Monkeys stick with stuff that isn’t working, too
The "sunk costs" phenomenon, where we keep at a task even if it's not working because of time we've already invested, influences monkeys, too.
Jan. 11, 2021 • ~6 min
evolution motivation monkeys science-and-technology decisions rewards
6 tips for sticking with your New Year’s Resolutions
Research on self-awareness and motivation can help you stick with your New Year's resolutions. Here are six tips to help you keep going.
Jan. 8, 2021 • ~9 min
brains motivation emotions featured society-and-culture health-and-medicine
How to set good New Year’s resolutions for 2021
An expert on motivation has advice for creating New Year's resolutions for 2021. For starters, consider others.
Dec. 24, 2020 • ~8 min
holidays motivation happiness featured society-and-culture
How your brain decides to put in effort
If you want more coffee, but the pot is empty, is it worth getting up and brewing some more? Researchers have figured out how your brain decides.
Dec. 10, 2020 • ~9 min
brains motivation science-and-technology decisions
The urge to punish is not only about revenge – unfairness can unleash it, too
Unfairness alone is upsetting enough to drive people to punish lucky recipients of unfair outcomes.
Sept. 30, 2020 • ~6 min
morality psychology inequality competition motivation behavioral-economics evolutionary-psychology psychology-research fairness morals punishment justice deterrence stealing moral-outrage theft inequity social-inequity
Faith and politics mix to drive evangelical Christians' climate change denial
Few white evangelicals in the U.S. say they believe in human-made climate change. This strand of science denial seems to have as much to do with conservative politics as the Bible's teachings.
Sept. 9, 2020 • ~10 min
climate-change global-warming climate-change-denial religion-and-society creationism science-denial motivated-reasoning science-and-religion anthropogenic-global-warming christians skepticism evangelical-christians climate-skepticism conservative-christians climate-change-risk
Cats prefer free meals over working for food
Unlike most animals, cats will usually choose a free lunch over having to complete a task to get their food, researchers say.
Aug. 6, 2020 • ~3 min
food pets motivation cats featured science-and-technology
To find success, practice a strategic mindset
Experiments indicate that the learnable strategic mindset gets people where they want to go.
June 29, 2020 • ~5 min
goals motivation society-and-culture strategy
Coronavirus responses highlight how humans are hardwired to dismiss facts that don't fit their worldview
Whether in situations relating to scientific consensus, economic history or current political events, denialism has its roots in what psychologists call 'motivated reasoning.'
June 25, 2020 • ~9 min
coronavirus psychology cognition anthony-fauci evidence-based anti-vaxxers truth denial confirmation-bias anti-science science-denial identity-politics ideology facts partisan-bias denialism motivated-reasoning
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