Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University

I conduct research on cognitive, social, and cultural psychology. I help organizations, communities and campaigns. Please see

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

A video interview with McKinsey Insights

https://t.co/PHghvbiooM

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

@WorkElizab 20% min wtf

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

Every person learns 99% of what they know from reference groups rather than through direct experimentation on the world--through 'prevalence learning' from peers, through 'prestige learning' from heroes, and from 'precedence learning' from ancestors. I think we can all become more centered and effective by embracing the tribal psychology that defines our species and propelled its ascent.

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

Thanks Jay for a fascinating observation related to TRIBAL! Even though we behavioral scientists describe social learning in our research, we don't own up to it in our lives. This is particularly true in the West given our obsession with individualism and uniqueness; less so in Asia.

[Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel]

Cultural psychologist, Michael Morris, explains how social learning based on prestige operates in humans and why it has been absolutely crucial to our success as a species.

[Jay Van Bavel, PhD @jayvanbavel]

There is a weird aversion among academics to look to successful role models for career guidance. I always prefer to look for experts with a track record of success in any domain for information about how to succeed.

This is precisely how social learning operates in humans. Other primates don't engage in the same degree of social learning from successful peers, which is what allows humans to pass along innovations and engage in cultural evolution.

Is it weird to have LeBron James, Serena Williams or Lionel Messi offer advice to beginning athletes in their sports? Or would it be weird to have this happen in any other field? No, the exact opposite.

[NEXTA @nexta_tv]

🇭🇺 Hungary’s famous “dancing politician” Zsolt Hegedűs performed a celebratory dance on the steps of parliament

Hegedűs is considered one of the key figures in the new prime minister’s team and a possible candidate for health minister.

Just look at this legend absolutely owning it!

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

Had a great conversation with James Smith on "The Problem With..." podcast. We talked about all things TRIBAL—from its evolutionary roots, to its role in group dynamics and organizational culture, to its place in the 21st century.

🎧Listen/watch here: https://t.co/xtrv2Ppbbs

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

@_alice_evans @jasoncrawford Goid gliding nearby in Pacifica on the coast. Last I knew no permits but it's been many years

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

@BriannaWu Congrats on forging this family tie. Disagreements and awkward moments come with territory.

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

Tribal establishes itself as a relevant work for understanding the present by proposing that tribalism should not be eliminated, but rather understood and guided. Morris offers a perspective that elucidates polarization and culture wars.

As TRIBAL launches in Portuguese, I am inspired by the thoughtful commentary it receives. Thanks Carlos Eugénio Augusto for distilling that tribal instincts are not just divisiveness but the engine of collective identity, cooperation, and cultural evolution.

Article: https://t.co/qbeAFzPOo1

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

Kaiping is now a professor of psychology at Tsinghua University in Beijing, while I began teaching at Columbia Business School in New York.

We recently sat down to converse about the field of cultural psychology and the world—our first in-depth conversation in many years. Here, we talk about outsider perceptions of American politics and how American political identities become primary identities. (2/2)

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

Forty years ago, Kaiping Peng and I met as unconventional students in our graduate psychology program, grappling with understanding the world after the shock of Tiananmen Square.
We collaborated together on research looking at how different cultures assign different attributions for the causes of social and physical events, helping to relaunch the field of cultural psychology. (1/2)

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

What actually goes on in the classroom of a graduate business school? For my audience in China, I explain it's not necessarily what you learn in an MBA program, but from whom you learn.

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

MBA applicants make an important decision when they apply for business school programs: is the opportunity cost worth it? For my audience in China, I gave (part of) my response.

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

Recently, I made several videos answering questions that I received in the comments of my Chinese social media profiles.

One such topic: How young is too young for social media? Here, I give a little insight into moderation, and how that's important at every age.

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

@bnbhao @grok any comment works?

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

To check out the toolkit, visit her site here:
https://t.co/rhp0ao9kri

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

Love this toolkit developed by Allison Dunn adapted from TRIBAL to identify tribal forces at play in your company.

Dunn writes a checklist for each instinct, a manual for activating cultural codes, and prompts for AI to diagnose your workplace's strengths and weaknesses. (1/2)

[Tygodnik Powszechny @tygpowszechny]

Michael Morris, psycholog kulturowy z Uniwersytetu Columbia, przekonuje, że to instynkty plemienne pozwoliły nam budować cywilizacje, tworzyć religie, współpracować z nieznajomymi i wygrywać z silniejszymi rywalami.

Czy polaryzacja to wina ewolucji? Naukowiec mówi jasno: nie. To kwestia środowiska, mediów i naszych wyborów.

Michael Morris w rozmowie z "Tygodnikiem" pokazuje, jak mądrze korzystać z plemienności 🔗 https://t.co/rrqdRrrqjm

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

@JoHenrich Great choices. Two exceptional scholars.

[Michael Morris, Professor at Columbia University @MichaelMorrisCU]

@Heer_khan3 Sure