Any researcher working in industry understands that research has to drive positive business value. Companies hire researchers because they believe their investment will pay off when it comes to the bottom line. But how exactly does research create impact? The most common form of impact in my experience — running…

Who are the people succeeding at the height of business leadership? The extraverts? The logical thinkers? The psychopaths? At various times in the past, I’ve heard people talk about the psychology and personality of business leaders, but it’s not always a consistent story. …

You’re probably aware of the idea that social networks amplify outrage. When people see content that makes them angry, they’re more likely to engage with and share that content. This incentivizes fueling more outrage online, which ultimately perpetuates a growing bubble of back-and-forth insults, accusation, abuse, and hate. Sound familiar? …

We’ve all had the kind of day that leaves you slumped on the sofa late at night thinking “I need more free time”. For some of us, it’s chronic, and it’s a sign that something needs to give. …

Data is most exciting when it proves you wrong. All of us have intuitions and expectations about how society is structured and how it’s changing. Sometimes, the actual numbers support those perspectives, but occasionally, they upend our world view. Expectations are particularly influential when it comes to public opinion. Our…

Small talk is a great way to express jovial politeness with passing strangers, but it often dominates longer social encounters too. Even when we have time for deeper chat with strangers or acquaintances, we tend to drift toward an abundance of weather-related complaints or “how’s the family?” chat. This isn’t…

Happiness is hard work. You might find it in a satisfying career, keeping your body healthy, or connecting with other people, but all of these things require effort and energy. It’s important to pay attention to how your behavior is impacting your happiness so that you can adjust your efforts…

“What’s the meaning of life?” is a cliche philosophical question, but it touches on something fundamental about how humans relate to the world around them. People want to know that there’s significance to their lives, but not necessarily in any grandiose sense. Most of us just want to feel that…

When given the choice between a difficult task and an easy task, it’s natural to expect that people will choose the easy one. In daily life and in most scientific work, effort is typically conceptualized as a cost. …