Cui Bono

Human behavior unpacked

John A. Johnson Ph.D.

What Is Autonomy and Why Is It So Difficult to Achieve?

If we are the product of our parents' and peers' expectations, can we ever be truly autonomous?

What Creates Experiences of Magical Specialness?

What does it mean when things or people seems so special that they are not of this world?

When Right Is Not Right

Nearly all of us believe in moral truths, that certain things are objectively right or wrong. I explain why we accept moral truths, even though there are none.

Are All Personality Descriptions Social Constructions?

How do we know that our perceptions of personality are not just figments of our collective imagination?

Appeals to the Common Good as Immoral Manipulation

Although it seems obvious that we should all sacrifice for the "common good," who defines the common good? And shouldn't you get to choose who benefits from your self-sacrifice?

Psychological Research and Personal Agendas

John Lennon said, "We all want to change the world." Some think this can be done by creating feel-good stories about reality. We have a better chance by taking reality seriously.

Is Property Theft?

Can the cooperative, mutually beneficial relationships that characterized small human groups for most of history be revived in a modern economy?

Fundamental Attribution Error: Neither Fundamental Nor Error

Science should never publish fake news. And yet social psychology has published fake news about the "Fundamental Attribution Error" for decades. Why?

Who Benefits From Your Political Behavior? You Do!

The political right is convinced that they are saving civilization while the left is destroying it. The left believes the opposite. Both are acting in their own self-interest.

Hormones and Intelligent Choices

Biology is destiny. But you are your biology, so you are your own destiny, or at least an important part of it. Trying to deny biology will not make you more free.

The Psychology of Expectations

"What's wrong with expecting people to do what is right? Don't I have a right to feel resentful when they don't?" Find out what is wrong with that kind of thinking.

Measurement Validity Explained in Simple Language

How do we know that a test that allegedly measures shyness actually measures shyness?

Measurement Reliability Explained in Simple Language

Many "quizzes" on the Web have no demonstrated reliability or validity. What you need to know as an informed consumer about the reliability and validity of psychological tests.

Hypotheses About Gender Imbalance in Expressing Opinions

Why are more opinion letters published in the NYT written by male authors? I explore both hypotheses about the answer to this question and how theories determine our hypotheses.

What Mythology Reveals About the Mind

Can myths reveal truths about the mind? And did you know that the stories you tell about yourself can be useful myth-making?

How Do Psychologists Determine Personality Trait Levels?

Where, exactly, is the dividing line between introversion and extraversion? Or, for any trait, how do psychologists determine if you are low, average, or high degree on that trait?

War as a Game

It may seem absurd that we have rules of fair play that regulate the way we conduct wars. The ethological concept of ritualized aggression may help to explain the Law of War.

Vampires Are Real

While the formidable qualities of bad boys make them excellent protectors, these same qualities also make them potentially dangerous to women.

Biology Determines Every Thought, Feeling, and Behavior

Psychologists say behavior results from the interaction of biology and environment, yet argue about their relative importance. Read why the importance of biology is always 100%.

Why Lending With Interest Is Felt to Be Immoral

A mismatch between evolved feelings about fairness in exchanges and modern economic practices might eventually lead to a revolution against the current political/economic system.

Why Aren't We Doing Less With More?

New technologies allow to complete tasks much more quickly, potentially providing us with enormous amounts of free time. So why do we fill that time with more work instead of play?

Are Scores on the MBTI Totally Meaningless?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is not without its faults, but the criticisms leveled at this inventory by many of my colleagues are off-base.

The New Website for the International Personality Item Pool

Authorities have controlled psychological testing for decades. While this regulation might reduce harm, it also stifles creativity and progress. The IPIP is an antidote.

Co-opting and Redefining Religious Words by the Nonreligious

Philosophical naturalism denies the existence of supernatural entities such as angels, demons, elves, fairies, ghosts, gods, souls, and spirits, except as figments of imagination. How is it possible, then, that some naturalists describe themselves as "spiritual" and describe some aspects of nature as "sacred?"

Wayne Dyer, 1940-2015

Wayne Dyer's career as one of the most successful self-help authors and motivational speakers of all time came to an end last month at age 75, when he died of heart failure. Despite his success and accolades from millions, he has been accused of propagating New Age drivel. In this post I examine Dyer's life and discuss his contributions.

Who (or What) Chooses Healthy Thoughts?

We know that we can improve our emotional state by looking at our situation differently. This is called cognitive reappraisal or reframing. Cognitive reappraisal seems to be a matter of conscious choice, but some research indicates that the conscious self is a reflection of unconscious brain activity rather than an intentional agent that makes choices.

Religious Individuality

Eric Dietrich posted "It is not that there are no gods or goddesses, but rather that there are no [true] religions." I agree, but not just because no religion is true. I go a step further. Because each individual's religious experience is unique, there are as many versions of a religion as there are members. Ultimately, there are no Christians, Buddhists, etc.

A Response to Sam Harris's Writings on Moral Truth Pt 3 of 3

In August of 2013, Sam Harris issued a challenge to refute, in 1,000 words or less, the central thesis of his book, The Moral Landscape. This thesis is that "questions of morality and values must have right and wrong answers that fall within the purview of science." In a three-part blog post, I explain why I agree with everything in his book except the central thesis.

A Response to Sam Harris's Writings on Moral Truth Pt 2 of 3

In August of 2013, Sam Harris issued a challenge to refute the central thesis of his book, The Moral Landscape. This thesis is that "questions of morality and values must have right and wrong answers that fall within the purview of science." This is part 2 of a 3-part post explaining why I agree with everything in his book except the central thesis.

A Response to Sam Harris's Writings on Moral Truth Pt 1 of 3

In August of 2013, Sam Harris issued a challenge to refute, in 1,000 words or less, the central thesis of his book, The Moral Landscape. This thesis is that "questions of morality and values must have right and wrong answers that fall within the purview of science." In a three-part blog post, I explain why I agree with everything in his book except the central thesis.

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