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Irrationality and cheating in politics: A warning against Trump 10 Mar 9:11 PM (last month)

(Originally published October 22, 2024)

In today’s political landscape, we increasingly see irrationality and cheating being employed as strategies to gain and maintain power. This phenomenon not only undermines the foundations of a healthy democracy but also opens the door for leaders who are willing to sacrifice ethics and integrity for personal gain.

The need for competence: towards a more precise definition 14 Feb 3:29 AM (2 months ago)

Self-determination theory ( SDT) posits that in addition to the need for autonomy and relatedness, people also have a fundamental need for competence. In attempting to use this need for competence in educational software, researchers have found its definition to be confusing and incomplete. Two recent papers address this by clarifying and formalizing the definition.

The Big Problem Paradox: How Urgency Disappears with Big Problem 9 Dec 2024 4:36 AM (4 months ago)

Climate change, economic inequality, mass animal suffering, and the decline of biodiversity are some of the most pressing issues of our time. Yet, many people don’t feel a strong day-to-day urgency to tackle them, despite their massive scale and the abundance of information about their consequences. How can it be that these problems are so vast and well-known, yet individuals often feel hesitant to take action? New research by Eskreis-Winkler et al. (2024) provides an explanation through their concept of the Big Problem Paradox.

How the Overpopulation Frame Increases Support for the Radical Right 8 Dec 2024 1:46 AM (4 months ago)

I a recent Youtube video, Robert Reich gave an explanation for Trump’s victory. He pointed to systematic problems in American society, such as economic inequality, and said that Trump “gave voice to the anger” of the American people. I agree with many things that Reich said, as I generally do. But to say that Trump gave voice to the anger of the people while the Democrats failed to do that, may not be accurate, or at least not complete. Let me explain.

The paradox of self-explanation: How low subjective knowledge hinders the use of effective learning strategies 7 Dec 2024 4:31 AM (4 months ago)

Self-explanation is an effective learning strategy that promotes deep understanding. The process forces learners to actively organize information, make implicit assumptions explicit, and identify gaps in knowledge. In their recent study, Atir and Risen (2024) examine how subjective knowledge—confidence in one's understanding—affects the willingness to use explanation as a strategy. This research sheds light on the barriers learners face when applying effective strategies and how to overcome them.

How Primal World Beliefs Influence Personality 6 Dec 2024 4:31 AM (4 months ago)

Many people aim to change aspects of their personality, such as becoming less anxious, more open to new experiences, or more assertive. International research shows that 60% of the world's population actively tries to influence personality traits like neuroticism or extraversion. But how do you change something as seemingly fundamental as your personality? A publication by Clifton and Crum (2024) offers a fresh perspective. They argue that our most fundamental beliefs about the world play a crucial role in shaping how we think, feel, and act. These so-called primal world beliefs may be a significant factor in sustainable personality change.

Three assessment criteria for resolving a protracted leadership conflict 28 Nov 2024 9:30 PM (5 months ago)