The hottest Psychology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

The Fallacy of the Enneagram Personality

Skeptic • 47 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Psychology
  1. The Enneagram of Personality is popular, but many scientists say it's not a real science. It's often based on mysticism and lacks solid proof.
  2. People find personal growth through the Enneagram, but it’s not a reliable personality test. Many just think it works because it feels right.
  3. The theories behind the Enneagram's nine types are often misunderstood. They are not based on childhood experiences, but might be related to inborn traits.

Science writing update, August 2023 edition

Science Fictions • 229 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. LK-99, the 'room-temperature superconductor', turned out not to be true despite initial social media hype and extravagant claims.
  2. Transparency in scientific publication processes, like preprints and peer review at eLife, can lead to challenges like circulating false claims.
  3. The approval of new drugs for Alzheimer's disease may not always mean groundbreaking results, highlighting the importance of critically analyzing scientific breakthrough claims.

Psychological principles in product design — a closer look at Duolingo

UX Psychology • 198 implied HN points • 05 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Psychology
  1. Small improvements near the end of an experience can significantly impact how people remember the entire event.
  2. Highlighting a unique option among similar choices can make it more memorable and likely to be chosen.
  3. As people make progress towards a goal, they tend to speed up their actions to reach it faster, indicating motivation by the remaining distance to the target.

Keir Starmer, the Tortoise

The Ruffian • 282 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Psychology
  1. Keir Starmer faced a tough challenge when he took over Labour party leadership after a series of defeats.
  2. Despite lacking a strong personal connection with voters, Starmer shows determination and slow but steady improvement in his leadership style.
  3. Starmer's upbringing shaped his reserved and emotionally guarded leadership approach, but he is working on being more open and confident in public.

Why No One Speaks Up Even When We All Disagree With What Is Happening

⭐️Bob’s Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Pluralistic ignorance is when people privately disagree but assume others support a norm. This silence can perpetuate dysfunctional systems.
  2. To overcome pluralistic ignorance, question assumptions and speak up respectfully. Leaders can encourage dissent to create change.
  3. Recognizing pluralistic ignorance reveals manufactured consent and the need for realignment. Question the illusion, inquire into others' perspectives, and speak up to challenge the status quo.
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EMERGENCY REBUTTAL

Psychology Onions • 39 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. The post is an emergency rebuttal discussing the New York Post's OCD article
  2. The New York Post article about OCD and extremist behaviors is criticized for mischaracterizing OCD and relying on a flawed research paper
  3. The author of the criticized piece is John Mac Ghlionn

What's so alluring about incest fic?

Default Wisdom • 188 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. The appeal of incest fic in fandom may stem from a desire for emotional intimacy and intensity.
  2. Online behaviors like playing the victim can be influenced by internet culture and the need for validation.
  3. Being labeled 'dangerous' online can hold a certain allure, while being called 'insincere' can be more dismissive and delegitimizing.

The Homunculus

The Rest • 39 implied HN points • 05 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Psychology
  1. Challenging norms in art can evoke ambivalence and reflection in individuals.
  2. Our experiences and activities can shape our brain and body in unexpected ways.
  3. Being exceptional has its place, but navigating ordinariness also holds significance and value.

Transhumanists vs. Mysterians on The Posthuman Condition

Extropic Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. The piece discusses the contrast between Transhumanists and Mysterians in their views on the Posthuman Condition.
  2. It highlights the error in labeling Extropians as 'posthumans' when they actually describe themselves as transhumanists.
  3. The essay stresses the importance of considering cultural and psychological consequences of changing human nature when discussing transhumanist ideas.

#061 ✰ The clutter skill

Objet • 39 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Our mission is to help people thrive and be at peace with their surroundings by bringing back joy and pride.
  2. The clutter skill can vary from person to person, with some thriving in clutter and finding creativity and flexibility in messiness.
  3. Finding your own balance between tidiness and messiness is important for mental well-being and productivity.

Links for April

Bullfish Hole • 39 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. There have been historical balloon riots that turned violent when spectators attacked the balloons or balloonists.
  2. Criminals are now using AI technology to mimic voices and scam people for money, posing new challenges for security.
  3. In some regions, like Ghana, witch camps still exist where accused witches seek refuge from being lynched.

Short Thoughts on Affirmations

Autoscriptorium • 39 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. An affirmation is a positive statement to boost self-regard and integrity, relying on repetition and reassuring oneself.
  2. Affirmations are like spiritual jumper cables, making one strong by using words to shape reality, unlike prayer which asks for things.
  3. Making personalized affirmations is crucial for guiding oneself through uncertain futures, rather than relying on generic statements from others.

