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Nov 13, 2024 | 
open.substack.com | Dominic Packer |Jay Van Bavel
This is a guest post by Dominic Packer and Jay Van Bavel, authors of the book The Power of Us and the excellent Power of Us Substack newsletter. The post explores one of psychology’s most famous and controversial studies: the Stanford Prison Experiment. Dom and Jay reveal what really happened in that Stanford basement all those years ago - and how it largely debunks one of the cornerstone studies of modern psychology.
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Oct 22, 2024 | 
toddkashdan.substack.com | Todd Kashdan |Jay Van Bavel
When considering if a 60-hour workweek for decades is enough to secure a lasting legacy, reflect on the death of legendary psychologist Philip Zimbardo on October 14, 2024 (here). Despite publishing over 500 scientific articles and selling over 10 million books, discussions often narrow on his controversial Stanford Prison Experiment.
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Oct 8, 2024 | 
katewoodsome.substack.com | Kate Woodsome |Jay Van Bavel
We can’t fix what we don’t understand. In an age of intolerance, we need to understand division. That’s why I’m sending you a video about political sectarianism that I produced and hosted for The Washington Post. It’s packed with neuroscience and political science, and my cat Marmalade makes an appearance, so it checks that dopamine boost box, too. You’d think it was a new release if President Biden hadn’t dropped out of the election.
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Sep 5, 2024 | 
powerofusnewsletter.com | Dominic Packer |Jay Van Bavel
The night of March 13, 1964, marked one of the darkest moments in the history of New York and the beginning of a myth that shaped how people saw the city—as well as human psychology—for decades. For more than half an hour, 38 respectable citizens in Queens watched a killer stalk and stab a young woman named Kitty Genovese in three separate attacks in Kew Gardens. Twice the sound of their voices and the sudden glow of their bedroom lights interrupted him and frightened him off.
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
geekeratimedia.substack.com | Christian Lindke |Thog's Table |Dominic Packer |Jay Van Bavel
When my wife and I are watching movies, she will let out an audible groan if there is a scene where a plane lands with the ever present “er er” sound simulating the sound of the tires hitting the ground. Ever since sound designer extraordinaire discussed why movies use this sound and asked his students to go and listen to actual planes landing, it’s driven her crazy. Planes landing sound nothing like that.
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Aug 6, 2024 | 
toddkashdan.substack.com | Dominic Packer |Jay Van Bavel
NOTE: Enjoy a guest column by one of the best scientists on how group identities influence behavior and thinking - Dr. Jay Van Bavel. He offers an alternative to working 9 to 5 until you waste away or switch jobs 7.3 times until you realize wherever your go, your mind follows. Read this to find more sanity, balance, and meaning at work.I detail my own experience at the end.
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May 28, 2024 | 
powerofusnewsletter.com | Jay Van Bavel
Each day, we scroll through roughly 300 feet of social media content—that is equivalent to the height of the Statue of Liberty! This constant engagement is not just habitual; it fundamentally alters our identities and realities. Social media holds a fun-house mirror up to society, distorting our perceptions of reality, and the incentives and engagement structures of social media put us in constant conflict with one another.
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Apr 9, 2024 | 
powerofusnewsletter.com | Dominic Packer |Jay Van Bavel
Are you living intentionally, with purpose and passion? Will your future self be proud of your story? This week, we interviewed John Miles about his new book “Passion Struck: Twelve Powerful Principles to Unlock Your Purpose and Ignite Your Most Intentional Life”. His book examines the invisible forces—like social norms—that often hold people back from reaching their potential.
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Mar 19, 2024 | 
resilience.org | Dominic Packer |Jay Van Bavel
It often feels as if the world is falling apart. In the past few years, we have faced a global pandemic, record high global temperatures, serious threats to democracy, and the rise of frightening technology — including social media and artificial intelligence. It is not surprising that people are burned out from existential panic. The general malaise about these and other serious challenges is beautifully captured by several memes.
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Dec 7, 2023 | 
bostonglobe.com | Steve Rathje |Jay Van Bavel
Günter Albers/AdobeWhy is there a deluge of divisive and negative content on social media? Is it simply that — despite what we’d prefer to think about ourselves — we like this kind of stuff? After all, research suggests that negativity — especially about our political opponents — is likeliest to go viral online. Maybe the basic explanation is that everyone wants to see content that reinforces their political biases and makes their enemies look bad.
