Points on the Board

Artificial Intelligence

Why AI Help Can Make You Seem Less Caring

Josh Gonzales on December 21, 2025

Using AI to help write a thoughtful message feels harmless. New research suggests it can quietly signal that you didn’t really show up.

Using AI to help write a thoughtful message feels harmless. New research suggests it can quietly signal that you didn’t really show up.

Artificial Intelligence

When Real Starts to Feel Fake: The “Giving NPC” Effect

Josh Gonzales on October 14, 2025

AI deepfakes trained our brains to spot fakes, but now they're over-calibrated. Explore the "Giving NPC" Effect, where real life starts to feel unnervingly artificial.

AI deepfakes trained our brains to spot fakes, but now they're over-calibrated. Explore the "Giving NPC" Effect, where real life starts to feel unnervingly artificial.

Consumer Behavior

Why Giving Options Makes a Gift Feel Less Personal

Josh Gonzales on April 7, 2025

A gift with choices feels considerate, right? Not always. Research reveals why too many options make your closest relationships feel less personal—and what to do instead.

A gift with choices feels considerate, right? Not always. Research reveals why too many options make your closest relationships feel less personal—and what to do instead.

Friends

Do You Treat Your Friends Like Tools?

Josh Gonzales on April 3, 2025

You might be turning your friends into tools without even knowing it. New research explains why this happens and how it leaves us lonelier.

You might be turning your friends into tools without even knowing it. New research explains why this happens and how it leaves us lonelier.

Health

You Take Care of Your Health, but Are Your Beliefs in Sync?

Josh Gonzales on April 2, 2025

You hydrate, journal, and move. So why does your routine still feel off? A recent study reveals how your beliefs about mind and body could be quietly reshaping your habits.

You hydrate, journal, and move. So why does your routine still feel off? A recent study reveals how your beliefs about mind and body could be quietly reshaping your habits.

Personality

You Think You Know Your Taste—But Do You Know Your Type?

Josh Gonzales on April 1, 2025

You think you know your taste in shows. But research tells us your favorite stories might be revealing something deeper about who you are—and why you keep coming back.

You think you know your taste in shows. But research tells us your favorite stories might be revealing something deeper about who you are—and why you keep coming back.

Career

What Your Hobbies Say About You (Whether You Like It or Not)

Josh Gonzales on March 30, 2025

Your hobbies influence how you’re seen at work. Find out when to share them and why it can shape your professional success.

Your hobbies influence how you’re seen at work. Find out when to share them and why it can shape your professional success.

Consumer Behavior

Why Your Best Purchase Is One You Can’t Return

Josh Gonzales on March 29, 2025

Experiences don’t just bring joy—they shape identity and deepen connections. Science explains why what you buy can change how you feel about yourself and others.

Experiences don’t just bring joy—they shape identity and deepen connections. Science explains why what you buy can change how you feel about yourself and others.

Self-Control

Is Happiness Overrated? Why Some Prefer Meaning Instead

Josh Gonzales on March 28, 2025

Do self-controlled people resist pleasure—or just crave meaning more? New research reveals how your preference may shape your happiness, success, and motivation.

Do self-controlled people resist pleasure—or just crave meaning more? New research reveals how your preference may shape your happiness, success, and motivation.

Happiness

Does the Pursuit of Happiness Lead to a Better Life?

Josh Gonzales on October 30, 2024

New research reveals that chasing happiness as a goal might actually lower well-being. Discover why focusing on meaningful activities could be a better path to a fulfilling life.

New research reveals that chasing happiness as a goal might actually lower well-being. Discover why focusing on meaningful activities could be a better path to a fulfilling life.

Decision-Making

Why No-Preference Communication Backfires

Josh Gonzales on May 8, 2023

It feels harmless to say you don’t have a preference. But there’s a psychological trap buried in that choice—and most people fall right into it.

It feels harmless to say you don’t have a preference. But there’s a psychological trap buried in that choice—and most people fall right into it.

Decision-Making

What Is Risk?

Josh Gonzales on May 9, 2020

Risk applies to us as much as it does to football superstars.

Risk applies to us as much as it does to football superstars.

Trust

Can You Measure the Mental Health of a Sports Team?

Josh Gonzales on May 8, 2020

Can factors like trust be measured for a sports team? And if so, would it help?

Can factors like trust be measured for a sports team? And if so, would it help?

Health

Do People Who Disclose Mental Health Concerns Earn Less?

Josh Gonzales on March 3, 2020

New research suggests people still hold a stigma.

New research suggests people still hold a stigma.

Identity

Hooligans Aren’t Destroyers—They’re Protectors

Josh Gonzales on December 12, 2019

Research shows fan violence is motivated by group commitment and not a need to destroy.

Research shows fan violence is motivated by group commitment and not a need to destroy.

Neuroticism

Neurotics Are Better at Faster Decisions

Josh Gonzales on November 27, 2019

Research shows speed-accuracy trade-offs don’t occur for highly neurotic people, making them better at faster decisions.

Research shows speed-accuracy trade-offs don’t occur for highly neurotic people, making them better at faster decisions.

Sport and Competition

An Alternative to the Hot Hand Effect?

Josh Gonzales on November 25, 2019

Is the hot hand real, or are there alternatives? Research provides evidence for a winner effect.

Is the hot hand real, or are there alternatives? Research provides evidence for a winner effect.

Projection

When Your First Choice Is Your Best Choice

Josh Gonzales on November 8, 2019

Assume thinking through all your options leads to better results? Research actually shows that choosing the first option that comes to mind may be the better choice.

Assume thinking through all your options leads to better results? Research actually shows that choosing the first option that comes to mind may be the better choice.

Sport and Competition

Are Advanced Analytics Even Real?

Josh Gonzales on July 4, 2019

Do you know what "advanced analytics" are? You can use these same sports principles to improve your own life. Here's one way.

Do you know what "advanced analytics" are? You can use these same sports principles to improve your own life. Here's one way.

Happiness

Does Happiness Increase Productivity?

Josh Gonzales on July 2, 2019

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, two of the NBA’s most perplexing superstars, provide a window into the link between happiness and productivity.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, two of the NBA’s most perplexing superstars, provide a window into the link between happiness and productivity.