Andy Delton

Where evolutionary psychology and political psychology meet.

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

My relevant work is here: https://t.co/iLPCPdjKzp

and here: https://t.co/m0YqE1Mkke

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

What does it mean to be kind? Research by @Oliver_S_Curry and colleagues show that people see it as kind if you provide benefits to others. Paying costs to provide the benefit, though, does not matter much.

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

The paper is here: https://t.co/JmINcs1JdK

[Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel]

“Conflict entrepreneurs”--leaders who frequently use personal insults—are destroying social discourse and damaging democracy.

An analysis of 2.2 million public statements from members of Congress finds that this type of rhetoric is linked to increased media coverage, but has no other benefits.

This suggests a political incentive structure where the pursuit of media visibility alone sustains a form of discourse that may be corrosive to democratic norms, even without apparent electoral or financial rewards. https://t.co/YZdIx8IF22

If the media stopped giving these people attention, maybe they'd stop spewing insults and focus on trying to make the country a better place.

Thoughts?

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

Related paper by me, Daniel Sznycer, and others on the importance of need in motivating help: https://t.co/zhBDxphIET

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

Why might people give stuff to strangers? Enduring puzzle in evolutionary psych. New paper by Megan Mulhinch @megmul6 , Grant, Pedersen, & McCullough says: we give to strangers when their need is high and the benefits are cheap to give.

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

Paper: https://t.co/vBLUrFpmzv

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

Do you want to date someone *willing* to protect you? Someone *strong* enough to protect? Both? Michael Barlev and colleagues test this. Based on a lot of work in evolutionary psychology, you might think that both would matter about equally. Nope!

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

JEP:G paper: https://t.co/LWpdhyuZ83
Cognition paper: https://t.co/XL4vkyTC16

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

Should everyone be allowed vote on things? Or should we turn it over to philosopher kings? Fascinating new research by Hannah Hok and colleagues in JEP:General on how children think about voting. Kids are pretty sophisticated.

[Andy Delton @AndyDelton]

Importantly, kids didn’t think everything should be up for a vote. For instance, no voting to commit obviously immoral acts (killing the class pet). Again, pretty sophisticated.