Why Religion Is Natural and Science Is Not

Copying social conventions generates more faithful imitation than copying the causally relevant aspects of experts' skills.

Health

Mask-Wearing as a Cognitive Cue

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on March 3, 2021

The vaccinated should continue to comply with public health measures for a reason beyond concerns about infectiousness and social solidarity.

The vaccinated should continue to comply with public health measures for a reason beyond concerns about infectiousness and social solidarity.

Big 5 Personality Traits

The Not-Quite-So-Big Big 5

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on December 24, 2020

The applicability of the Big 5 personality dimensions may be limited to WEIRD societies.

The applicability of the Big 5 personality dimensions may be limited to WEIRD societies.

Psychology

The Weirdest Minds in the World

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on September 27, 2020

A new book aims to explain the many cognitive oddities of people who live in Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (i.e., WEIRD) societies.

A new book aims to explain the many cognitive oddities of people who live in Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (i.e., WEIRD) societies.

Religion

Will There Be a Resurgence of Religiosity in America?

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on July 6, 2020

An increasing number of Americans have come to reject religious affiliation in recent years, but the current series of national and global crises may reverse that trend.

An increasing number of Americans have come to reject religious affiliation in recent years, but the current series of national and global crises may reverse that trend.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Cognition and Contagion

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on April 12, 2020

With much of the world in quarantine, some are pushing for a rapid end to restrictions. But common sense and intuition are not enough in this pandemic.

With much of the world in quarantine, some are pushing for a rapid end to restrictions. But common sense and intuition are not enough in this pandemic.

Environment

Science and a Free Society

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on February 1, 2020

The current American administration has restricted appeals to scientific evidence in many government agencies, threatening not just sound policy-making but freedom itself.

The current American administration has restricted appeals to scientific evidence in many government agencies, threatening not just sound policy-making but freedom itself.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Movies' Superheroes and Religions' Superhumans

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on November 10, 2019

Cinematic films have struggled to find success amid a worldwide boom in superhero movies and other "franchise pictures." The causes lie deeper than simple supply and demand.

Cinematic films have struggled to find success amid a worldwide boom in superhero movies and other "franchise pictures." The causes lie deeper than simple supply and demand.

Bias

Bias Beyond Belief

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on August 11, 2019

People in religious societies tend to be deeply skeptical about the moral goodness of people without religion. Are people in secular societies any different?

People in religious societies tend to be deeply skeptical about the moral goodness of people without religion. Are people in secular societies any different?

Health

Measles Marches to the Tune of the Vaccine-Hesitant

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on May 6, 2019

The choice not to vaccinate may seem like a personal matter, but it puts vulnerable populations at risk.

The choice not to vaccinate may seem like a personal matter, but it puts vulnerable populations at risk.

Forgiveness

Sexual Misconduct and the Southern Baptist Convention

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on March 11, 2019

The decentralized power structure of the Southern Baptist Convention may be enabling sexually wayward clergy.

The decentralized power structure of the Southern Baptist Convention may be enabling sexually wayward clergy.

President Donald Trump

Religious Hypocrisy Carries Risks

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on January 7, 2019

Findings on Credibility Enhancing Displays (CREDs) suggest that embracing the Trump presidency as one ordained by God may ultimately prove detrimental to evangelicals’ aims.

Findings on Credibility Enhancing Displays (CREDs) suggest that embracing the Trump presidency as one ordained by God may ultimately prove detrimental to evangelicals’ aims.

Religion

Are Modern Human Beings the Only Species with Religion?

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on November 4, 2018

New genetic and archaeological findings raise questions about the possibility of other species with religious sensibilities.

New genetic and archaeological findings raise questions about the possibility of other species with religious sensibilities.

Memory

Cognitive Geography

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on August 31, 2018

Humans' recollections of maps, even ones that they have seen frequently, may illustrate the claim that underlying cognitive biases shape perception and memory.

Humans' recollections of maps, even ones that they have seen frequently, may illustrate the claim that underlying cognitive biases shape perception and memory.

President Donald Trump

The Fragility of Science

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on June 24, 2018

Many Trump administration policies—some well-known, some obscure—are antithetical to the continued flourishing of science in America.

Many Trump administration policies—some well-known, some obscure—are antithetical to the continued flourishing of science in America.

OCD

Scrupulosity as the Religious Expression of OCD

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on April 22, 2018

Was the author of Pilgrim's Progress plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder or simply a particularly dutiful Christian?

Was the author of Pilgrim's Progress plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder or simply a particularly dutiful Christian?

Environment

Science to Fit Your Preferences?

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on February 2, 2018

Why using search engines is probably not the best way to start learning about scientific controversies.

Why using search engines is probably not the best way to start learning about scientific controversies.

Anxiety

The Costs of Publishing in Some Journals

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on December 11, 2017

Low impact, vanity e-journals flood the inboxes of academic scientists every day with flattering emails in search of new articles to publish for a fee.

Low impact, vanity e-journals flood the inboxes of academic scientists every day with flattering emails in search of new articles to publish for a fee.

Play

Science Progressively Modifies Our Understanding of Agency

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on October 9, 2017

Do the increasing restrictions that the sciences' successes impose on agent explanations apply even to human agency?

Do the increasing restrictions that the sciences' successes impose on agent explanations apply even to human agency?

Conformity

Seeing the Sky as a Copernican

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on August 5, 2017

We are not naturally inclined to perceive the world in conformity with even our most familiar and well-learned scientific commitments.

We are not naturally inclined to perceive the world in conformity with even our most familiar and well-learned scientific commitments.