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Defining Decisions

Understanding the Choices that Shape Who We Are

Artificial Intelligence
The New Science of Psychology and Evolution

Peter Kvam Ph.D. on December 13, 2023

The relationship between human behavior and evolution is complex and difficult to study, but new AI tools for simulating evolution may help guide the next generation of scientists.

The relationship between human behavior and evolution is complex and difficult to study, but new AI tools for simulating evolution may help guide the next generation of scientists.

Psychology
What Is a Scientific Model?

Peter Kvam Ph.D. on October 28, 2023

Models are used to study scientific phenomena ranging from the brain to the weather, yet they can be hard for many people to digest. So why do scientists use them?

Models are used to study scientific phenomena ranging from the brain to the weather, yet they can be hard for many people to digest. So why do scientists use them?

Artificial Intelligence
Your Dog Is Smarter Than AI

Peter Kvam Ph.D. on September 11, 2023

With AI creeping into our lives, it's easy to be impressed by what it can do. Yet, the things it can't do are among the most important.

With AI creeping into our lives, it's easy to be impressed by what it can do. Yet, the things it can't do are among the most important.

Cognition
Is Your Brain (Like) a Quantum Computer?

Peter Kvam Ph.D. on July 28, 2023

Our brains may not literally be quantum computers, but the decisions we make bear surprising commonalities with the behavior of non-classical (quantum) systems.

Our brains may not literally be quantum computers, but the decisions we make bear surprising commonalities with the behavior of non-classical (quantum) systems.

Cognition
Why I'm All About That Bayes (No Trouble)

Peter Kvam Ph.D. on June 30, 2023

In science and in everyday life, we want to make inferences about hypotheses. But the statistics we use, and the reasoning we follow, can be improved with Bayes rule.

In science and in everyday life, we want to make inferences about hypotheses. But the statistics we use, and the reasoning we follow, can be improved with Bayes rule.

Decision-Making
How Being Rational Can Go Wrong

Peter Kvam Ph.D. on May 31, 2023

We often attribute polarization and extremism to people acting in a biased or irrational way. But rationality may have a dark side that creates these problems without us noticing.

We often attribute polarization and extremism to people acting in a biased or irrational way. But rationality may have a dark side that creates these problems without us noticing.