Mental Mishaps

Errors in perceiving, remembering, and thinking.

Ira Hyman Ph.D.

Robots, and Accidents, on the Roads

Humans are lousy drivers. We get distracted and bored. We drive when we’re tired and drunk. Maybe the robots and self-driving cars can save us from ourselves. Or maybe not.

My Memories Live in an Old Farmhouse

Some places seem haunted, not by ghosts but by the past and our memories.

You're Vulnerable, but I'm Immune

Do you worry about rumors? Are you concerned about fake news? False information might change other people. Of course, you’re immune, aren’t you?

Stuck on Repeat in Alzheimer’s Disease

If you have a relative with Alzheimer’s, you’ve probably experienced conversational loops. A topic comes once and within a few minutes, you're back to it again, stuck on repeat.

When a College Education Makes Things Worse

What if a college education makes things worse? Should we worry about the value of education in the post-truth world?

He Said, She Said, and a Videotape

Sometimes we get caught telling a whopper. And sometimes, our whopper may not actually be a lie. How should you respond?

Taking a Stand When Taking a Knee

How we rewrite and romanticize memories of protests.

Should I Boycott Football?

I love football. I played when I was young. I appreciate the beautiful ballet of violence. But I wonder if I should boycott the sport.

Should You Go to the Counter-Protest?

When the Nazis, KKK, and white supremacists march in your town, should you go to the counter-protest?

How Good Is Your Autopilot?

Have you used autopilot when driving? I don’t mean a self-driving car; I mean those times when you space out for a moment, your mind wanders, and your autopilot keeps you moving.

Distracted Parents and Problem Children

Have you seen them at the parks and in the coffee shops? Parents hypnotized by their phones and computers; unaware of what their children are doing. What happens to those children?

Why Bureaucrats Are like Three-year-olds

Bureaucrats have minds. Really. Nevertheless, they frequently display theory of mind failures – an ability they should have developed as preschoolers.

A New Way to Avoid Impulse Shopping

Impulse shopping. I walk into the store with a shopping list, but come out with things that were not on my list. Is there any hope? Maybe your cell phone can save the day.

Science Is Not Political

Nonetheless, science is embroiled in politics. Why is science so controversial, and why are the scientists planning a big march?

Good People, Evil Actions

Can anyone become a monster? We like to think that only unusual and horrible people do evil things. But what if anyone, even a basically good person, will perform evil actions?

Crowd Size, Line Length, and Conformity

When you quietly agree with the statements of a group, how does conforming change you? Can you retain your original views? Does conforming alter the way you see the world?

Does the Truth Matter?

Does the truth matter to you? No one likes being lied to, or at least that is what we say. But the truth is that we seem to like some lies.

These Dishes Didn’t Wash Themselves

Does anyone ever notice the work you do? Think about your unnoticed housework. All of those dishes washed and all of that laundry folded. Will anyone ever notice?

A Trump Effect for Sexual Harassment and Assault Memories

Memories can hide and wait. The election has provided a moment for sexual harassment and assault memories to return to awareness and become part of a national conversation.

President Trump?

Donald Trump is easily the most unusual and risky presidential candidate I’ve seen in my life. And that may be a winning strategy in this year’s election.

For Those With Alzheimer’s, a Place to Remember

Alzheimer’s disease slowly and invariably steals a person’s past. But we may be able to create environments that help recall it.

Oh No, Pokémon Go!

We have an infestation of Pokémon on my campus and in my community. Have you seen any Pokémon lurking around your home, at work, in parks, or on the streets near you?

The Orlando Mass Shooting: Terrorist Attack or Hate Crime?

Was the Orlando mass shooting a terrorist attack or a hate crime? How we think about and describe the massacre matters. It really matters.

Get Your Head in the Clouds

Problem solutions like to play hide and seek. We seek. And they hide. The harder we search, the more they hide. Here are 3 steps to help you find creative solutions.

What If Money Can Buy Happiness?

Money can’t buy happiness and it can’t buy love. But what if it’s a myth. What if there are ways in which your money can make you happy?

Was It Really Love at First Sight?

Do you remember the first time you met your partner? Was it love at first sight?

But I Knew That!

Students frequently express frustration when reviewing tests. They see the correct answer and wonder how they missed it. They knew that one. But did they really?

The Unshakeable Power of Rumor

Have you heard the latest? When we hear rumors, we make guesses and draw conclusions. But can we correct our mistaken beliefs when we receive more accurate information?

The Appeal of Donald Trump

Why is Donald Trump still leading the polls in the republican presidential race? The pundits keep expecting him to crash and burn. Try a high risk gamble at the Trump casino.

Save Me From the Fact-Checkers

Politicians lie. They also exaggerate and misremember. Each creates an autobiographical past that makes a great story but which probably isn’t completely true. But we are just like the lying politicians except for one critical difference.

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