The Human Animal

Bias

Talking About Race and Racism

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on June 1, 2021

We need better ways to talk about why we aren't all alike everywhere on earth.

We need better ways to talk about why we aren't all alike everywhere on earth.

Genetics

Do You Know the Difference Between Ancestry and Heritage?

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on May 24, 2021

We all have ancestors, or we wouldn't be alive today. We all have a heritage, or we wouldn't be human. The difference between these two statements is fundamental and important.

We all have ancestors, or we wouldn't be alive today. We all have a heritage, or we wouldn't be human. The difference between these two statements is fundamental and important.

Genetics

How Love and Sex Link Our Genes

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on May 15, 2021

Scientists can prove that human races doesn't really exist, but so far they are doing a poor job of explaining to the rest of us why this is true.

Scientists can prove that human races doesn't really exist, but so far they are doing a poor job of explaining to the rest of us why this is true.

Genetics

Science, Magical Thinking, and Your Genetic Ancestry

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on May 7, 2021

Some scientists accept assumptions about what is real, even when it comes to race and genetics.

Some scientists accept assumptions about what is real, even when it comes to race and genetics.

Genetics

Commercial DNA Testing: Party Game or Credible Science?

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on April 30, 2021

If you don't know where your ancestors were from, ask yourself if there isn't something better you can do with your money before sending off your saliva to be genetically tested.

If you don't know where your ancestors were from, ask yourself if there isn't something better you can do with your money before sending off your saliva to be genetically tested.

Memory

What Are Memories Made Of?

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on April 23, 2021

What are popularly called memories are our working impressions of the world we live in. We need to distrust what our senses have been telling us more often than we normally do.

What are popularly called memories are our working impressions of the world we live in. We need to distrust what our senses have been telling us more often than we normally do.

President Donald Trump

QAnon, MAGA, and A Sea Symphony by Ralph Vaughan Williams

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on April 17, 2021

The importance of asking why humans are open to seemingly outlandish ideas.

The importance of asking why humans are open to seemingly outlandish ideas.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

COVID-19: We Could Have Predicted What's Happening Now Around the World

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on April 2, 2021

Maybe it is true that the COVID-19 pandemic couldn't have been avoided, but if we had listened to what history tells us, we wouldn't be where we are today in dealing with it.

Maybe it is true that the COVID-19 pandemic couldn't have been avoided, but if we had listened to what history tells us, we wouldn't be where we are today in dealing with it.

Bias

Do You Know the Early Warning Signs of Racism?

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on March 12, 2021

We don't all look alike, yet we all belong to one and the same biological species. Setting aside accounts about space aliens and like, how are we to explain this paradoxical truth?

We don't all look alike, yet we all belong to one and the same biological species. Setting aside accounts about space aliens and like, how are we to explain this paradoxical truth?

Relationships

How Well Do You Know Your Dog?

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on March 5, 2021

It's not kind and may be dangerous to ignore that dogs are dogs, not people. It would be naïve to believe, however, that what makes a dog happy doesn't depend a lot on us.

It's not kind and may be dangerous to ignore that dogs are dogs, not people. It would be naïve to believe, however, that what makes a dog happy doesn't depend a lot on us.

Motivation

Incredible Journey: The Domestication of Children and Dogs

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on February 26, 2021

Both have to learn how to get along successfully with others.

Both have to learn how to get along successfully with others.

Bias

What Our New Dog Is Teaching Us About Life

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on February 19, 2021

History shows that it is easy for those of us who are human to think we know a lot more than we actually do. Lesson 5: A good explanation may not be the right explanation.

History shows that it is easy for those of us who are human to think we know a lot more than we actually do. Lesson 5: A good explanation may not be the right explanation.

Play

What Our New Dog Is Teaching Us About Life

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on February 12, 2021

Lesson 4: Be careful what you take for granted. Dogs can sometimes know us better than we know ourselves. It is not surprising they have things to teach us.

Lesson 4: Be careful what you take for granted. Dogs can sometimes know us better than we know ourselves. It is not surprising they have things to teach us.

Neuroscience

What Our New Dog Is Teaching Us About Life

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on February 5, 2021

Lesson 3: If we pay close attention to them, our dogs are more than just our intimate companions and helpmates. They have much to teach us about ourselves.

Lesson 3: If we pay close attention to them, our dogs are more than just our intimate companions and helpmates. They have much to teach us about ourselves.

Genetics

What New Our Dog Is Teaching Us About Life

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on January 29, 2021

Dogs and people have been living together for thousands of years. They can teach us a lot about ourselves. Lesson 2: Don't judge a book by its cover, or a dog by its appearance.

Dogs and people have been living together for thousands of years. They can teach us a lot about ourselves. Lesson 2: Don't judge a book by its cover, or a dog by its appearance.

Intelligence

Our New Dog Is Teaching Us About Life

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on January 22, 2021

Dogs and people have been living together for tens of thousands of years. It's not surprising they have things to teach us. Lesson 1: Just because you can doesn't mean you will.

Dogs and people have been living together for tens of thousands of years. It's not surprising they have things to teach us. Lesson 1: Just because you can doesn't mean you will.

Creativity

Making the Most of Your Hidden Powers of Creativity

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on January 8, 2021

Thinking outside the box is not something we may want to give a lot of time to doing. Ironically, however, it is a lot easier to do so than many of us may think it is.

Thinking outside the box is not something we may want to give a lot of time to doing. Ironically, however, it is a lot easier to do so than many of us may think it is.

Intuition

How Easily Can You Be Seduced Against Your Best Interests?

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on January 1, 2021

Even scientists may not see that what they are saying is just repackaging old wisdom (anthropologists call it cultural knowledge) relabeled to come across as newsworthy and substantial.

Even scientists may not see that what they are saying is just repackaging old wisdom (anthropologists call it cultural knowledge) relabeled to come across as newsworthy and substantial.

Play

Are You Using Your Brain's Full Potential?

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on December 18, 2020

We have been given brains that can do so much more than we often ask them to do.

We have been given brains that can do so much more than we often ask them to do.

Fantasies

Can You Tell Fact from Fiction? The 7 Levels of "Truthiness"

John Edward Terrell Ph.D. on December 11, 2020

Philosophers have long pondered the ageless question What Is Truth? But the more revealing questions are How and How Much can we really learn about the world outside our skulls?

Philosophers have long pondered the ageless question What Is Truth? But the more revealing questions are How and How Much can we really learn about the world outside our skulls?