question.
Panapp via Wikimedia Commons

Choices Are Based on Feelings Not Value

New research explores the relationship between people's feelings and the choices they make.
Ebrahim via Wikimedia Commons

Do Depressed and Anxious People Ruminate and Worry?

Research on depression and anxiety has looked at many factors underlying these disorders. One important factor that has emerged in many studies is rumination.
Art Markman

Knowing and Doing Are Separate in the Brain

I play the saxophone, and I have been in a few bands over the past few years. Sometimes, there is a disconnect between my conscious sense of a song what my muscles want to do. Why?
Melburnian via Wikimedia Commons

How Are Gesture and Speech Related?

People may learn gestures by watching the speakers of their native language. But new research suggests the language itself can shape these gestures.
CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Concept of a Cause Has Gotten More Important Over Time

Over the past 100 years, the world seems to have gotten more complicated, a new study finds. Does that affect people's interest in causal knowledge?
Roman Tworkowski via Wikimedia Commons

Need a Hand? Just Ask (Really)

We often underestimate how likely someone is to comply with a request. Why is this so—and why does it matter?
Higu2 via Wikimedia Commons

How Does Forgiving Someone Affect Their Behavior?

Forgiveness is a statement that the particular bad behavior will not affect the relationship going forward. How does this affect the behavior of the person forgiven?
Túrelio via Wikimedia Commons

There Are Cognitive Predictors of Longevity

Women live longer than men. Nonsmokers live longer than smokers. What other factors predict whether someone will live longer?
Roman Tworkowski via Wikimedia Commons

Do Changes in Income Affect Life Satisfaction?

When I was first starting my career, I used to daydream sometimes about making more money. Like many other people, I assumed that would make me happy.
Rufino via Wikimedia Commons

Negotiators Are Motivated to Agree

Negotiations involve situations in which there are two (or more) parties with conflicting interests. Good negotiators don't always reach an agreement, though.
Hedphones via Wikimedia Commons

Can Psychology Explain Humor?

Humor is a pervasive part of human experience. If you watch people in social groups, they spend a lot of time laughing. But, what makes particular events funny?
Zboralski via Wikimedia commons

Even Young Children Avoid Mean People

In order to enforce the norms and values of our culture, adults will give up resources to punish other people. How early does this develop?
Polina Godz via Wikimedia Commons

Social Comparisons Can Make You Give Up

Competition can often be motivating. Yet, in ordinary life, social comparisons can also be de-motivating.
Bartosz Senderek via Wikimedia Commons

Positive Mood Makes People Gamble More

In order to take a risk, you have to feel as though that risk will pay off in some way.
Via Wikimedia Commons By This vector image was created with Inkscape by Anynobody, composing work: Mabdul. - Own work using Bsahead.svg: and No sign.svg:,

What Kinds of People Think BS Is Profound?

There are a lot of people in the world who want to impress us with what they know and with their ability to provide deep and meaningful insights into life.

Pages