The Latest Breaking News from Leon Festinger

Psychology says people who saw the ChatGPT ’80s trend everywhere but still decided to opt out of it aren’t boring

A trend often feels exciting at first because it is new and relatively uncommon. But when countless versions of the same aesthetic begin appearing across social media feeds, that sense of originality can quickly fade. For someone who values individuality, the reaction may gradually change from “That feels creative” to…

The Economic Times · Sep 14

Psychology says you may want something more the moment someone else wants it, here’s why

Psychology suggests that this surprisingly common reaction may be influenced by social comparison, envy, perceived value, scarcity and psychological reactance. However, it does not necessarily mean that you are jealous or competitive. Sometimes, seeing another person show interest in something simply changes the way your brain perceives and evaluates its…

The Economic Times · Sep 10

Why some people say ‘take care’ instead of ‘bye’ — Psychology says the difference may reveal how they relate to you

Psychology suggests that the real challenge is not making decisions we will never regret. It is developing enough psychological flexibility to recognize when an old justification has stopped serving us, and allowing ourselves to choose differently without treating that change as an admission that we were foolish all along.

The Economic Times · Aug 12

Is there a tipping point for Trump supporters to stop backing him? Here's what the science says

Donald Trump has had some bad days recently, objectively speaking. A jury in New York found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a civil case brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll. This came on top of criminal charges related to a hush money payment to porn star…

The Conversation · May 17, 2023

Why do we feel bad when our beliefs don't match our actions? Blame 'cognitive dissonance'

Have you ever been out and about, perhaps tackling the Christmas shopping list, and felt a bit thirsty? You buy a drink – say, one that comes in a plastic bottle – and quench your thirst, only to find there’s no recycling nearby. What do you do?

The Conversation · Nov 9, 2022

Inside the cults that survive even when the prophecy fails

A core trait of many sect-like communities is paradoxical: A failed prophecy doesn’t mean the end of the movement. Instead, it can galvanize a new era.

Inverse · Sep 15, 2022

What our negative comments and consumer gripes on social media reveal about us

A supermarket starts stocking hot-cross buns straight after Christmas. A cling-wrap brand shifts its serrated cutter bar from the base of the box to inside the lid. The maker of MM’s chocolates changes its marketing. Each time people take to social media to complain.

The Conversation · Apr 12, 2022