Homeostasis Disruptor

Questioning status quos in psychology, academia, and society

Brian M. Hughes Ph.D.

Halloween, COVID-19, and the Psychology of Masks

At Halloween, we pretend to be terrified when kids wear masks. COVID has turned this convention on its head: We get jumpy when adults refuse to wear theirs.

Psychology Is Still in Crisis

Psychologists are working hard to deal with the effects of the replication crisis. But are they doing anything about its causes?

Rest in Peace, Professor Hawking

A cultural icon of our times has died. His guidance will live on.

The Psychology of Stand-Up Comedy

Academics have not only studied stand-up comedy. Occasionally they have performed it too.

Evidence-Based Dating: What Could Go Wrong?

There is no shortage of research into romance and relationships. But is it convincing? And are psychologists really best placed to advise others on romance?

The Irishness of Psychology (and Psychology of Irishness)

It's time to ask whether psychology is in fact Irish. Also: What influences the Irish psyche?

Disease Mongering: Past, Present and Future

Medicine is often criticized for depicting ordinary experiences as diseases requiring treatment. But is psychology guilty of this too?

Why Boastful People Likely Aren't Virgins

Research suggests that boastful people are more sexually promiscuous, implying an evolutionary advantage for braggarts. But can such a claim really be corroborated?

On Bragging Rights (and Wrongs)

Subtle self-promotion is now so common that the Oxford English Dictionary lists 'humblebrag' as an official word. New studies have sought evolutionary explanations for bragging.

It's the Negative Campaigning, Stupid

Do negative campaigns risk alienating voters? Opinion polls have long suggested that they do. But new experimental research tells a different story.

The Perils of Benchmarking Good Behavior Using Self-Report

The UK government has published new guidelines on alcohol consumption and, yes, they are controversial. But are they undermined by self-report bias?