In this engaging discussion, Adam Mastroianni, a social psychologist critiquing his field, and Dan Engber, a journalist at The Atlantic, delve into the troubling replication crisis in psychology. They explore how numerous landmark studies have been debunked, questioning the scientific rigor of the discipline. Mastroianni reflects on whether psychology truly teaches us anything, while Engber uncovers a scandal involving academic fraud that has rocked business school psychology. Their insights illuminate the urgent need for reform in psychological research.

In this engaging conversation, Adam Mastroianni, a postdoctoral research scholar at Columbia Business School, explores the intriguing relationship between intelligence and happiness. He discusses why super smart individuals can struggle with simple problems and challenges the notion that intelligence leads to fulfillment. Adam critiques conventional productivity methods and examines how societal biases shape our understanding of people's capabilities. With humor and insight, he also touches on fascinating connections between sensory experiences and cognition, making for a thought-provoking discussion.

Have you ever lost a friend to misperception? Have you lost a friend or a family member to the idea that your views got so different, that it was time to end the relationship — perhaps by unfriending each other on Facebook?As it turns out, we often think our ideological differences are far greater than they actually are. Which means: we’re losing relationships and getting mired in polarization based on warped visions of each other. This week on Your Undivided Attention, we're talking with Adam Mastroianni, a postdoctoral research scholar at Columbia Business School who studies how we perceive and misperceive our social worlds. Together with Adam, we're going to explore how accurate — and inaccurate — our views of each other are. As you listen to our conversation, keep in mind that relationship you might have lost to misperception, and that you might be able to revive as a result of what you hear.CORRECTIONS: In the episode, Adam says in 1978, 85% of people said they'd vote for a Black president, but the actual percentage is 80.4%. Tristan says that Republicans estimate that more than a third of Democrats are LGBTQ, but the actual percentage is 32%. Finally, Tristan refers to Anil Seth's notion of cognitive impenetrability, but that term was actually coined by the Canadian cognitive scientist and philosopher Zenon W. Pylyshyn.RECOMMENDED MEDIA Widespread Misperceptions of Long-term Attitude Changehttps://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2107260119   Adam Mastroianni's research paper showing how stereotypes of the past lead people to misperceive attitude change, and how these misperceptions can lend legitimacy to policies that people may not actually preferExperimental Historyhttps://experimentalhistory.substack.com/  Adam's blog, where he shares original data and thinks through ideasAmericans experience a false social reality by underestimating popular climate policy support by nearly halfhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-32412-yAcademic study showing that Americans are living in what researchers called a “false social reality” with respect to misperceptions about climate viewsRECOMMENDED YUA EPISODES Mind the (Perception) Gap with Dan Vallonehttps://www.humanetech.com/podcast/33-mind-the-perception-gapThe Courage to Connect. Guests: Ciaran O’Connor and John Wood, Jr.https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/30-the-courage-to-connectTranscending the Internet Hate Game with Dylan Marronhttps://www.humanetech.com/podcast/52-transcending-the-internet-hate-game 

Adam Mastroianni, a psychologist and postdoctoral research scholar at Columbia Business School, explores the intriguing notion of moral decline. He questions whether perceptions of increased meanness are valid or merely illusions fostered by cognitive biases. Mastroianni dives into historical perspectives on morality, revealing that feelings of decline often overshadow evidence of cooperative behavior. He argues for focusing on real social issues rather than unfounded fears, and suggests reducing news consumption for better mental well-being.

Welcome to the end of Flash Forward. This is the first episode in our three-part show finale!! As I say goodbye to Flash Forward, I wanted to leave you all with a rumination on how to think about the future. How do you stay hopeful? How do we imagine better futures? How do we actually GET those better futures? This is my three-part love letter to you all, and to tomorrow. ✨ BECOME A TIME TRAVELER ✨Guests:Jack Shepherd — former editorial director BuzzFeed, author of On Words and Up Words newsletter, co-host of Strange Bedfellows podcastDr. Adam Mastroianni — postdoctoral research scholar at Columbia Business School and author of Experimental History newsletter Liz Neeley — science communicator and founder of Liminal Dr. Ruha Benjamin — professor of African American studies at Princeton University and author of Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want→ → →  Further reading & resources here! ← ← ← This episode of Flash Forward was written by me, Rose Eveleth; edited by Avery Trufelman; produced by Ozzy Llinas Goodman and sound designed by Ariana Martinez. Much of the music in this episode is by Ilan Blanck. The outro music is by Hussalonia. The episode art is by Mattie Lubchansky. Special thanks to Libby Larsen, who read Plates by Ethan Leos Verne; Emily C, who read Nailbunny’s post; Afi Yellow Duke who read “Sorrow is Not My Name” by Ross Gay; and Marge Piercy who read her poem “To be of use.”Poems Credits“Sorrow Is Not My Name” from Bringing the Shovel Down by Ross Gay, Ⓒ 2011. Aired by permission of University of Pittsburgh Press.“To be of use” by Marge Piercy Copyright ©1973, 1982 by Marge Piercy From CIRCLES ON THE WATER, Alfred A. Knopf. Used by permission of Robin Straus Agency, Inc.

Adam Mastroianni, a researcher, discusses humor, peer review, and the future of science. Topics include debunking exhausted ideas, humor in teaching, reforming peer review, creating Science House, catchy titles for content, fear of obsolescence, interpreting the Milgram Study, and optimism for the future of science.

Researcher Adam Mastroianni challenges the status quo of behavioral science, discussing the fraudulent study controversy, lack of groundbreaking discoveries, and the need for a paradigm shift. They also question the effectiveness of flossing and explore the importance of different perspectives in science and academia. This thought-provoking conversation encourages fresh thinking and innovation.

This episode features Adam Mastroianni discussing oral hygiene, Esther Perel exploring the three common conflicts in couples, and Dan Barry examining the Minnesota Board of Pardons. The hosts also explain the show's name and touch on topics like marital challenges, forgiveness in the justice system, and preaching during crisis.

In this conversation, Dr. Adam Mastroianni, a postdoctoral research scholar at Columbia Business School and stand-up comic, dives into the nuances of social awareness. He discusses how personal backgrounds shape perceptions of social interactions. Mastroianni highlights the importance of adapting communication strategies for diverse audiences, linking these concepts to the world of comedy. They explore overcoming the fear of judgment in conversations, emphasizing authenticity and the spontaneity necessary for genuine connection.

Psychologist Adam Mastroianni discusses the perception of moral decline in society and presents research showing it is an illusion. They explore the impact of this perception on loneliness and the distortion of our understanding of societal change. The importance of historical context and not being overly confident in personal perceptions is emphasized.