Explananda

Happiness

Is it Rational to Have a Child? Can Psychology Tell Us?

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on March 11, 2013

A controversial new paper by philosopher L.A. Paul considers whether decisions about life-transforming experiences, such as whether to have a child, can be made rationally. I explain the argument and consider whether psychological evidence about the relative happiness and life satisfaction of those with and without children offers a solution.

A controversial new paper by philosopher L.A. Paul considers whether decisions about life-transforming experiences, such as whether to have a child, can be made rationally. I explain the argument and consider whether psychological evidence about the relative happiness and life satisfaction of those with and without children offers a solution.

Psychology

Are You a Sucker For Math?

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on December 29, 2012

New research reveals a "nonsense math effect": people without training in science, mathematics, or technology are susceptible to the allure of totally irrelevant math when evaluating the quality of research.

New research reveals a "nonsense math effect": people without training in science, mathematics, or technology are susceptible to the allure of totally irrelevant math when evaluating the quality of research.

Authenticity

Can You Explain Your Moral Choices?

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on September 21, 2012

People are remarkably willing to generate post-hoc justifications for their own moral choices and behaviors, even when those justifications don't hold up to scrutiny. A new study reveals that people are sometimes willing to do so even when the choices being justified are not the ones they actually made. Researchers call this moral "choice blindness."

People are remarkably willing to generate post-hoc justifications for their own moral choices and behaviors, even when those justifications don't hold up to scrutiny. A new study reveals that people are sometimes willing to do so even when the choices being justified are not the ones they actually made. Researchers call this moral "choice blindness."

Gender

Explaining Gender Differences

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on August 28, 2012

Harrods department store recently created a Toy Kingdom with toys arranged according to theme rather than sex, combining sections for girls and boys. The change has the media talking about toys and their impact on boys' and girls' development. Does it matter how the media explains gender differences? Research reveals that it does.

Harrods department store recently created a Toy Kingdom with toys arranged according to theme rather than sex, combining sections for girls and boys. The change has the media talking about toys and their impact on boys' and girls' development. Does it matter how the media explains gender differences? Research reveals that it does.

Environment

A Simple Lesson From Strep Throat

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on May 23, 2012

Sometimes life imitates art. And sometimes life imitates psychology experiments. This month my life took on an uncanny resemblance to fictional scenarios we use to study human explanatory preferences in the lab. Find out what strep throat and ear infections can teach us about what makes an explanation simple.

Sometimes life imitates art. And sometimes life imitates psychology experiments. This month my life took on an uncanny resemblance to fictional scenarios we use to study human explanatory preferences in the lab. Find out what strep throat and ear infections can teach us about what makes an explanation simple.

Education

Does Curiosity Guide Children's Learning?

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on April 14, 2012

Children are renowned for their curiosity. They're voracious explorers and loquacious askers, pestering parents with an endless stream of "why?" A clever new paper finds that children's explorations and explanations aren't haphazard, but instead serve a critical role in guiding children's learning and determining whether and when they revise their beliefs.

Children are renowned for their curiosity. They're voracious explorers and loquacious askers, pestering parents with an endless stream of "why?" A clever new paper finds that children's explorations and explanations aren't haphazard, but instead serve a critical role in guiding children's learning and determining whether and when they revise their beliefs.

Artificial Intelligence

Explanation Roundup (February/March Edition)

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on March 26, 2012

Human curiosity and its consequences are everywhere. Find out about interesting posts and articles concerning the cognitive science of explanation from across the web, including findings on how children's explanations guide their exploration and inform Artificial Intelligence, and how we do (and don't) understand our own storytelling minds.

Human curiosity and its consequences are everywhere. Find out about interesting posts and articles concerning the cognitive science of explanation from across the web, including findings on how children's explanations guide their exploration and inform Artificial Intelligence, and how we do (and don't) understand our own storytelling minds.

Spirituality

If Your Mind Made You Believe It, Is It True?

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on March 8, 2012

If properties of the human mind make people particularly inclined to reject evolution in favor of creationism, should we be more skeptical of creationist beliefs? More generally, does providing a psychological explanation for why someone holds a particular belief tell us anything about the truth of that belief? Read more for a glimpse into this complex set of issues.

