Out of the Ooze

Aging

How Old Is "Old Enough to Die"?

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on January 31, 2024

What would we be willing to do, or not do, to buy more time? And how much more time would be needed to make the expense and suffering inherent in such measures worthwhile?

What would we be willing to do, or not do, to buy more time? And how much more time would be needed to make the expense and suffering inherent in such measures worthwhile?

Evolutionary Psychology

Why Helping Other People Also Helps You

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on January 22, 2024

Individual sacrifices for the good of the group help a group succeed; this trickles down and benefits the individuals in the group as well.

Individual sacrifices for the good of the group help a group succeed; this trickles down and benefits the individuals in the group as well.

Evolutionary Psychology

How Natural Selection Turned Us Into Busybodies

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on January 4, 2024

Our inability to walk away from gossip is as much of a part of who we are as our inability to resist doughnuts or sex—and for the same reasons.

Our inability to walk away from gossip is as much of a part of who we are as our inability to resist doughnuts or sex—and for the same reasons.

Social Life

How Humans Came to Love Gossip So Much

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on August 1, 2023

It is precisely because humans are uniquely hardwired to be fascinated by gossip that we have such a tormented relationship with it.

It is precisely because humans are uniquely hardwired to be fascinated by gossip that we have such a tormented relationship with it.

Loneliness

Why We Feel Younger as We Get Older

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on May 9, 2023

The tendency for people to feel younger than they actually are seems to be increasing over time.

The tendency for people to feel younger than they actually are seems to be increasing over time.

Bias

Why We Are Suckers for Conspiracy Theories

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on April 25, 2023

The fact that any of us can be suckers for even the most outlandish conspiracy theory can be traced to inherent cognitive biases we all share.

The fact that any of us can be suckers for even the most outlandish conspiracy theory can be traced to inherent cognitive biases we all share.

President Donald Trump

Why "Snitching" Makes Us So Uncomfortable

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on April 3, 2023

The psychological tension between loyalty to the group vs. loyalty to an individual creates mixed feelings about those who implicate colleagues in wrongdoing.

The psychological tension between loyalty to the group vs. loyalty to an individual creates mixed feelings about those who implicate colleagues in wrongdoing.

Confidence

How to Get Other People to Like You

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on March 14, 2023

Getting people to admire you can be very different from getting people to like you. Which behaviors lead to one versus the other?

Getting people to admire you can be very different from getting people to like you. Which behaviors lead to one versus the other?

Attachment

Why Gossip Feels So Good

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on March 1, 2023

It is a highly unusual person who can walk away from a juicy story about an acquaintance. Is there a chemical explanation for this?

It is a highly unusual person who can walk away from a juicy story about an acquaintance. Is there a chemical explanation for this?

Career

How We Manage the Spaces in Our Lives

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on February 20, 2023

Human interaction would be chaotic if we were unable to exert some control over the places where we live and work. How do we manage it?

Human interaction would be chaotic if we were unable to exert some control over the places where we live and work. How do we manage it?

Stress

Why Are We So Territorial?

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on October 24, 2022

There is a tendency to think of territorial behavior as a bad thing that causes conflict and aggression. In fact, exactly the opposite is often true.

There is a tendency to think of territorial behavior as a bad thing that causes conflict and aggression. In fact, exactly the opposite is often true.

Evolutionary Psychology

5 Ways Our Intuition Leads Us Astray

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on October 10, 2022

Do you go with your gut and feel confident about your judgment in social situations? You may want to be just a bit more cautious.

Do you go with your gut and feel confident about your judgment in social situations? You may want to be just a bit more cautious.

Relationships

Does Exceptional Success Require Sacrificing Other Things?

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on October 7, 2022

It is widely believed that high-achieving people must make sacrifices that undermine their relationships and well-being. Exciting new research suggests that this may not be true.

It is widely believed that high-achieving people must make sacrifices that undermine their relationships and well-being. Exciting new research suggests that this may not be true.

Body Language

3 Keys to the Power and Meaning of Eye Contact

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on September 2, 2022

Eye contact amplifies both positive and negative emotions. Sometimes disconcerting, sometimes welcome, our gaze says a lot.

Eye contact amplifies both positive and negative emotions. Sometimes disconcerting, sometimes welcome, our gaze says a lot.

Friends

How We Really Choose Our Friends

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on August 25, 2022

Calling someone a "friend" elevates them to an important status in our life. How do we decide where to draw the line?

Calling someone a "friend" elevates them to an important status in our life. How do we decide where to draw the line?

Personality

Who Is Willing to Risk Their Life to Save Others and Why?

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on July 14, 2022

Heroic actions are intuitive, even impulsive, rather than a product of thoughtful deliberation.

Heroic actions are intuitive, even impulsive, rather than a product of thoughtful deliberation.

Adolescence

The Difference Between Being Cool and Being Popular

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on April 6, 2022

Being cool and being popular are completely different things, and being high or low on one does not necessarily mean you will be high or low on the other.

Being cool and being popular are completely different things, and being high or low on one does not necessarily mean you will be high or low on the other.

Friends

Why Male and Female Friendships Are So Different

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on April 4, 2022

The lives of men and women could be very different in early human groups. What are the implications of this for modern same-sex friendships?

The lives of men and women could be very different in early human groups. What are the implications of this for modern same-sex friendships?

Humor

What Makes a Person Boring

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on April 1, 2022

There are consistent behaviors and interests that lead others to think of you as boring. What can you do to make yourself more interesting?

There are consistent behaviors and interests that lead others to think of you as boring. What can you do to make yourself more interesting?

Anxiety

Career Advice and Encouragement for College Students

Frank T. McAndrew Ph.D. on January 20, 2022

Worrying less about "the major" and grades and focusing more on being good at something can ease the stress of entering the workforce.

Worrying less about "the major" and grades and focusing more on being good at something can ease the stress of entering the workforce.