Why do some people endorse claims that can easily be disproved? It’s one thing to believe false information, but another to actively stick with something that’s obviously wrong. Our new research, published in the Journal of Social Psychology, suggests that some people consider it a “win” to lean in to known falsehoods. We are social psychologists who study […] … learn more→

On Thursday, September 11, 2025, the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the psychological effects of TikTok on minors released its report, warning of one of the “worst networks targeting young people.” The platform most popular with young people, who spend an average of 110 minutes a day on it , TikTok relies on a business model designed to capture […] … learn more→

Every night, millions of people across the world tune in to watch influencers spin slot machines, chase jackpots and ride emotional rollercoasters of wins and losses. Online viewers erupt with cheers, emojis and pleas for “one more spin”. But behind the flashy graphics and charismatic streamers, lies a complex web of psychological triggers, parasocial relationships where fans […] … learn more→

The frequency and length of daily phone use continues to rise, especially among young people. It’s a global concern, driving recent decisions to ban phones in schools in Canada, the United States and elsewhere. Social media, gaming, streaming and interacting with AI chatbots all contribute to this pull on our attention. But we need to look at the phones themselves to get the bigger […] … learn more→

What does it mean to be intelligent? To pass a logic test? To solve an equation? To have a good memory? Intelligence has long been reduced to an IQ score . However, as early as the 1920s and 1940s, American psychologists such as Edward Thorndike, Louis Thurstone, and Raymond Cattell were already highlighting the existence of different […] … learn more→

You’re in a meeting when your boss suggests changing a number to make the quarterly report look stronger. Heads nod. The slides move on. You feel a knot in your stomach: Do you speak up and risk being branded difficult, or stay silent and become complicit? Most people picture defiance as dramatic outbursts. In reality, […] … learn more→

“How do we think?” Although it seems like a simple question, it’s actually one of the most profound a person can ask themselves. Education can help answer this question, not through prefabricated solutions, but rather by teaching people to think for themselves, to cultivate their autonomy, and to become reflective beings capable of directing their […] … learn more→

Say you win a radio sweepstakes giving you two tickets to a sold-out concert the upcoming weekend. You eagerly text your friend and ask if they’d like to join. Their response? “Maybe.” Your mood immediately turns. You feel slighted rather than joyous as you’re left in limbo: Now you need to wait for your waffling […] … learn more→

We are regularly bombarded with information about a steep drop in attention spans. Based on its own data in 2015, Microsoft reported that the average attention span had dropped from about 12 seconds for millennials to eight seconds for gen Z. And as the new Premier League season kicked off, UEFA introduced a new “eight seconds rule” stating a […] … learn more→

Psychologists have long considered how a tendency towards irrational thinking or particular personality traits might predict peoples’ interest in conspiracies. Yet these individual factors do not explain the group processes through which conspiracy theorists are extending their influence and impact. Over five years, we sought out and got to know people on the cusp of becoming conspiracy theorists. And […] … learn more→