Recent Posts

Conversational Misogyny: What You Need to Know

Do you think misogyny is just overt hatred? Think again. Subtle misogyny shapes our conversations every day—often without us realizing it. Here’s how to spot and stop it.

Do you think misogyny is just overt hatred? Think again. Subtle misogyny shapes our conversations every day—often without us realizing it. Here’s how to spot and stop it.

Beyond Stereotypes: Black Muslim Representation

During this Black History Month and every day of the year, let's celebrate Black identities, including voices that bravely stand at the intersection of multiple vulnerabilities.

During this Black History Month and every day of the year, let's celebrate Black identities, including voices that bravely stand at the intersection of multiple vulnerabilities.

Why Do Bad Things Seem to Happen in Clusters?

Why do bad things seem to happen all at once? Discover the cognitive biases, coincidences, and behaviors that shape our perception of clustered misfortunes.

Why do bad things seem to happen all at once? Discover the cognitive biases, coincidences, and behaviors that shape our perception of clustered misfortunes.

Why and How People Resist Inclusion in the Workplace

Denial and disengagement can hinder attempts to promote workplace belonging.

Denial and disengagement can hinder attempts to promote workplace belonging.

Navigating Chaos in Uncertain Times

Humans crave predictability and control. During chaotic times, we may retreat into fixed beliefs. Cultivating a growth mindset promotes resilience in the face of uncertainty.

Humans crave predictability and control. During chaotic times, we may retreat into fixed beliefs. Cultivating a growth mindset promotes resilience in the face of uncertainty.

The Importance of Critical Thinking Skills

From medical myths to media bias, misinformation is everywhere. Strengthen your ability to think critically and make informed decisions in a chaotic world.

From medical myths to media bias, misinformation is everywhere. Strengthen your ability to think critically and make informed decisions in a chaotic world.

Improve Your Health Anxiety With Behavioral Experiments

If you have health anxiety, behavioral experiments are an evidence-based CBT strategy to learn how to systematically reduce your dependence on problematic behaviors.

If you have health anxiety, behavioral experiments are an evidence-based CBT strategy to learn how to systematically reduce your dependence on problematic behaviors.

Why I Stopped Caring About Enhancing Everyone’s Thinking

Consider, from a practical standpoint, who should be the primary audience of critical thinking instruction.

Consider, from a practical standpoint, who should be the primary audience of critical thinking instruction.

Common Cyber Identity: Bridging Divides in Virtual Reality

Can virtual reality reshape identity and reduce bias? Common cyber identity fosters inclusion and transforms social interactions.

Can virtual reality reshape identity and reduce bias? Common cyber identity fosters inclusion and transforms social interactions.

Shadows of Bias: The Hidden Strain of Microaggressions

When we understand the invisible nature of microaggressions and their hurtful impact on those with marginalized identities, only then can we change, grow and heal.

When we understand the invisible nature of microaggressions and their hurtful impact on those with marginalized identities, only then can we change, grow and heal.

How Do People with Facial Differences Feel About Wearing Masks?

Wearing masks during the pandemic decreased stares and prying questions for people with facial differences, research finds—but many had mixed feelings about covering their faces.

Wearing masks during the pandemic decreased stares and prying questions for people with facial differences, research finds—but many had mixed feelings about covering their faces.

Faith Over Facts: Navigating Life Without Absolute Proof

Belief shapes human thought, guiding actions, and social bonds. While it fosters resilience and innovation, it can also lead to division. Balanced skepticism helps refine beliefs.

Belief shapes human thought, guiding actions, and social bonds. While it fosters resilience and innovation, it can also lead to division. Balanced skepticism helps refine beliefs.

The Burden of Early Maturity: We’re Not So "Fast" After All

Black girls are often seen as “grown” before their time. Explore how stereotypes rob them of their innocence—and why we must challenge this harmful narrative.

Black girls are often seen as “grown” before their time. Explore how stereotypes rob them of their innocence—and why we must challenge this harmful narrative.

The Indian Caste System: A Self-Perpetuating Social Order

The Indian caste system dictates the course of an individual's life — their profession, social circle, and sense of self. It reflects the dark power of system justification.

The Indian caste system dictates the course of an individual's life — their profession, social circle, and sense of self. It reflects the dark power of system justification.

Is the Fear of Death Behind Your Health Anxiety?

