Caveman Politics

Ethics and Morality

Comparing Morality: Clinton and Trump Tweets Head to Head

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on June 26, 2016

Clinton and Trump both season their Twitter rhetoric with morality-laced words. But they do it very differently.

Clinton and Trump both season their Twitter rhetoric with morality-laced words. But they do it very differently.

President Donald Trump

Is Trump a Tyrant? What His Tweets Say

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on June 12, 2016

"Tyrant" talk seems to be sticking to presidential candidate Donald Trump. What does a systematic analysis of his own Twitter words say about his tyrannical tendencies?

"Tyrant" talk seems to be sticking to presidential candidate Donald Trump. What does a systematic analysis of his own Twitter words say about his tyrannical tendencies?

Politics

Why Are Presidential Debates Like NASCAR Races?

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on February 28, 2016

Non-verbal behavior has a huge effect on how we view politicians, sometimes even greater than their policy positions—the information we ideally hope drives our vote choices.

Non-verbal behavior has a huge effect on how we view politicians, sometimes even greater than their policy positions—the information we ideally hope drives our vote choices.

Politics

Are You Shocked by the Political Parties?

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on December 13, 2015

Politics matters to many people, and the electrical responses from their skin shows that.

Politics matters to many people, and the electrical responses from their skin shows that.

Politics

Voters Versus Terrorists: Who's Winning?

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on November 15, 2015

While our hearts ache for the victims of this latest revolting episode of the inhumanity to which some will go to gain power over others, it is important to step back and note that the terrorists don’t always win.

While our hearts ache for the victims of this latest revolting episode of the inhumanity to which some will go to gain power over others, it is important to step back and note that the terrorists don’t always win.

Politics

6 Insider Tips for New Ph.D. Students

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on September 2, 2015

Welcome to the Ph.D. “business”! It’s peculiar and you’re probably entering it at a huge information disadvantage. Profit from these insider tips.

Welcome to the Ph.D. “business”! It’s peculiar and you’re probably entering it at a huge information disadvantage. Profit from these insider tips.

Laughter

Laughing Matters During Presidential Primary Debates

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on August 5, 2015

How will we, the American Public, evaluate the candidates in the Republican presidential debates?

How will we, the American Public, evaluate the candidates in the Republican presidential debates?

Education

An Apple a Day Keeps the Tyrant Away

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on June 21, 2015

This simple question predicts a person's health and their likelihood of turning out to vote pretty well.

This simple question predicts a person's health and their likelihood of turning out to vote pretty well.

Personality

Do You Have the Personality of a Neanderthal?

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on April 26, 2015

Almost all of us have some Neanderthal in us. What can that tell us about how these ancient cousins of ours thought?

Almost all of us have some Neanderthal in us. What can that tell us about how these ancient cousins of ours thought?

Sport and Competition

Women Like Men With Big Medals

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on March 15, 2015

If our basic drive is to survive and reproduce, why do men, who have been the primary war fighters throughout human history, volunteer to subject themselves to the life-threatening dangers of war?

If our basic drive is to survive and reproduce, why do men, who have been the primary war fighters throughout human history, volunteer to subject themselves to the life-threatening dangers of war?

Politics

Are Canadian Voters Really This Dumb?

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on March 1, 2015

One of the nonpolitical shortcuts people use when evaluating politicians is their nonverbal displays—the messages they send with their facial expressions, body movement, eye contact, voice, and touch. How much does style matter over substance in politics?

One of the nonpolitical shortcuts people use when evaluating politicians is their nonverbal displays—the messages they send with their facial expressions, body movement, eye contact, voice, and touch. How much does style matter over substance in politics?

Body Language

Mr. Putin, Would You Lie Still So We Can Scan Your Brain?

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on February 15, 2015

How do we predict dangerous leaders' actions when they won't answer our proven psychological questionnaires or lie still for our fMRI bran scans? Well, here are a couple of choices.

How do we predict dangerous leaders' actions when they won't answer our proven psychological questionnaires or lie still for our fMRI bran scans? Well, here are a couple of choices.

Hormones

Does Cyber-Terrorism Terrorize? Hormones Suggest It Does

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on February 8, 2015

Think cyber-terrorism can't happen to you? Think it doesn't "hurt" anyone? Ask the 3,800 employees of Sony Pictures, including some of its stars, who got caught up in the international political intrigue over the company's movie, The Interview. And see what one study shows that cyber-terror does to our hormones.

Think cyber-terrorism can't happen to you? Think it doesn't "hurt" anyone? Ask the 3,800 employees of Sony Pictures, including some of its stars, who got caught up in the international political intrigue over the company's movie, The Interview. And see what one study shows that cyber-terror does to our hormones.

Testosterone

Power Corrupts…And Testosterone Corrupts Absolutely?

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on January 25, 2015

We’re all familiar with the cynical warning about leaders: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But research shows there's more to corruption than just power. And that "more" may be everyone's favorite sex hormone.

We’re all familiar with the cynical warning about leaders: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But research shows there's more to corruption than just power. And that "more" may be everyone's favorite sex hormone.

Politics

7 Key Questions to Ask During Your Grad School Interview

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on December 18, 2014

When interviewing for a Ph.D. program, you want to convey that you have a firm grasp of the journey you’re hoping to undertake. These seven questions will do just that.

When interviewing for a Ph.D. program, you want to convey that you have a firm grasp of the journey you’re hoping to undertake. These seven questions will do just that.

Politics

George Bernard Shaw, Imagination, And The Leaders We Get

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on November 9, 2014

Our imaginations are incredibly powerful. And if you listen to a Nobel Prize and Academy Award winner, and pay attention to a lot of research, you’ll see the leaders we get reflect our imaginations.

Our imaginations are incredibly powerful. And if you listen to a Nobel Prize and Academy Award winner, and pay attention to a lot of research, you’ll see the leaders we get reflect our imaginations.

Leadership

Are You Going to Make a Weighty Decision on Tuesday?

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on November 2, 2014

We like our leaders big. Despite the head scratching this phenomenon causes, I can’t escape this finding in my research. This may show why.

We like our leaders big. Despite the head scratching this phenomenon causes, I can’t escape this finding in my research. This may show why.

Politics

The Sweet Sexual Smell of Your Politics

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on September 14, 2014

Can we smell the politics of our mates?

Can we smell the politics of our mates?

Career

5 Dirty Little Secrets about Getting a PhD

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on September 1, 2014

So you’re thinking about getting a PhD? See these dirty little secrets about getting a PhD, which may save you years of work and thousands of dollars.

So you’re thinking about getting a PhD? See these dirty little secrets about getting a PhD, which may save you years of work and thousands of dollars.

Stress

You Could See It Coming: Chronic War Stress, Chronic Disease

Gregg R. Murray Ph.D. on July 20, 2014

The Israelis and Palestinians live cheek by jowl, and the threat of immediate violence brutally lingers for both, sometimes with devastating health consequences. This shows, once again, that biology can affect our politics, and politics can affect our biology.

The Israelis and Palestinians live cheek by jowl, and the threat of immediate violence brutally lingers for both, sometimes with devastating health consequences. This shows, once again, that biology can affect our politics, and politics can affect our biology.