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Hidden Motives

A look at the hidden factors that really drive our social interactions

Career
The Myth of Welfare Dependency

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on October 27, 2015

Well-meaning people worry about welfare dependency, while others use it as an argument against helping the poor. But last week, a director of the Poverty Action Lab at MIT released a paper suggesting it just isn't so.

Well-meaning people worry about welfare dependency, while others use it as an argument against helping the poor. But last week, a director of the Poverty Action Lab at MIT released a paper suggesting it just isn't so.

Motivation
Fraud in the Auto Industry

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on October 18, 2015

The blatant fraud of Volkswagen’s emissions was disclosed just a few weeks ago. Now it appears that virtually the entire automobile industry is compromised.

The blatant fraud of Volkswagen’s emissions was disclosed just a few weeks ago. Now it appears that virtually the entire automobile industry is compromised.

Career
Rewarding Executive Incompetence

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on September 20, 2015

Researchers at Notre Dame’s business school “have found a correlation between generous option grants and the incidence of serious product recalls.”

How could that be?

Researchers at Notre Dame’s business school “have found a correlation between generous option grants and the incidence of serious product recalls.”

How could that be?

Career
The Paradox of Work

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on September 12, 2015

Work is probably the most important thing we do. It is how we support ourselves, how we relate to each other, how we contribute to society, and how we build self-esteem. But our culture has always been ambivalent about it.

Work is probably the most important thing we do. It is how we support ourselves, how we relate to each other, how we contribute to society, and how we build self-esteem. But our culture has always been ambivalent about it.

Anxiety
Anxious America

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on August 23, 2015

We spend over 2 billion dollars a year on anti-anxiety medications. What are we so anxious about?

We spend over 2 billion dollars a year on anti-anxiety medications. What are we so anxious about?

Aging
Controlling CEO Pay

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on August 15, 2015

The SEC recently established a new rule requiring most companies to disclose the ratio of CEO pay to that of their average employee, but what will be the likely consequence?

The SEC recently established a new rule requiring most companies to disclose the ratio of CEO pay to that of their average employee, but what will be the likely consequence?

Environment
Seeing Inequality--or Not

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on August 8, 2015

The rich not only tend to care less than the poor about our growing economic inequality, but also they just don’t see it, according to recent studies reported in Psychological Science.

The rich not only tend to care less than the poor about our growing economic inequality, but also they just don’t see it, according to recent studies reported in Psychological Science.

Career
Should We Work Harder?

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on July 24, 2015

In America, we tend to think that success is all about individual effort. And recently Jeb Bush reinforced that idea in suggesting that our economy could be more robust if each of us worked harder.

In America, we tend to think that success is all about individual effort. And recently Jeb Bush reinforced that idea in suggesting that our economy could be more robust if each of us worked harder.

Career
The Simple Solution to Income Inequality

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on June 18, 2015

It is a no-brainer, basically: a progressive rate in income taxes, along with estate taxes that target the super wealthy.

It is a no-brainer, basically: a progressive rate in income taxes, along with estate taxes that target the super wealthy.

Law and Crime
Why So Much Financial Crime?

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on June 1, 2015

If money is our universal solvent, allowing us to exchange anything for anything else, we seem to have reached the point where virtually all other values are dissolved as well.

If money is our universal solvent, allowing us to exchange anything for anything else, we seem to have reached the point where virtually all other values are dissolved as well.

Cross-Cultural Psychology
Fixing Corruption

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on May 10, 2015

Recently, The Economist looking into the effort of containing bribery, noted that “the cost and complexity of investigations are spiraling beyond what is reasonable. What can be done about it?

Recently, The Economist looking into the effort of containing bribery, noted that “the cost and complexity of investigations are spiraling beyond what is reasonable. What can be done about it?

Anxiety
Backward America

Ken Eisold Ph.D. on April 20, 2015

Do we just take it for granted that the U.S. is the best at everything? We don’t seem to notice how bad things really are or how much better off other countries are in ways we used to excel.

Do we just take it for granted that the U.S. is the best at everything? We don’t seem to notice how bad things really are or how much better off other countries are in ways we used to excel.