Questions of Character

Agreeableness

Why We Hate to Wait

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on December 23, 2025

Personality traits are a major factor but we can work on that.

Personality traits are a major factor but we can work on that.

Bias

How Reading Stories About Virtue Can Affect Prejudice

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on July 21, 2025

Students read and reflected on stories about challenging interpersonal relationships. Different versions of the stories mentioned virtue and/or race. Learn about the results.

Students read and reflected on stories about challenging interpersonal relationships. Different versions of the stories mentioned virtue and/or race. Learn about the results.

Emotion Regulation

One Way to Improve Patience

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on January 11, 2025

The next time you're trying to encourage someone not to give up on a long-term goal, focus the conversation on the rewards of making it across the finish line.

The next time you're trying to encourage someone not to give up on a long-term goal, focus the conversation on the rewards of making it across the finish line.

Ethics and Morality

Helping Children Be More Honest

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on December 2, 2024

We all likely want our children to be more honest. Some recent research assesses the effectiveness of different ways of doing so.

We all likely want our children to be more honest. Some recent research assesses the effectiveness of different ways of doing so.

Ethics and Morality

Scientists Exaggerate How Ethical They Are in Doing Science

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on April 24, 2024

A new study suggests that scientists tend to inflate their own research ethics. One important implication is that this overconfidence may lead to ethical blindspots.

A new study suggests that scientists tend to inflate their own research ethics. One important implication is that this overconfidence may lead to ethical blindspots.

Cognition

Why We Get More Impatient When the End is in Sight

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on April 8, 2024

What Taylor Swift’s new album, COVID-19 vaccines, and the 2020 election can teach us about patience.

What Taylor Swift’s new album, COVID-19 vaccines, and the 2020 election can teach us about patience.

Deception

How Often Do People Actually Lie?

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on February 15, 2024

Contrary to the impression you might get from social media or the news, lying is very much the exception, not the rule.

Contrary to the impression you might get from social media or the news, lying is very much the exception, not the rule.

Infidelity

After Affairs, Lots of Justifications but Little Regret

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on December 11, 2023

A recent study finds troubling feelings about infidelity among Ashley Madison customers.

A recent study finds troubling feelings about infidelity among Ashley Madison customers.

Infidelity

Protection Against Infidelity? Consider Perspective-Taking

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on December 3, 2023

New research finds that adopting the perspective of your significant other can help to work against temptation.

New research finds that adopting the perspective of your significant other can help to work against temptation.

Deception

Do People Lie All the Time in Person and on Social Media?

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on November 6, 2023

Why most of us are not liars, and the difference that social media and friends and family members make.

Why most of us are not liars, and the difference that social media and friends and family members make.

Deception

Are Most People Liars?

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on November 28, 2022

How does your lying compare to most people?

How does your lying compare to most people?

Trust

Scrutinizing an Influential Study of Dishonesty

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on September 13, 2021

Was data manipulated in research on dishonesty?

Was data manipulated in research on dishonesty?

Deception

The Slower You Respond, the Less Truthful You Appear

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on July 30, 2021

If you want to pull a fast one on someone, the faster you respond, the more likely it is that you will succeed.

If you want to pull a fast one on someone, the faster you respond, the more likely it is that you will succeed.

Gender

Do Girls Negotiate Differently Than Boys?

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on June 3, 2021

A recent study finds significant differences as early as 8- to 9-years-old.

A recent study finds significant differences as early as 8- to 9-years-old.

False Memories

Those Who Produce BS Are More Vulnerable to Others Who Do the Same

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on March 24, 2021

If you dish it out, you may be more likely to fall for it in return.

If you dish it out, you may be more likely to fall for it in return.

Deception

Are People Who Curse Actually More Honest?

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on February 24, 2021

Research explores whether cursing might be a sign of greater honesty.

Research explores whether cursing might be a sign of greater honesty.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Can Mask Wearing Be a Clue to Someone’s Dishonesty?

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on February 15, 2021

People who wore their masks correctly showed more honesty in an experimental task than those who didn't.

People who wore their masks correctly showed more honesty in an experimental task than those who didn't.

Environment

The Cinnabon Made Me Do It

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on May 30, 2019

From Cinnabon to the Bathroom: How we may be influenced by subtle factors in our environment and what it could mean for moral character and virtue.

From Cinnabon to the Bathroom: How we may be influenced by subtle factors in our environment and what it could mean for moral character and virtue.

Deception

What Does It Take to Have Good Character?

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on January 28, 2019

We should all become virtuous, but what does that even mean?

We should all become virtuous, but what does that even mean?

Altruism

True Generosity Involves More Than Just Giving

Christian B. Miller Ph.D. on May 17, 2018

Is Bill Gates really a generous person? How can we tell if anyone is?

Is Bill Gates really a generous person? How can we tell if anyone is?