Mind In The Machine

Consciousness, Cognition, and the Brain at Work

Bobby Azarian Ph.D.

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 Warps Your Perception

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.

Intelligent Social Robots 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 also have different brains.

Research Suggests Anxiety Over Terrorism Helped Trump Win

A recent study found that when participants were given exercises designed to trigger thoughts about death, support for Donald Trump increased.

Terrorism Anxiety Is Fueling Global Waves of Nationalism

Is anxiety over existential threat making people aggressive toward out-group members? Brexit and the presidency win of Donald Trump are part of a larger pattern that will continue.

The Psychology Behind Donald Trump's Unwavering Support

The political ascent of Donald Trump seems to defy all logic, but psychology and neuroscience research explains how quirks of the brain underlie the mind-boggling phenomenon.

The Myth of Sentient Machines

Are digital computers fundamentally incapable of supporting consciousness? It appears that symbol manipulation is insufficient for experience.

Designing Robots That Avoid The Uncanny Valley

Although we generally prefer robots that have humanlike features, new research suggests that machines that look too much like people are perceived as less inviting and trustworthy.

Attacking ISIS — Fighting A Virus of the Mind

The ideology of ISIS is a mental parasite that self-replicates, evolves, and spreads best through destruction. Stopping this viral replicator from infecting more brains is a must.

Neuroscience's New Consciousness Theory Is Spiritual

Does it feel like anything to be a beetle? How about a plant or a computer? One theory posits that consciousness exists wherever information is being integrated—and is measurable.