Essays
Public scholarship for Psychology Today, The Conversation, and others.
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Version française de « Slanguage: Why AI's stylistic negation is both annoying and doesn't work ».
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Slanguage: Why AI's stylistic negation — 'it's not X, it's Y' — is both annoying and doesn't work
On AI's habit of corrective negation, and why it grates
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Slanguage: How the use of AI for apologies could cause the 'Canadian Sorry' to lose its soul
When AI writes our apologies, something essential gets lost in translation
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Why AI Help Can Make You Seem Less Caring
Using AI to help write a thoughtful message feels harmless. New research suggests it can quietly signal that you didn't really show up
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When Real Starts to Feel Fake: The "Giving NPC" Effect
AI deepfakes trained our brains to spot fakes, but now they're over-calibrated. Explore the "Giving NPC" Effect, where real life starts to feel unnervingly artificial.
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Why Giving Options Makes a Gift Feel Less Personal
The psychology behind why more choice can diminish the meaning of a gift
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Do You Treat Your Friends Like Tools?
You might be turning your friends into tools without even knowing it. New research explains why this happens and how it leaves us lonelier.
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You Take Care of Your Health, but Are Your Beliefs in Sync?
You hydrate, journal, and move. So why does your routine still feel off? A recent study reveals how your beliefs about mind and body could be quietly reshaping your habits.
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You Think You Know Your Taste—But Do You Know Your Type?
You think you know your taste in shows. But research tells us your favorite stories might be revealing something deeper about who you are—and why you keep coming back.
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What Your Hobbies Say About You (Whether You Like It or Not)
How our leisure pursuits signal who we are to others
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Why Your Best Purchase Is One You Can't Return
Experiences don't just bring joy—they shape identity and deepen connections. Science explains why what you buy can change how you feel about yourself and others.
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Is Happiness Overrated? Why Some Prefer Meaning Instead
Do self-controlled people resist pleasure—or just crave meaning more? New research reveals how your preference may shape your happiness, success, and motivation.
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Does the Pursuit of Happiness Lead to a Better Life?
New research reveals that chasing happiness as a goal might actually lower well-being. Discover why focusing on meaningful activities could be a better path to a fulfilling life.
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Why No-Preference Communication Backfires
When saying 'I don't care' signals more than you think
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Risk applies to us as much as it does to football superstars.
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Can You Measure the Mental Health of a Sports Team?
Can factors like trust be measured for a sports team? And if so, would it help?
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Do People Who Disclose Mental Health Concerns Earn Less?
New research suggests people still hold a stigma.
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Problems with PER in the NBA: 3 common data science mistakes you can easily avoid
A critical look at the Player Efficiency Rating and its limitations
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Hooligans Aren't Destroyers—They're Protectors
Research shows fan violence is motivated by group commitment and not a need to destroy.
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Neurotics Are Better at Faster Decisions
Research shows speed-accuracy trade-offs don't occur for highly neurotic people, making them better at faster decisions.
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An Alternative to the Hot Hand Effect?
Is the hot hand real, or are there alternatives? Research provides evidence for a winner effect.
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When Your First Choice Is Your Best Choice
Assume thinking through all your options leads to better results? Research actually shows that choosing the first option that comes to mind may be the better choice.
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Are Advanced Analytics Even Real?
Do you know what "advanced analytics" are? You can use these same sports principles to improve your own life. Here's one way.
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Does Happiness Increase Productivity?
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, two of the NBA's most perplexing superstars, provide a window into the link between happiness and productivity.
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Yearning for community in the Land of the Living Skies
On finding connection through music in Saskatchewan