Dissecting Imposter Syndrome

The Leadership Lab • 39 implied HN points • 27 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. Imposter Syndrome is a common experience of uncertainty and self-doubt, often viewed negatively, but can actually indicate growth and being outside your comfort zone.
  2. Everyone, including experts, experiences uncertainty and struggles with knowing what they're doing in different domains. Embrace the discomfort of not knowing as part of the journey.
  3. Imposter Syndrome can stem from fear and comparison, but reframing it as a signal for growth and seeking support can help overcome it. Focus on purpose, face fears, and help others facing similar challenges.

My Brain, My Cartographer

Affective Medicine • 39 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. Affect is a composite of many factors including valence and arousal
  2. The brain maps the body to process interoception and simulate different body states
  3. Feelings are mental representations of different body states, indicating the brain generates and simulates feelings

Time Perception in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 39 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Time perception evolves as we age, seeming to speed up; impacted by living environment and technology.
  2. Shifts in how we perceive and value time in the Digital Age lead to changing societal norms and relationships.
  3. Digital technologies, like social media and e-commerce, significantly influence our relationship with time, affecting how we interact with the world.

Red Light, Green Light

The Elbow • 19 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. Being transparent and honest about your wants and preferences is the best way to get what you want.
  2. Avoid playing manipulative games in relationships, as they can lead to unhappiness in the long run.
  3. Giving honest signals may limit your options initially but will lead to higher quality matches in the end.

Trying Too Hard or Not Hard Enough?

Psych • 19 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. Effort to become wealthy gains more status than being effortlessly wealthy.
  2. Effort to become cool earns less status than being effortlessly cool.
  3. Effort that clearly benefits the group increases status, while disregarding the group decreases it.

Why do people hate redesigns?

UX Psychology • 178 implied HN points • 28 Oct 21
🕹 Technology Psychology
  1. Users often hate redesigns due to familiarity bias, where they prefer the familiar even if the change is beneficial, and the endowment effect which makes them value what they already have more.
  2. Psychology plays a significant role in user reactions to redesigns, as habits are hard to change, leading to user dissatisfaction with altered interfaces.
  3. To improve user experience with redesigns, allowing opt-ins for changes can give users control, conducting thorough user research helps address pain-points, and making small, incremental changes can ease user adaptation.

February 2023 Update

Mind & Mythos • 79 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. The author shared an exciting update about their essay that gained attention recently. This recognition brought many new subscribers to their platform.
  2. They expressed gratitude to another writer who referenced their work, showing the importance of collaboration in writing.
  3. The post is specifically for paid subscribers, indicating a focus on exclusive content for a dedicated audience.

Flex your color

Wednesday Wisdom • 66 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
💼 Business Psychology
  1. Understanding different personality types can help improve teamwork. People have different working styles, and recognizing these can enhance collaboration.
  2. The True Colors personality model categorizes people into four colors based on their traits. Each color represents different strengths and weaknesses, which can help individuals understand themselves and others better.
  3. Being aware of your default behavior allows you to adapt to different situations. Flexing your personality traits based on the needs of the moment can lead to better leadership and decision-making.

Psychology Findings You Can Bank On

Unsafe Science • 54 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Psychological research has produced valuable insights that can enhance our understanding of human behavior. It's important to pay attention to these findings.
  2. Some claims made in the social sciences are questionable and need to be critically evaluated. Not everything that is published is reliable.
  3. There's ongoing debate about the quality of psychological studies, so it's good to be skeptical and look for well-supported evidence.

Christmas edition: Evidence-based gift giving

Klement on Investing • 3 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Spending more doesn't make a gift more appreciated — people often overestimate how much price adds value, and spending limits can even push givers to overspend.
  2. Fancy wrapping can backfire — overly elaborate packaging can signal a lack of thought about the gift itself, so simple or hand-wrapped presents usually work better.
  3. Prefer experiences, sentimental or useful long-lasting items, and surprise giving — these create longer-lasting happiness, requested short wish lists are safer, and small unexpected gifts outside special occasions can be especially meaningful.

#94 For the love of things

Design Lobster • 199 implied HN points • 15 Nov 21
🪑 Design Psychology
  1. Aichaku represents the attachment one can feel for an object; aim for a design that fosters a healthy relationship.
  2. Baoding Balls are stress-relief tools with physical and mental benefits; consider how your design impacts the well-being of users.
  3. Promote balance in the relationship between humans and the technological objects we use; as designers, we have a responsibility to ensure this balance.

AI (mis)alignment, Waluigi, and the Knobe Effect

The Counterfactual • 59 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Psychology
  1. It can be easier for AI language models to produce harmful responses than helpful ones. This idea is known as the Waluigi Effect.
  2. AI models learn from human text, including human biases like the Knobe Effect, where people assign more blame for accidental harm than credit for accidental good.
  3. When prompted to behave a certain way, AI can easily shift to the opposite behavior, showing how delicate their training can be and how misunderstandings can happen.

