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Why We Laugh
The Atlantic: Laughter is universal, but we know very little about the reasons we do it. Dr. Robert Provine has been studying the social and neurological roots of laughter for 20 years, and has come
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Espousing Equality, but Embracing a Hierarchy
The New York Times: People never say they want to grow up to be a middle manager, and some company founders aspire never to hire one. In 2002, Google decided to eliminate managers from its
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Why You Should Freak Out More, Not Less, Over Your Profile Photos
New York Magazine: We’ve all spent too much time obsessing over our profile pictures on Facebook, dating websites, and everywhere else. It would be nice to think we’re being neurotic, that it doesn’t actually matter
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Why We Pass Some Cars, Follow Others
Cars are the ultimate status symbol. They also generate some remarkable forms of discrimination. A Maserati gets more respect than a Volkswagen Bug. Classic psychological studies have demonstrated that a drivers extend more patience and
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How Cursors Betray Our Gut Feelings
The Atlantic: Quick! Match the person with the noun: Man Kitchen Woman Test Tube Mother Programming Husband Liberal Arts That’s not a real psychology test, of course, but it’s a play on what’s called an
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Morality Can Trump Tribalism
Pacific Standard: The top news stories have been even more depressing than usual of late, with tribalism—accompanied by active hatred for perceived outsiders—emerging as a driving force everywhere from Middle Eastern battlefields to the halls
