Friction

Psychology

Political Psychology of "The Matrix Resurrections"

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on January 3, 2022

Does the new "Matrix" movie offer social commentary? Inevitably. And the science checks out.

Does the new "Matrix" movie offer social commentary? Inevitably. And the science checks out.

False Memories

The Four Horsemen of Fake News

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on May 6, 2021

How does fake news go from obscure to viral and radicalizing? Four distinct stages of its spread can help guide efforts to counter it.

How does fake news go from obscure to viral and radicalizing? Four distinct stages of its spread can help guide efforts to counter it.

Is it a few bad apples or a systemic problem? New data suggest radicalization among police members requires urgent attention.

Career

What Radicalizes "Zip-Tie Men?"

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on January 10, 2021

What radicalized two very different men to storm the Capitol Hill with zip-tie handcuffs at the ready? The answer may have more to do with biology than ideology.

What radicalized two very different men to storm the Capitol Hill with zip-tie handcuffs at the ready? The answer may have more to do with biology than ideology.

President Donald Trump

How Much Should We Rely on 2020 Election Polls?

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on October 8, 2020

Can election polls be bad for democracy? Research on social loafing signals danger in relying on polling data too much.

Can election polls be bad for democracy? Research on social loafing signals danger in relying on polling data too much.

Identity

What Do a Red Triangle, 14 Words, and 88 Ads Have in Common?

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on June 18, 2020

Symbols can seem silly, but they wield immense radicalizing potential.

Symbols can seem silly, but they wield immense radicalizing potential.

President Donald Trump

Nobody Said George Floyd Was a Martyr or a Hero

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on June 8, 2020

Why do Glenn Beck, Candace Owens, and President Trump fight a straw man?

Why do Glenn Beck, Candace Owens, and President Trump fight a straw man?

Politics

Horrific Images of Refugees Likely Won't Change U.S. Policy

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on July 18, 2019

The photo of the drowned father and daughter, refugees from El Salvador who tried to cross into the US may not shift public opinion or policy, and here's why.

The photo of the drowned father and daughter, refugees from El Salvador who tried to cross into the US may not shift public opinion or policy, and here's why.

President Donald Trump

How Could President Trump Have Inspired the NZ Shooter?

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on March 19, 2019

Forget about sticks and stones: The words of leaders are far more dangerous.

Forget about sticks and stones: The words of leaders are far more dangerous.

Law and Crime

"Build That Wall!"–The Radicalizing Power of Slogans

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on January 29, 2019

What makes some slogans powerful political tools? Hint: it's not how much sense they make.

What makes some slogans powerful political tools? Hint: it's not how much sense they make.

Media

Why Americans Fell for Russian Internet Trolls

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on December 24, 2018

Why did Americans fall for the Russian social media propaganda nine times more than Europeans did?

Why did Americans fall for the Russian social media propaganda nine times more than Europeans did?

Media

Mass Radicalization in the USA

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on December 5, 2018

As divisions among Americans deepen, understanding and addressing mass radicalization becomes crucial.

As divisions among Americans deepen, understanding and addressing mass radicalization becomes crucial.

The latest powerful man caused of sexual misconduct is a SCOTUS nominee. Here's one way to process this.

Media

Why Social Media Makes Us Angrier—and More Extreme

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on July 6, 2018

Captain America before and after the transformation? That's your opinion before and after you discuss it on social media.

Captain America before and after the transformation? That's your opinion before and after you discuss it on social media.

Stress

The Faulty Science of Patriarchy

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on May 10, 2018

Are women biologically different then men? Heck yeah! But what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?

Are women biologically different then men? Heck yeah! But what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?

"How to beat this enemy" is mostly wrong.

Iraq and Syria cannot be restored as centralized states. What's next?

Politics

Why Did ISIS Do It?

Clark McCauley Ph.D. on November 17, 2015

ISIS has a strategy. Our reaction to Paris is part of it.

ISIS has a strategy. Our reaction to Paris is part of it.

Pygmalion in the classroom is cheating.

Could we have predicted violence from Christopher Harper-Mercer?