The Big Questions

Life, death and free will.

Nathan A Heflick Ph.D.

How Can I Have a Self I Am Not Aware Of?

There is a "me" that I am not aware of. That is a bit unnerving.

(Psychologically) Escaping Death

One way to cope with death is to try and avoid thinking about yourself at all. This has implications for physical and mental health.

Fake News?

Why do we believe fake news? Recent research suggests that we are prone to believe what matches our pre-existing motivations and beliefs.

Can Smiling Make Things Funnier?

Can we enjoy things more just by smiling?

Self-Disclosure, Social Support and Asthma

Does social support relate to anti-inflammatory gene expression in people with asthma?

Self-Compassion Reduces Negative Mood Over Time

Is it better to fight or accept negative metal states?

Thinking Fast, Feeling Good?

New research explores the link between thought speed and mental health.

The Importance of Weak Ties

Do interactions with peripheral members of our lives relate to well-being?

Gender Norms for Emotional Expression

Kavanaugh showed anger, while Ford did not. What do gender norms have to do with the perceived credibility of these two individuals?

Can Governments Replace Belief in God?

Does a stable government reduce religiosity?

Existential Isolation: Why Is It Higher Among Males?

For many males being kind, warm, and emotionally open is a sign of weakness. A by-product of this is feelings of existential isolation.

Using Food and Music to Cope

Can music help reduce emotional eating?

The Infinite Universe and Little Old Me

Space is a beautiful, magnificent thing. But what impact does thinking about it have on our mental health, empathy and feeling of connection to others?

(A)Theism, Meaning, and Death Anxiety

How do atheism and theism impact people's meaning in life and death anxiety when thinking about death?

Did Russia or Cambridge Analytica Sway Anyone's Vote?

Russia and Cambridge Analytica tried to persuade people's votes. But why does everyone deny that this influenced them specifically? Research provides answers.

Finding the Individual In Aggregated Study Data

Story after story was shared in which music had changed people's lives in meaningful ways, helping people not just to survive but to live.

The Appeal of Unequally Distributed Tax Cuts

Do people want less, if it means other people don't get more? How do studies testing this potentially relate to the support (or lack of support) for Trump's new tax cuts?

Do You See What I See?

Do our goals and motivations influence what we see?

What Counts as Sex?

What counts as sex is shaped by our own sexual preferences.

It Won't Take Long

Do those in power estimate the time things will take to be completed more than those not in power?

Does Power Impact How We Perceive Emotion?

Power plays a role in how effectively we recognize emotion in others.

Manliness and Mental Health

The need to appear masculine impacts men's mental health.

Black Hearts and Punishing Prostitutes

What do playing cards with red spades and black hearts have to do with your desire to punish people or to defend your political views?

Death Isn't as Awful as We Imagine

When death comes, will it be as bad as we think?

On Interpreting Islamic Terror

We tend to see outgroup members as all alike to each other. But this simply isn't the case.

Why We (Often) Believe Fake News

Fake news has a strong appeal. Why do we fall for it?

Wanting Less, So Long As Others Don't Get More

If others get more, would we prefer to get nothing?

What We Think About Attractive Women and Men

When it comes to being hired, is there a "dark-side" to being attractive?

A Gentleman and a Scholar: Robert Kastenbaum

The phrase "gentleman and scholar" could've been coined to describe Robert Kastenbaum. In his death, reflected through his life, we have much to learn from this man.

Supernaturally Better than You

Is religion associated with thinking you are better than others?

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