Behavioral Scientist’s Summer Book List 2023
The summer book list is a chance to peruse a collection of the most compelling behavioral science books published so far this year.
June 05th, 2023
language
April 03rd, 2023
It’s a Bouba, Not a Kiki: The Relationship Between Sound, Form, and Meaning
We don’t assume that we can understand the meaning of words based on their sound alone. But a long history of research in psycholinguistics hints that we’re better at it than we might think.
March 13th, 2023
The Magic of Knowing When to Use Concrete vs. Abstract Language
When trying to make language either more concrete or more abstract, one helpful approach is to focus on either the how or the why.
December 01st, 2021
Research Lead: Mistaking Google’s Knowledge for Your Own, Oversimplifying Effects of Tech, Scientists ‘Donate’ a lot of Time to Journal Publishers, and More
The Research Lead is a monthly digest connecting you to noteworthy academic and applied research from around the behavioral sciences. Here are our picks for November 2021.
January 23rd, 2020
How Much Does Our Language Determine Behavior?
In his latest book, David Shariatmadari explores how the language we speak impacts the way we see the world, and our behavior in it.
August 31st, 2017
“Blow the Whistle” or “Stop the Leaks”?
The way we talk about the disclosures from the Trump administration highlights nuances of language that have fascinated behavioral scientists—especially about the role of metaphor.
April 27th, 2016
The “Moist” Conundrum
People Magazine—psycholinguistics’ most trusted lexicon—defines “moist” as “the most cringeworthy word” in American English.
March 10th, 2014
Lucy in the Mind of Lennon: An Empirical Analysis of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
In his recent book, Lucy in the Mind of Lennon, Psychologist Tim Kasser utilizes the methods of psychological science to explore John Lennon’s life through one of Lennon’s most famous and controversial songs: Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.
February 28th, 2014
Could It Be Her Voice? Why Scarlett Johansson’s Voice Makes Samantha Seem Human
Just moments into the conversation, Theodore expresses amazement: “You seem like a person – but you’re just a voice in a computer.”
February 08th, 2014
Metaphors of the Union: Language in the State of the Union Address
In his 2014 State of the Union Address, President Obama used metaphors to explain inequality, the education system, and immigration. What do they mean?