If properties of the human mind make people particularly inclined to reject evolution in favor of creationism, should we be more skeptical of creationist beliefs? More generally, does providing a psychological explanation for why someone holds a particular belief tell us anything about the truth of that belief? Read more for a glimpse into this complex set of issues.

Education

Is Evolution "Just a Theory"?

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on February 18, 2012

Evolution's scientific credentials are sometimes challenged by noting that it is a THEORY, not a FACT. Do people reject evolution because it's "just a theory"? Research suggests that understanding the nature of science, and in particular the idea that theories are reliable but revisable, is related to accepting evolution. Read on to find out why.

Evolution's scientific credentials are sometimes challenged by noting that it is a THEORY, not a FACT. Do people reject evolution because it's "just a theory"? Research suggests that understanding the nature of science, and in particular the idea that theories are reliable but revisable, is related to accepting evolution. Read on to find out why.

Bias

Do You Wish Evolution Weren’t True?

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on February 7, 2012

Many people believe that an evolutionary worldview is existentially challenging, making it harder to find meaning in life and easier to justify selfishness. Do people reject evolution because they don't want it to be true? Do those who accept evolution do so reluctantly? Research in educational and cognitive psychology provides some surprising answers.

Many people believe that an evolutionary worldview is existentially challenging, making it harder to find meaning in life and easier to justify selfishness. Do people reject evolution because they don't want it to be true? Do those who accept evolution do so reluctantly? Research in educational and cognitive psychology provides some surprising answers.

Evolutionary Psychology

Embracing Darwin in an Uncertain World

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on January 26, 2012

While scientists overwhelmingly accept natural selection as a well-established scientific theory, it's nonetheless rejected by a sizable minority of Americans. What makes natural selection so unpalatable to so many people? And what makes alternatives, such as Intelligent Design and creationism, so much more attractive?

While scientists overwhelmingly accept natural selection as a well-established scientific theory, it's nonetheless rejected by a sizable minority of Americans. What makes natural selection so unpalatable to so many people? And what makes alternatives, such as Intelligent Design and creationism, so much more attractive?

Adolescence

What’s the Most Beautiful Explanation?

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on January 17, 2012

Every year John Brockman and the other folks behind Edge.org pose a question to dozens of scientists, writers, artists, inventors, and thinkers of various stripes. The question for 2012: What is your favorite deep, elegant, or beautiful explanation? Nearly 200 thinkers weighed in. I share a few of my favorite replies from the psychological and cognitive sciences.

Every year John Brockman and the other folks behind Edge.org pose a question to dozens of scientists, writers, artists, inventors, and thinkers of various stripes. The question for 2012: What is your favorite deep, elegant, or beautiful explanation? Nearly 200 thinkers weighed in. I share a few of my favorite replies from the psychological and cognitive sciences.

Laughter

Explanations Everywhere, Even In Improv

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on January 14, 2012

Last week thousands of New Yorkers and others across the globe celebrated the 10th anniversary of Improv Everywhere's 2002 No Pants Subway Ride by hopping on public transport without pants. What can these pantless pranksters teach us about the human mind?

Last week thousands of New Yorkers and others across the globe celebrated the 10th anniversary of Improv Everywhere's 2002 No Pants Subway Ride by hopping on public transport without pants. What can these pantless pranksters teach us about the human mind?

Law and Crime

Choosing the Best Explanation Is Elementary, My Dear Watson

Tania Lombrozo Ph.D. on January 9, 2012

Sherlock Holmes or Occam's Razor? Do you choose the explanation best supported by the evidence, or the one that's satisfyingly simple? Recent findings suggest that even 4- and 5-year olds show a remarkable capacity to evaluate and choose between explanations, taking both the evidence and simplicity into account.

Sherlock Holmes or Occam's Razor? Do you choose the explanation best supported by the evidence, or the one that's satisfyingly simple? Recent findings suggest that even 4- and 5-year olds show a remarkable capacity to evaluate and choose between explanations, taking both the evidence and simplicity into account.