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Social Brain, Social Mind

The mysteries of social cognition

Intelligence
Are We Wired to Be Social?

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on October 23, 2013

Even though our brain didn't evolve to play chess we can all learn the game. Is being social just another hard problem we can learn how to solve or is there something deeper in our operating systems that make us social?

Even though our brain didn't evolve to play chess we can all learn the game. Is being social just another hard problem we can learn how to solve or is there something deeper in our operating systems that make us social?

Media
Is Facebook Ruining Our Brains?

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on October 21, 2013

Will Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram ruin the next generation? Is the mere time these take away from traditional social interaction preventing our kids from learning how to be normal social beings?

Will Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram ruin the next generation? Is the mere time these take away from traditional social interaction preventing our kids from learning how to be normal social beings?

Rejection Sensitivity
Broken Hearts and Broken Bones

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on October 14, 2013

When you feel like someone "broke" your heart or "hurt" your feelings, what does this have to do with pain? Brain research tell us the answer is 'more than you might have thought'

When you feel like someone "broke" your heart or "hurt" your feelings, what does this have to do with pain? Brain research tell us the answer is 'more than you might have thought'

Neuroscience
The Neuroanatomy of a Retweet

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on October 9, 2013

Great ideas don’t just make us think—they make us want to tell others. But how can we know ahead of time which ideas will fly or flop. Recent brain science gives us a clue.

Great ideas don’t just make us think—they make us want to tell others. But how can we know ahead of time which ideas will fly or flop. Recent brain science gives us a clue.

Neuroscience
The Social Brain and Its Superpowers

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on October 8, 2013

Want to understand the superpowers of your social brain? If so, check out this discussion on the neuroscience of social. It might just make you smarter, happier, and more productive.

Want to understand the superpowers of your social brain? If so, check out this discussion on the neuroscience of social. It might just make you smarter, happier, and more productive.

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Child Development
Reunions: Why Do We Go?

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on October 7, 2013

Every few years we have to decide whether to get together with the people who went through the scariest period of our life with us—high school. Why do we go? Why should we?

Every few years we have to decide whether to get together with the people who went through the scariest period of our life with us—high school. Why do we go? Why should we?

Friends
Thank You for Not Unfriending Me

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on October 8, 2012

Election season is a time when we unexpectedly find out the political stripes of old friends. If you've ever wanted to tune out those who are getting it all wrong, read on.

Election season is a time when we unexpectedly find out the political stripes of old friends. If you've ever wanted to tune out those who are getting it all wrong, read on.

Health
The Mind-Body Illusion

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on May 17, 2012

Descartes told us minds and bodies are separate, but nearly every philosopher and scientist since have assured us they are not. If dualism can't be true, why do we continue to fall prey to the Mind-Body Illusion and why is it bad for our health?

Descartes told us minds and bodies are separate, but nearly every philosopher and scientist since have assured us they are not. If dualism can't be true, why do we continue to fall prey to the Mind-Body Illusion and why is it bad for our health?

Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem vs. Esteemable Selves

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on March 29, 2012

We all want more self-esteem. But at what expense? What is self-esteem really for and what happens when it stops measuring what its supposed to just so that we can feel better about ourselves?

We all want more self-esteem. But at what expense? What is self-esteem really for and what happens when it stops measuring what its supposed to just so that we can feel better about ourselves?

Free Will
Free Will: Weighing Truth and Experience

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on March 22, 2012

Philosophers have long debated whether free will exists. Would you change your life if free will turned out to be an illusion? Here I examine the neural assumptions about consciousness that lead us to assume free will cannot exist by definition.

Philosophers have long debated whether free will exists. Would you change your life if free will turned out to be an illusion? Here I examine the neural assumptions about consciousness that lead us to assume free will cannot exist by definition.

Confidence
Results We Can Believe In

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on March 18, 2012

Exciting new psychological findings are published every week. How do we know which ones to trust? Are they all real? Are none of them? In this blog I sort it out and suggest a solution that will allow us to quickly figure out which findings are worth paying attention to.

Exciting new psychological findings are published every week. How do we know which ones to trust? Are they all real? Are none of them? In this blog I sort it out and suggest a solution that will allow us to quickly figure out which findings are worth paying attention to.

Priming
Does Thinking of Grandpa Make You Slow?

Matthew D. Lieberman Ph.D. on March 15, 2012

A recent paper fails to replicate a famous social psychological finding. In this blog, get a grip on what the non-replication does and does not mean.

A recent paper fails to replicate a famous social psychological finding. In this blog, get a grip on what the non-replication does and does not mean.