Mind In The Machine

Consciousness, Cognition, and the Brain at Work

Bobby Azarian Ph.D.

Implicit Racial Bias and Its Effects on Policing

Is there systematic racism in policing? Science says yes, but much of it may be implicit and unconscious. The good news is such biases can be detected and perhaps even corrected.

New Study Finds Trump Tweets May Increase Anti-Vaxx Attitudes

New research shows that Trump's tweets increase anti-vaxx sentiment among his supporters. This suggests that COVID-19 may be with us long after we have a vaccine.

Could Einstein's "Cosmic Religion" Unite a Divided Nation?

According to Terror Management Theory, the solution to all the division and chaos is a worldview that unites us all by aligning our common interests—the "Cosmic Perspective."

Learn to Control Your Mind Like a Monk With Real-Time fMRI

When people are given a way to see what’s happening inside their head in real-time, they can rapidly learn how to dampen pain, enhance self-control, and boost mental ability.

Family Distancing: Importance and Psychological Effects

Social distancing from infected or high-risk family members may soon become necessary for many people. Here's how to be prepared for the psychological effects.

Some Media Outlets Are Gaslighting Us About Joe Rogan

Is gaslighting now being used by some media outlets to influence public opinion of political candidates? Intentional or not, we're being told some things that simply aren't true.

Why Evangelicals May Be Hardwired to Believe Trump's Falsehoods

This brain quirk makes gaslighting particularly easy.

How to Make Your “Dad Bod” Attractive

Worried that your weight is affecting your ability to attract mates? Make your undesirable attributes appealing with this psychological strategy.

How Our Loved Ones Live on After Death

Don't believe in an afterlife? Understanding neuroscience may change that.

Study Finds AI Systems Exhibit Human-Like Prejudices

Research suggests that artificial intelligence can display troubling biases that software developers should not ignore.

Cognitive Impairments Can Promote Religious Fundamentalism

Research suggests that damage to the prefrontal cortex can create a predisposition to religious fundamentalism.

"Joker" Is More Likely to Mitigate than Incite Mass Violence

Some people are worried that the new film "Joker" will incite mass violence. But it is more likely to teach us about the psychological and societal factors that inspire such acts.

Why Is Trump So Popular?

Research suggests that the president is more intuitive than analytical.

Our Identity Is Defined by Our Moral Character

A study of Alzheimer's patients suggests that what makes you "you" in the eyes of others is your moral character, not your cognitive ability or the knowledge you possess.

The Belief That Trump Is a Messiah Is Rampant and Dangerous

Was Donald Trump sent by God to save America? Some believe so, and that should have us worried.

How Political Rhetoric Inspires White Nationalist Terror

President Trump’s divisive rhetoric can warp a person’s mind into believing that domestic terrorism is justifiable.

How Anxiety Distorts Your Perception of the World

An anxious mindset can change the way you view the world in profound ways. But could a simple new treatment offer a way out of the perpetual fear?

This Theory Holds the Secret to Healing America's Division

Terror Management Theory explains how we became divided and how to heal.

A Complete Psychological Analysis of Trump's Support

Baffled by Donald Trump's political invincibility? Here are 14 reasons why people continue to support the president despite behavior that would have sunk any other politician.

Truly Intelligent A.I. Must Have a "Theory of Mind"

If we want smart robots that can interact socially, we must give them the ability to attribute mental states like beliefs, goals, and intentions to others.

How Religious Fundamentalism Hijacks the Brain

If we want to inoculate society against the harms of fundamentalist ideologies, we must start thinking about how they function in the brain.

Understanding the Racist Brain

Racism is a complex and persistent bias, but we are beginning to understand the phenomenon on a psychological and neural level.

Anger Exacerbates Political Bias

America is angry. New research suggests that the emotion is biasing our political reasoning and further polarizing America—which benefits President Trump.

Trump Is Gaslighting America Again — Here’s How to Fight It

Gaslighting refers to a type of psychological manipulation used to get people to question their direct experience of reality. It's also one of the president's favorite techniques.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect May Help Explain Trump's Support

The Dunning-Kruger effect refers to a bias in which people with little knowledge in an area believe they have superior knowledge. New research suggests this is affecting politics.

An Analysis of Trump Supporters Has Identified 5 Key Traits

The president's backers share some consistent and troubling characteristics.

Trump Divided America With Psychology — Here's How We Heal

President Trump has increased collective anxiety, creating division and tribalism. But recognizing these psychological effects can allow us to reverse them with cognitive control.

How Fear Is Being Used to Manipulate Cryptocurrency Markets

The world of cryptocurrency is profitable and intellectually intriguing, but misinformation campaigns that use psychological manipulation are creating chaos for investors.

Why Donald Trump Could Benefit From LSD Therapy

Research shows just one psychedelic therapy session can be a transformative experience that changes perspectives and reframes life priorities. What could it do for Donald Trump?

Fear and Anxiety Drive Conservatives' Political Attitudes

Conservatives and liberals don’t just have different outlooks and opinions. They may also have different brains.

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