Ulterior Motives

Education

Can Good Learners Judge How Well They Learned?

Art Markman Ph.D. on October 1, 2025

You need to judge what you have learned to decide how hard to work on learning that material in the future. How accurate are those judgments?

You need to judge what you have learned to decide how hard to work on learning that material in the future. How accurate are those judgments?

Dunning-Kruger Effect

Using Chess to Study Overconfidence

Art Markman Ph.D. on September 24, 2025

A new study on chess players explored people's overconfidence in a domain with clear measures of performance and the opportunity for people to get feedback.

A new study on chess players explored people's overconfidence in a domain with clear measures of performance and the opportunity for people to get feedback.

Motivation

How Does Your Motivation Affect the Achievement of Goals?

Art Markman Ph.D. on September 12, 2025

People often set goals to achieve (like New Year's resolutions). New research explores the influence of internal and external motivation in choosing and fulfilling goals.

People often set goals to achieve (like New Year's resolutions). New research explores the influence of internal and external motivation in choosing and fulfilling goals.

Memory

Social Interaction Affects Memory

Art Markman Ph.D. on September 8, 2025

Among the many types of information your memory system uses to decide what to remember, new research suggests social interaction influences what you learn.

Among the many types of information your memory system uses to decide what to remember, new research suggests social interaction influences what you learn.

Forgiveness

The Emotional Benefits of Forgiveness

Art Markman Ph.D. on August 27, 2025

There is a real benefit to forgiveness; it affects your memory and your reaction to your memory of past events. New research explores this effect.

There is a real benefit to forgiveness; it affects your memory and your reaction to your memory of past events. New research explores this effect.

Attention

Monitoring Performance Slows the Perception of Progress

Art Markman Ph.D. on June 24, 2025

You have likely heard the saying “A watched pot never boils.” Does paying attention to something actually decrease your sense of progress?

You have likely heard the saying “A watched pot never boils.” Does paying attention to something actually decrease your sense of progress?

Social Media

How Your Values Affect What You Share on Social Media

Art Markman Ph.D. on June 11, 2025

It is important to understand the factors that drive the sharing of misinformation on social media. Research explores how people's values affect sharing.

It is important to understand the factors that drive the sharing of misinformation on social media. Research explores how people's values affect sharing.

Motivation

Incentives and Discovery

Art Markman Ph.D. on June 3, 2025

There are lots of benefits to promoting discoveries. Can incentives be used to make people more likely to make discoveries?

There are lots of benefits to promoting discoveries. Can incentives be used to make people more likely to make discoveries?

Social Media

Extreme Weather Can Increase Social Media Use

Art Markman Ph.D. on March 19, 2025

There isn't much research on factors that drive social media research. For example, does an external factor like the weather matter? A new study suggests it does.

There isn't much research on factors that drive social media research. For example, does an external factor like the weather matter? A new study suggests it does.

Cognition

Counteracting the Effects of Misinformation

Art Markman Ph.D. on March 14, 2025

You might think that the best way to counteract misinformation is to point out the truth. New research suggests a counterintuitive strategy that may be better.

You might think that the best way to counteract misinformation is to point out the truth. New research suggests a counterintuitive strategy that may be better.

Social Media

How Can You Address Effects of Social Media on Well-Being?

Art Markman Ph.D. on March 6, 2025

Extensive social media use can decrease well-being. Interventions that promote abstinence or social learning were able to decrease these effects.

Extensive social media use can decrease well-being. Interventions that promote abstinence or social learning were able to decrease these effects.

Education

Why So Many People Study Wrong

Art Markman Ph.D. on February 26, 2025

The powerful potential of self-explaining.

The powerful potential of self-explaining.

Cognition

Language Helps You Understand Events You See

Art Markman Ph.D. on December 10, 2024

You may not realize that you're using language when you watch an event unfold, but new research suggests that you are.

You may not realize that you're using language when you watch an event unfold, but new research suggests that you are.

Motivation

Apparently, Failure Is Overrated

Art Markman Ph.D. on October 30, 2024

Perhaps the tritest advice in self-help books over the past two decades is that we should not be afraid to fail. Research suggests people learn less from failures than we think.

Perhaps the tritest advice in self-help books over the past two decades is that we should not be afraid to fail. Research suggests people learn less from failures than we think.

Shame

How Are Shame, Guilt, and Embarrassment Different?

Art Markman Ph.D. on October 3, 2024

Embarrassment, shame, and guilt are all negative emotions you experience when you have done something wrong. Despite their similarities, they are distinct in important ways.

Embarrassment, shame, and guilt are all negative emotions you experience when you have done something wrong. Despite their similarities, they are distinct in important ways.

Loneliness

Loneliness Feeds on Itself

Art Markman Ph.D. on September 27, 2024

When you don't feel cared for or liked, you feel lonely. New research suggests that loneliness can also lead you to underestimate the care and regard you receive from others.

When you don't feel cared for or liked, you feel lonely. New research suggests that loneliness can also lead you to underestimate the care and regard you receive from others.

Child Development

Stories Can Help Children Learn to Explore

Art Markman Ph.D. on September 12, 2024

Children learn a lot about how to navigate the world from others. New research demonstrates how stories play a role in that learning.

Children learn a lot about how to navigate the world from others. New research demonstrates how stories play a role in that learning.

Cognition

How We Make Quick Decisions About the Number of Objects We See

Art Markman Ph.D. on September 10, 2024

You often have to make judgments about how many objects you see. New research suggests that the degree to which the objects are typically seen together affects those judgments.

You often have to make judgments about how many objects you see. New research suggests that the degree to which the objects are typically seen together affects those judgments.

Consumer Behavior

Reviews With Pictures Are (Sometimes) Helpful

Art Markman Ph.D. on June 7, 2024

Many factors may make a review more or less helpful. How do photos help a review have more impact? New research explores this question.

Many factors may make a review more or less helpful. How do photos help a review have more impact? New research explores this question.

Politics

The Psychological Value of Balanced Pragmatism

Art Markman Ph.D. on June 4, 2024

People want to talk to othes they disagree with when they have positive perceptions of them.

People want to talk to othes they disagree with when they have positive perceptions of them.