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Can behavior clusters point to a lie? Tim Levine on behavior and deception detection science
Many people think there are telltale signs of lying — shifty eyes, nervous fidgeting, maybe a quick smile — that can give someone away to trained observers. But according to decades of research, that…
Published on 8 hours ago
Tracking people over terrain: What's real, what's fiction?
Have you ever wondered how tracking people actually works? You’ve probably seen a lot of Hollywood depictions of how law enforcement track people over external terrain, and maybe you’ve wondered what…
Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago
NLP pseudoscience and its use by Chase Hughes and other con artists and deceptive faux-gurus
You’ve probably heard of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). It’s a popular thing. It’s the foundation for the work of popular life/business coach Tony Robbins, and there are many other popular train…
Published on 3 weeks, 3 days ago
Is the internet a methamphetamine of the masses?
Is it possible that internet communication, by speeding up and distorting our interactions, is agitating us and deranging us? Is it possible that by putting human interactions “on speed,” the interne…
Published on 4 weeks, 2 days ago
"They're the violent, crazy ones!": How polarization warps our views of our political opponents
A major barrier to reducing toxic polarization is that so many of us—especially those who are highly politically involved—see our current toxic conflict as clearly the other side’s fault. People in b…
Published on 1 month ago
Are you and I (and everyone) the same person? A talk on Open Individualism with Joe Kern
What if your sense of existence, your self-awareness, isn’t unique at all—but the very same “I” that exists in everyone, everywhere? What if you and I—and everyone—are essentially the same person? In…
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago
The psychology of Bad Vegan: Sarma Melngailis on narcissistic abuse and life after
The documentary "Bad Vegan" was about Sarma Melngailis’s nightmarish journey from successful New York City restaurant owner to Rikers inmate jailed for stealing millions. How did this happen? Sarma w…
Published on 2 months ago
The surprising power of nostalgia — and how it can be used on you
What does nostalgia do to our minds — and our wallets? In this talk with Jannine Lasaleta, we talk about her research into the surprising psychological and emotional effects of nostalgia. Why do peop…
Published on 2 months, 1 week ago
My life-changing experience with meditation
In the summer of 2024, I went on a five-day solo retreat in the mountains of New Mexico. It was the first time I’d ever really committed to meditation, and to my surprise it turned out to be a deeply…
Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Are you a psychopath? Debunking myths and looking for nuance in "dark" traits
What does the word “psychopath” really mean—and how often are we getting it wrong? Can someone have some psychopathic traits and still be empathetic? How often are we embracing simplistic ideas of wh…
Published on 3 months ago