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People Are Strange

Exploring the weird and the wonderful in personality science

Attention
Smelling Coffee Increases Attention and Memory

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on September 30, 2021

Ah, the smell of motivation in the morning! Simply sniffing your morning cup of coffee might trick your brain into being alert and attentive. No caffeine is necessary.

Ah, the smell of motivation in the morning! Simply sniffing your morning cup of coffee might trick your brain into being alert and attentive. No caffeine is necessary.

Sex
How Not to Seem Creepy

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on June 29, 2021

What makes someone creepy, and how can we keep from being creepy? Research has the answers.

What makes someone creepy, and how can we keep from being creepy? Research has the answers.

The Free Britney movement has gained support following Spears' testimony.
Health
#FreeBritney Provides a Good Lesson on Mental Health Stigma

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on June 28, 2021

Learning about the reality of Spears’ life has prompted many to trade judgment for empathy. Can this situation teach us a lesson about the consequences of mental health stigma?

Learning about the reality of Spears’ life has prompted many to trade judgment for empathy. Can this situation teach us a lesson about the consequences of mental health stigma?

Stress
Why Rewatching TV Shows Feels So Good

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on June 26, 2021

Watching the same shows over and over on Netflix? You're not alone. Research explains why people turn to their comfort shows.

Watching the same shows over and over on Netflix? You're not alone. Research explains why people turn to their comfort shows.

Creativity
Finding Creativity at the Strip Club

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on March 31, 2021

Creativity involves innovative solutions to problems. A strip club's solution for staying in business during the pandemic illustrates creativity's scope.

Creativity involves innovative solutions to problems. A strip club's solution for staying in business during the pandemic illustrates creativity's scope.

Grief
How Will You Write Your Own Pandemic Story?

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on March 29, 2021

A lot has happened this year, and it taught us something about ourselves. Whether our story of this year is constructed around resilience or ruin matters for our mental health.

A lot has happened this year, and it taught us something about ourselves. Whether our story of this year is constructed around resilience or ruin matters for our mental health.

Extraverts may be more likely to violate stay at home orders because of their high sociability.
Personality
Mandate, Shmandate: Who Is (and Is Not) Staying at Home?

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on December 28, 2020

Some are diligent about distancing, even when the rules aren’t enforced. Others flagrantly flout stay at home orders and mask mandates. Does personality help explain these differences?

Some are diligent about distancing, even when the rules aren’t enforced. Others flagrantly flout stay at home orders and mask mandates. Does personality help explain these differences?

Personality
Got Stress? You'll Spend Less (on Holiday Gifts, at Least)

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on December 26, 2020

Do you typically give a few small gifts, or throw a gift-giving extravaganza of epic proportions? Your personality may explain, in part, the way you approach holiday gift-giving.

Do you typically give a few small gifts, or throw a gift-giving extravaganza of epic proportions? Your personality may explain, in part, the way you approach holiday gift-giving.

Psychology
The Psychology of "Seinfeld"

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on July 1, 2020

In anticipation of "Seinfeld" coming to Netflix in 2021, let's look at some of the many ways the show illustrates key psychological concepts.

In anticipation of "Seinfeld" coming to Netflix in 2021, let's look at some of the many ways the show illustrates key psychological concepts.

Snowball "helping" me work.
Cognition
The Curious Case of the Professor Who Turned Into a Cat

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on June 28, 2020

We’re designed to recognize patterns, but sometimes that means we see connections between things that aren’t really connected. Those perceived links can be awfully hard to debunk.

We’re designed to recognize patterns, but sometimes that means we see connections between things that aren’t really connected. Those perceived links can be awfully hard to debunk.

Coronavirus Disease 2019
Why Should We Believe the Science Behind Social Distancing?

Jennifer V. Fayard Ph.D. on March 27, 2020

It can be hard to accept scientific findings when your experience conflicts with the data. Here's why you should trust the experts on coronavirus and why science weighs more than opinion.

It can be hard to accept scientific findings when your experience conflicts with the data. Here's why you should trust the experts on coronavirus and why science weighs more than opinion.