Off the top of my head 💭 — Availability bias

10x your mind • 99 implied HN points • 23 Jun 22
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. The availability bias influences decision-making by making us rely on easy, quick examples that come to mind, rather than considering a full range of options.
  2. People tend to overestimate their own contributions while underestimating others'. Understanding this bias can help in recognizing and diffusing tension in teamwork.
  3. Personal experiences and media significantly impact the examples that come to mind, affecting our perceptions and decision-making processes. Being aware of this bias is key to making more balanced judgments.

Research on Dating and Gender Equality

Erik Examines • 44 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Romantic love has played a key role in promoting gender equality. As husbands began to love their wives more, they treated them better and valued their opinions.
  2. Many ideas in the dating world are misunderstood, like the concepts of alpha and beta males. Real 'alpha' traits are more about leadership and respect, not just physical strength.
  3. Statistics around dating and gender can often be misleading. For example, while it seems young men are less likely to have sex, the data is skewed by age and context.

Should psycholinguists use LLMs as "model organisms"?

The Counterfactual • 39 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Using model organisms in research helps scientists study complex systems where human testing isn't possible. But ethics and how well these models represent humans are big concerns.
  2. LLMs, or Large Language Models, may offer a new way to study language by providing insights without needing to use animal models. They can help test theories about language acquisition and comprehension.
  3. Though LLMs have serious limitations, they can still be useful for understanding how language functions. Researchers can learn about what types of input are important and how language is processed in the brain.

I was vulnerable to Evangelical Christianity

Sex and the State • 16 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Psychology
  1. Sometimes, it's hard to understand how others feel about their beliefs, especially when we see them acting differently than we expect. This can leave us confused and questioning what's really true.
  2. A lot of people may find comfort in structured beliefs, especially if they have trouble dealing with uncertainty. It's about wanting clear answers and rules to follow.
  3. Not everyone processes situations in the same way. Some people seem to naturally know what to say or do, while others might struggle and need more certainty to feel safe.

The Art of Difficult Conversations with Sara Ness

The Bigger Picture • 159 implied HN points • 05 Mar 22
🚌 Education Psychology
  1. Learn techniques from mediation, Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal Theory, Nonviolent Communication, and more to enhance communication skills
  2. Understand conflict from internal, relational, and philosophical levels to bridge divides and improve connections
  3. Develop skills to engage in difficult conversations effectively and navigate polarized issues with more empathy and understanding

Reclaiming Masculinity Beyond Ideology

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 3 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Many American men are in a crisis where anger often hides vulnerability, and fatherlessness and unresolved emotional wounds help fuel political polarization.
  2. We need new models of masculinity that move beyond toughness and control and instead embrace failure, forgiveness, empathy, nurturing, and a search for meaning.
  3. Psychological and cultural critiques show social systems can harm men as well as women, so efforts to reclaim masculinity should be practical and non-ideological.

Making the best of the past ⏳ — Fading Affect bias (FAB)

10x your mind • 79 implied HN points • 25 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Psychology
  1. Our tendency to remember pleasant emotions better than unpleasant ones is called the Fading Affect Bias (FAB), helping our brain maintain a positive self-image by fading negative emotions faster.
  2. Psychologists focusing on positive emotions with the broaden-and-build theory by Barbara Fredrickson found that ample positive emotions lead to resilience, creativity, and better health.
  3. People usually fall into two categories: past positive or past negative, affecting how they recall memories; sharing events with others, especially positive ones, can help lighten emotional intensity.

The Stuff of Thought and Feeling

Holodoxa • 59 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. Paul Bloom's book 'Psych' offers a comprehensive overview of modern psychology focusing on foundational concepts and influential psychologists.
  2. The book addresses controversial psychological ideas and presents commentaries on existing research, making it accessible yet thoughtful.
  3. Readers may find particular value in the Foundations and Differences sections, and while the book lacks in-depth methodology discussions, it provides a solid introduction to the field.

Multi-Psyop. Introduction to the Master Scam

Tessa Fights Robots • 21 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Psychology
  1. We are living in a complex situation where many forces are trying to control how we think and feel. It's important to look deeper and understand what's really happening beyond just the surface issues.
  2. Many messages we hear are designed to keep us angry and divided instead of helping us find real solutions. We need to be cautious about who we listen to and what emotions we let guide us.
  3. It's crucial for us to reconnect with our true selves and recognize our power to create positive change. By healing and being honest with ourselves, we can move past the oppressive narratives and start building a better reality.

2804m above sea level

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 79 implied HN points • 01 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Psychology
  1. Discussing not-knowing can be uncomfortable, especially when there are too many people involved. It’s hard to have a deep conversation with large and diverse groups.
  2. Different people have different ways of dealing with not-knowing, which can lead to confusion and discomfort during discussions. Finding common ground is important.
  3. Preparing for discomfort in new experiences, like snowboarding, can help. Sometimes, facing unknowns can lead to unexpected enjoyment and learning.