The hottest Social Behavior Substack posts right now

Ghosting is a common behavior in today's online dating and social interactions. People often prefer to disappear rather than communicate directly, which can feel more polite but isn't really respectful.
Technology makes it easier for people to ghost. With countless excuses available for not responding, people feel less accountable for their actions and more capable of ignoring others.
Instead of trying to change ghosting behavior, we should focus on having honest conversations. Telling someone how we feel, even if it’s uncomfortable, creates a healthier way to interact.

Neurodiversity includes a range of communication styles, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.
Allistic individuals tend to blend multiple possibilities in social interactions, which can lead to quicker decision-making but also vulnerability to manipulation.
Psychopaths may exploit neurodivergent and neurotypical social tendencies for personal gain, highlighting the importance of understanding and navigating various communication styles.

Our memories are not like videos; we actually rebuild them each time we recall information. This means they can be easily influenced by others.
People tend to remember things better when they are related to someone they trust or feel connected to. This makes our memories less reliable for those outside our social circles.
Misinformation can spread easily because we are less accurate in recalling what people from other groups say or do. This makes us more susceptible to believing false claims about them.

Many people believe they have been abducted by aliens, but their experiences can sometimes be explained by psychological factors or sleep disturbances.
Studies have shown that these individuals might create false memories due to suggestive techniques like hypnosis, rather than actually experiencing abductions.
Despite their scary stories, many self-identified abductees feel a sense of specialness or connection to something greater, often interpreting their experiences as significant.

LARP stands for Live Action Role Playing, where people act out stories or events like in reenactments. It's a fun way for people to bring fiction to life.
InfoLARP is when media pretends to be serious news but is actually misleading. It's designed to confuse people and often makes money by targeting particular audiences.
UniLARPy refers to a bigger scheme where certain groups create narratives through media and politics. This can shape public opinion and personal beliefs in a way that's like living in a controlled reality.

Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The emergence of the idea of civility traced back to a book by Erasmus of Rotterdam.
New media platforms commercialize by revealing how others behave and teaching us how to live appropriate lives.
Generative AI lacks the depth of human connection and practical applicability found in human interactions and specific contexts.

We often share memories to understand others better and make smarter choices about who we work with. Gossip, or sharing stories about people's past actions, plays a big role in this.
Episodic memory may have evolved to help us remember people's behaviors, which helps us avoid bad partners and build better cooperation. Remembering who can be trusted is really important for survival.
Sharing stories about others is a great way to learn without putting ourselves at risk. It helps us judge people's actions and create a better understanding of their reputations in our social circles.

Our tastes are influenced by our social context and cultural knowledge, often unconsciously driven by benefits and social hierarchy.
People gravitate towards different types of games based on their mix of economic and cultural capital.
Taste games, like the choices we make in food, fashion, and art, are deeply intertwined with social status, class, and unconscious influences.

Engaging people with eye contact, a smile, and humor really improves interactions. It can turn a good moment into a great one.
It's important to recognize and challenge negative thoughts. You don’t have to believe every thought that comes to mind.
You can enjoy dancing and socializing without alcohol. Sometimes moving your body is enough to help you feel loose and happy.

People can show kindness and support in unexpected places, like the DMV. The interactions between the attendants and the customers can really brighten someone's day.
Teamwork and communication are important in the workplace. It's vital to listen to everyone's ideas and find common ground for the best solutions.
Sometimes, changing the name of something can lead to better agreement and collaboration. Being flexible in discussions can help achieve a desirable outcome.

Social approval is a powerful motivator for people's actions.
Abundance of food and wealth is not a direct cause of obesity.
Maintaining social status and peer pressure influence behavior more than immediate benefits or pleasures.