Good Thinking

Why not capitalize on primate intelligence to develop a strategic training response to this kind of situation to avoid tragedies like Harambe's shooting death in the future?

Media

John Oliver Hilariously Explains Bad Science Media

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on May 11, 2016

Like the proverbial game of telephone, by the time a study is summarized by the media, the results are distorted—sometimes hilariously so.

Like the proverbial game of telephone, by the time a study is summarized by the media, the results are distorted—sometimes hilariously so.

Genetics

Praise for Adoptive Moms and Stepmoms on Mother's Day

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on May 7, 2016

What do adoptive moms and stepmoms have in common? They believe that a family is a group of people who love and care for each other. Shared genes are optional.

What do adoptive moms and stepmoms have in common? They believe that a family is a group of people who love and care for each other. Shared genes are optional.

Sleep

Your Brain Does Not Like Sleeping in a New Place

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on May 2, 2016

Only half of your brain enters deep sleep when you try to sleep in an unfamiliar place.

Only half of your brain enters deep sleep when you try to sleep in an unfamiliar place.

Health

What Really Happens When Parents Hit Their Kids

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on April 29, 2016

The results are in: 50 years worth of research shows that spanking is ineffective as discipline and detrimental to mental health.

The results are in: 50 years worth of research shows that spanking is ineffective as discipline and detrimental to mental health.

Sensation-Seeking

Inside the Mind of a Risk Taker

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on April 26, 2016

"The take home message from these success stories is not just that perseverance pays off. It is that successful entrepreneurs are not risk-takers, they are calculated risk-takers."

"The take home message from these success stories is not just that perseverance pays off. It is that successful entrepreneurs are not risk-takers, they are calculated risk-takers."

Education

Why 9 out of 10 Parents Think Their Kids Are at Grade Level

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on April 22, 2016

Kamenetz seems to believe "grade level" means "average". A grade level standard is a minimum, not an average.

Kamenetz seems to believe "grade level" means "average". A grade level standard is a minimum, not an average.

Forgiveness

Should Parents Make Their Children Apologize?

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on April 13, 2016

Should children be required to apologize when they cause deliberate or unintentional harm? Here is what science has to say.

Should children be required to apologize when they cause deliberate or unintentional harm? Here is what science has to say.

Anxiety

Socially Anxious? Beware Where You Look

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on April 11, 2016

People who suffer from social anxiety tend to focus on negative social stimuli (like angry faces) when in a group. This habit can have devastating consequences.

People who suffer from social anxiety tend to focus on negative social stimuli (like angry faces) when in a group. This habit can have devastating consequences.

Addiction

What Horses And Genes Are Teaching Us About Addiction

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on April 8, 2016

Three genes have been implicated in addiction to marijuana. Here is how horses can help us understand what that means.

Three genes have been implicated in addiction to marijuana. Here is how horses can help us understand what that means.

Leadership

A College Degree Pays Off Less If You Grew Up Working Class

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on March 30, 2016

Working class and poor students make one huge mistake in college that ends up costing them thousands of dollars in lifetime earnings.

Working class and poor students make one huge mistake in college that ends up costing them thousands of dollars in lifetime earnings.

Empathy

The Claim: Empathy Makes the World Worse

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on March 21, 2016

Yale psychologist Paul Bloom argues that acting out of empathy is morally selfish.

Yale psychologist Paul Bloom argues that acting out of empathy is morally selfish.

Environment

More on What Ayn Rand Got Wrong About Human Nature

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on March 17, 2016

Ayn Rand based her philosophy on four core beliefs, each of which is disconfirmed by evidence.

Ayn Rand based her philosophy on four core beliefs, each of which is disconfirmed by evidence.

Persuasion

How to Get People to Change Their Minds

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on February 25, 2016

Cornell researchers turned to social media to find out how people persuade others to change their minds. What they found was surprising.

Cornell researchers turned to social media to find out how people persuade others to change their minds. What they found was surprising.

Altruism

What Happens When You Take Ayn Rand Seriously?

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on February 17, 2016

Among Ayn Rand's devotees are highly influential celebrities, such as Brad Pitt and Eva Mendes, and politicos, such as Paul Ryan and Ted Cruz. Here's why that's a problem.

Among Ayn Rand's devotees are highly influential celebrities, such as Brad Pitt and Eva Mendes, and politicos, such as Paul Ryan and Ted Cruz. Here's why that's a problem.

Relationships

Love in the Twilight Zone

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on February 14, 2016

What would you do if given the opportunity to trade in your body for a younger model?

What would you do if given the opportunity to trade in your body for a younger model?

Gender

Why Millennials Don't Call Themselves Feminists

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on February 12, 2016

More millennial women support Bernie Sanders than Hillary Clinton, a phenomenon that is an indictment of modern day feminism.

More millennial women support Bernie Sanders than Hillary Clinton, a phenomenon that is an indictment of modern day feminism.

Teamwork

When Teamwork Backfires

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on January 19, 2016

Work productivity soars when men and women work on the same team. But men are more likely to get the credit.

Work productivity soars when men and women work on the same team. But men are more likely to get the credit.

Motivation

The Claim: People Don't Want Economic Equality

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on December 24, 2015

A recent Atlantic essay argued that people don't really want equality. We want fairness. So when is inequality considered unfair?

A recent Atlantic essay argued that people don't really want equality. We want fairness. So when is inequality considered unfair?

Forgiveness

The Art of the Non-Apology

Denise Cummins Ph.D. on September 16, 2015

When the hosts of the talk news show The View mocked Miss Colorado's monolog about her work with Alzheimer's patients, they faced a backlash of angry viewers. So they responded with a non-apology. Here's what they should have done instead.

When the hosts of the talk news show The View mocked Miss Colorado's monolog about her work with Alzheimer's patients, they faced a backlash of angry viewers. So they responded with a non-apology. Here's what they should have done instead.