If you have death anxiety, you aren't alone and it can be improved. It involves tackling core fears using strategies like cognitive restructuring and exposure.

If you have death anxiety, you aren't alone and it can be improved. It involves tackling core fears using strategies like cognitive restructuring and exposure.

Seeing Is More Than Believing

Our perception of reality isn't as objective as we think. Shaped by past experiences, emotions, trauma, and even the heart, perception can be refined to see more clearly.

Our perception of reality isn't as objective as we think. Shaped by past experiences, emotions, trauma, and even the heart, perception can be refined to see more clearly.

AI Meets Scientific Thinking: A Guide for Everyday Decisions

Unlock the power of scientific thinking to make better decisions in everyday life. Learn how this skill, combined with AI, can guide your choices with evidence and clarity.

Unlock the power of scientific thinking to make better decisions in everyday life. Learn how this skill, combined with AI, can guide your choices with evidence and clarity.

From Oppression to Pleasure

Sexual liberation is about more than personal pleasure; it’s a path to equity, justice, and cultural transformation. Pleasure activism is more important now than ever.

Sexual liberation is about more than personal pleasure; it’s a path to equity, justice, and cultural transformation. Pleasure activism is more important now than ever.

How False Consensus Effects Can Impact Democracy

False consensus effects create a distorted view of social agreement. While we might expect growing awareness to reduce this bias, this is not necessarily the case.

False consensus effects create a distorted view of social agreement. While we might expect growing awareness to reduce this bias, this is not necessarily the case.

Breaking Boxes: Countering Bias in AI and Human Thinking

Our tendency for cognitive simplification is dangerous, especially in an AI-infused landscape. Explore four practical steps to prevent bias amplification, both online and offline.

Our tendency for cognitive simplification is dangerous, especially in an AI-infused landscape. Explore four practical steps to prevent bias amplification, both online and offline.

Why Are Some Healthcare Professionals Ableist?

Ableist attitudes among healthcare providers can hinder quality care for disabled people. Learn how promoting a social model of disability can help.

Ableist attitudes among healthcare providers can hinder quality care for disabled people. Learn how promoting a social model of disability can help.

Should Personality Inventories Be Gender Normed?

A science reporter found that it was more difficult to score high on Agreeableness for women than men and attributed it to sexism. I explain why such gender norming is not sexism.

A science reporter found that it was more difficult to score high on Agreeableness for women than men and attributed it to sexism. I explain why such gender norming is not sexism.

The Paradox of Certainty

Are the loudest voices really the wisest? Doubt, not certainty, is the hallmark of true wisdom and so embracing uncertainty can deepen understanding and foster growth.

Are the loudest voices really the wisest? Doubt, not certainty, is the hallmark of true wisdom and so embracing uncertainty can deepen understanding and foster growth.

The Psychology of Ageism

Ageism is a human rights issue. Here's what can be done about it.

Ageism is a human rights issue. Here's what can be done about it.

The Socioeconomics of Pretty Privilege

The halo and horn effects in everyday interactions.

The halo and horn effects in everyday interactions.

What the U.S. Presidential Election Results Tell Us

The results of the American election become less mysterious when we recognize that people have multiple identities. If threatened, one identity may become more prominent internally.

The results of the American election become less mysterious when we recognize that people have multiple identities. If threatened, one identity may become more prominent internally.

“Chemically Imbalanced”: A Book Review

A new history of antidepressants challenges the evidence supporting their use.

A new history of antidepressants challenges the evidence supporting their use.

How Machines and Humans Create Misinformation Together

Is it a vase or two faces? Rubin's Vase shows how we see what we expect—just like we trust AI's convincing errors.

Is it a vase or two faces? Rubin's Vase shows how we see what we expect—just like we trust AI's convincing errors.

When Racial Microaggressions Harm White People, Too

Watching someone you love subjected to racial slights and biased assumptions can make you feel helpless, outraged, and ashamed—especially when the source is your own family.

Watching someone you love subjected to racial slights and biased assumptions can make you feel helpless, outraged, and ashamed—especially when the source is your own family.

Ableism Is a Major Barrier to Mental Healthcare

New research finds experiences of ableism while seeking and receiving mental health care is a major barrier for people with disabilities.

New research finds experiences of ableism while seeking and receiving mental health care is a major barrier for people with disabilities.