Time Travel Across Borders

Understanding Our Past, Our Future, and Ourselves Through the Lens of Culture

Coronavirus Disease 2019
Remembering COVID-19

Qi Wang Ph.D. on June 12, 2026

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, it continues to impact our sense of self and well-being through remembrance and recollection.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, it continues to impact our sense of self and well-being through remembrance and recollection.

Time Management
Too Optimistic in Time Planning?

Qi Wang Ph.D. on January 30, 2026

Cultural factors, such as attitudes toward the past and an independent-interdependent orientation, shape how people plan their time to complete everyday tasks.

Cultural factors, such as attitudes toward the past and an independent-interdependent orientation, shape how people plan their time to complete everyday tasks.

Decision-Making
The Wisdom of Temporal Perspectives in Decision-Making

Qi Wang Ph.D. on October 27, 2025

The wisdom of temporal perspectives allows people to look into the past and future to understand current situations and devise effective plans and strategies for problem-solving.

The wisdom of temporal perspectives allows people to look into the past and future to understand current situations and devise effective plans and strategies for problem-solving.

Social Media
Are Influencers Actually More Influential?

Qi Wang Ph.D. on May 30, 2025

Influencers do not have an advantage in influencing people’s memory for their content creation. Their power may rest upon people's blind trust in what their idols share.

Influencers do not have an advantage in influencing people’s memory for their content creation. Their power may rest upon people's blind trust in what their idols share.

Media
Bad News Bias Perpetuates Collective Pessimism

Qi Wang Ph.D. on March 25, 2025

Bad news bias shatters people's hope for their collective future. Balanced news coverage is needed to inform people of the nation’s conditions and facilitate a hopeful outlook.

Bad news bias shatters people's hope for their collective future. Balanced news coverage is needed to inform people of the nation’s conditions and facilitate a hopeful outlook.

Decision-Making
Looking to the Past to See the Future

Qi Wang Ph.D. on January 31, 2025

Learning from the past to prepare for the future is critical for the well-being of individuals and societies. For a better future, a historical perspective needs to be cultivated.

Learning from the past to prepare for the future is critical for the well-being of individuals and societies. For a better future, a historical perspective needs to be cultivated.

Bias
“You Are Biased, Not Me”

Qi Wang Ph.D. on September 20, 2024

Blaming others for biases and flaws while believing oneself to be innocent is common in everyday life.

Blaming others for biases and flaws while believing oneself to be innocent is common in everyday life.

Failures in live
Resilience
The Cultural Meaning of Failure

Qi Wang Ph.D. on July 29, 2024

We encounter failure in our daily lives. How we interpret the meaning of failure and, in turn, how we remember and react to failure, can be influenced by our cultural upbringing.

We encounter failure in our daily lives. How we interpret the meaning of failure and, in turn, how we remember and react to failure, can be influenced by our cultural upbringing.

False Memories
Online Misinformation Produces False Memory

Qi Wang Ph.D. on April 4, 2024

After people experience or witness a real-life event, exposure to online misinformation greatly increases false memories, particularly for peripheral aspects of the event.

After people experience or witness a real-life event, exposure to online misinformation greatly increases false memories, particularly for peripheral aspects of the event.

Selective remembering
Memory
Social Media Makes Our Memory More Fallible

Qi Wang Ph.D. on March 6, 2024

Our memory reflects our motives and is subject to external influences and manipulation. The fallibility of our memory is magnified exponentially in the social media era.

Our memory reflects our motives and is subject to external influences and manipulation. The fallibility of our memory is magnified exponentially in the social media era.

Looking into the future
Optimism
Why Americans See a Gloomy Future, but Others Don't

Qi Wang Ph.D. on February 8, 2024

Although Americans are optimistic about their personal futures, they are pessimistic about their country’s. This paradox is not shared by those in other cultures.

Although Americans are optimistic about their personal futures, they are pessimistic about their country’s. This paradox is not shared by those in other cultures.

Social Media
Our Three Selves in the Age of Social Media

Qi Wang Ph.D. on February 2, 2024

We have three selves in the age of social media: who we think we are, how we present ourselves online, and what other social media users think of us.

We have three selves in the age of social media: who we think we are, how we present ourselves online, and what other social media users think of us.

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