Psychology – Page 3 – Stephen Hicks, Ph.D.

Is Disgust a “Conservative” Emotion?

New study, with implications for the hypothesis that political differences are driven by emotional dispositions. Abstract: “Extant political–psychological research has identified stable, context-independent differences between conservatives and liberals in a wide range of preferences and psychological processes. One consistent finding is that conservatives show higher disgust sensitivity than liberals. This finding, however, is predominantly based […]

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Movement splits and hatreds — a music example

3 Comments / Music, Psychology / Stephen Hicks

Most movements consistently exhibit a destructive social psychology. The dynamic is this: a movement’s members begin with a huge amount in common — the same high talent, goals, and passions. But any difference, sometimes minor, sets them against each other ferociously and irreparably. The dynamic crops up in many movements across history — political (e.g.,

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On Being the Entrepreneur of Your Life [Open College series]

Leave a Comment / Psychology / Stephen Hicks

A new episode of my podcast series, produced by Possibly Correct out of Toronto. Audio: iTunes Stitcher YouTube Topics: Are entrepreneurs really a breed apart? // Mindset: artist, mother, entrepreneur // Kids as entrepreneurial // Why entrepreneurs become entrepreneurs // What holds us back? // The entrepreneurial approach to your life. Transcription: Forthcoming Sources: Entrepreneurial

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Eric Hoffer on true believers and false fronts

1 Comment / Philosophy, Psychology / Stephen Hicks

Ten of my favorites from the always perceptive Eric Hoffer: “Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves.” “The game of history is usually played by the best and the worst over the heads of the majority in the middle.” “When people are free to do

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Guns and homicide statistics

5 Comments / Culture, Psychology / Stephen Hicks

Do you see a pattern? I don’t. Nine countries selected semi-randomly: Then organized by homicide rate: Then organized by gun ownership rate: Let’s think sadly about those who were injured and lost their lives. Let’s think angrily about the evil man who killed them. And then let’s also think sophisticatedly about the multiple influences and

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Two art school rejects — Hitler and Rodin

Leave a Comment / Psychology / Stephen Hicks

One explanation for National Socialism appeals to psychological explanations. Hitler, for example, was an art-school reject and, the argument runs, that trauma led to resentment, which is a major part of why he became a Nazi. I’m skeptical of that explanation (as I argued here) — mostly because there are thousands of art-school rejects who

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Steve Patterson and Jason Brennan

7 Comments / Psychology / Stephen Hicks

Both are smart guys, and I haven’t read the book or the review, but I am fascinated by the social dynamic, which follows a common pattern: What could be an engaged and productive argument devolves quickly into insults, exasperation, uncharitable interpretations about who said what, claims of immoralities, and suggestions of lawsuits. Also fascinating is

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Do poets or philosophers romance better?

Leave a Comment / Humor, Psychology / Stephen Hicks

Plato argued that there’s a perennial quarrel between poetry and philosophy.* Now science argues that the poets may have an edge in the dating market. If I understand this phenomenon correctly: * The poet says: Your beauty, so like a red, red rose, thrills my core with longing. * The philosopher says: Your functional properties

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