Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

CategoryPsychology

adorable-toddlers-playing-around-lots-of-toys-at-kindergarte-327313257-stockpack-adobestock
Adorable toddlers playing around lots of toys at kindergarten

Why Behaviorism Failed as a Leading Theory in Psychology

The human mind, like the origin and development of life itself is not reducible to merely physical processes
In our minds, as in our cells, we can see the clear signature of a Mind beyond this universe. Read More ›
ai-robot-sitting-on-a-chair-next-to-an-elderly-man-with-coff-895612249-stockpack-adobestock
AI robot sitting on a chair next to an elderly man with coffee, both waiting for a job interview. AI vs human concept. futuristic technology coexisting with people in a professional environment

The Linda Problem Revisited, As If Reality Matters

Part 2: AI enthusiasts use false claims for humans' “natural stupidity” to bolster claims for machine intelligence
The people who flunked the Linda problem were not biased; they just assumed there was some POINT to telling them that Linda was active in social justice issues. Read More ›
cognitive-bias-and-judgement-error-conceptual-illustration-s-552792735-stockpack-adobestock
Cognitive Bias and Judgement Error - Conceptual Illustration

Humans Aren’t That Biased — and Machines Aren’t That Smart

Part 1: At an upcoming conference on AI, I will be puncturing that particular AI enthusiast’s fantasy
Via the "Linda Problem," Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky convinced generations that we don't grasp probability. They're wrong. Read More ›
businessman-using-smartphone-to-chatting-by-use-chat-bot-pro-621506741-stockpack-adobestock
Businessman using smartphone to chatting by use chat Bot program for Artificial intelligence or AI technology concept.

Companies Spending A Lot on AI Are Not Seeing A Big Return

Target and WalMart are reversing course, cutting back on self-checkout
Perhaps it is worth keeping in mind that bots not only don’t buy things themselves but may be chasing away humans who do. Read More ›
charles-darwin-observing-ape-skulls-stockpack-adobe-stock-1079172752-stockpack-adobestock
Charles Darwin observing Ape skulls

Salvo: The Facts and Fictions of the Scopes Monkey Trial

Society has changed so much that biologists face trouble not for believing in Darwinism but for believing in the reality of biology
The biologists who would pride themselves on enthroning Darwinism as a public truth a century ago find that what is publicly true no long even matters the way it used to. Read More ›
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Hacker in prison cell. Selective focus. AI generated, human enhanced

Should the Iconic Stanford Prison Experiment Study Be Retracted?

Within six months of the death of the famous sociologist who devised it, long-simmering questions have risen to the surface
Beware of wildly popular sociology that tells us that our public policy preferences are somehow embedded in human nature. Life was never as simple as that. Read More ›
man-choosing-which-hamburger-to-eat-from-fast-food-restauran-316623591-stockpack-adobe_stock
Man choosing which hamburger to eat from fast food restaurant

A New McDonald’s PlayPlace Doesn’t Look Very Fun

A virtual playground doesn't offer kids genuine play
Hopefully the McDonald’s corporation will realize that the PlayPlace is a big part of what makes its restaurants so appealing. Read More ›
clever-black-child-thinking-on-chalkboard-background-with-sc-361083522-stockpack-adobe_stock
Clever black child thinking on chalkboard background with science formulas

Why Humans Aren’t That Biased, and Machines Aren’t That Smart

Claims about the cognitive biases that supposedly overwhelm our judgment should be taken with a helping of salt
It’s no wonder that techno-futurists trumpet a coming machine intelligence with such ease — they’ve lowered the standards so much to begin with. Read More ›
profile-of-a-human-head-composed-of-interlocking-jigsaw-piec-1003417041-stockpack-adobe_stock
profile of a human head composed of interlocking jigsaw pieces symbolizing cognitive psychology set against a minimalist backdrop for clarity and focus

Cognitive Psychology and AI: Exploring Their Intersection

Cognitive psychology can be contrasted with behaviorism because it investigates the black box of mental processes
Cognitive scientist Dr. Joe McDonald notes that AI is not able to contextualize information, which limits its use in psychological tests. Read More ›
masculinity-a-gigantic-and-unmovable-weight-chained-to-a-vul-566523970-stockpack-adobe_stock
Masculinity - a gigantic and unmovable weight chained to a vulnerable and suffering person in pain, misery and helplessness. Cold and tragic condition created by Masculinity ,3d illustration

Philosopher Asks, Why the Toxic War on Masculinity?

Prominent evangelical philosopher Nancy Pearcey is teaching a course on the roots of the “hate men” movement today. Here’s an excerpt from the controversial book it's based on
Pearcey argues that the biblical view of manhood offers men far greater dignity than any secular view, especially the Darwinian one. Read More ›
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Flower, Green, Plant

Haidt: Beauty and Awe Help Us Escape the Phone-Based Life

The question is: why are we drawn to beauty?
I want the beauty of the forest to actually be beautiful, not just signal a primordial drive to forage and hunt. Read More ›
old-egyptian-hieroglyphs-with-ufo-aliens-on-ancient-background-concept-humanoid-flying-saucer-history-of-earth-generation-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Old Egyptian hieroglyphs with UFO Aliens on ancient background. Concept humanoid Flying saucer history of Earth. Generation AI

Are Beliefs in Space Aliens Really Spiraling Out of Control?

A British philosophy prof sees such views as a “widespread societal problem,” comparing them to the J6 riot
On the whole, Milligan’s worries are not so much unreasonable as they are perennial. People will NOT easily accept that we might be alone in the universe. Read More ›
close-up-check-mark-on-cube-wooden-toy-block-stack-with-cross-symbol-for-true-or-false-changing-mindset-or-way-of-adapting-to-change-leader-and-transform-quiz-answer-and-poll-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
Close-up check mark on cube wooden toy block stack with cross symbol for true or false changing mindset or way of adapting to change leader and transform quiz answer and poll concept.

Polling Season: Time To Be Manipulated!

The fact that polls can be analyzed numerically is one of their limitations for prediction
If we obsess about polling data, all we will hear is the distorted echo of our own voices. We need to focus on issues and policies instead. Read More ›
humanoid-robot-doing-work-in-front-of-a-laptop-in-an-office-room-based-on-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Humanoid robot doing work in front of a laptop in an office room. Based on Generative Ai.

Why Are Robots Built To Look Like Humans?

It’s not because that’s the most efficient way to design them for high tech work
The main effect of humanoid robots is psychological; people tend to believe they are actually thinking when they are not. Read More ›
minimalist-circuit-board-with-tiny-monopoly-townhouses-the-style-is-flat-and-minimalistic-with-simple-shapes-and-limited-colors-stockpack-adobe-stock
minimalist circuit board with tiny monopoly townhouses the style is flat and minimalistic with simple shapes and limited colors

Google Decision Challenges Trillion-Dollar Internet Gatekeeper

How one company cornered the market for the human mind
The judge ruled that Google operates unlawfully: It effectively excludes competitors while its prices and services are unresponsive to consumer market demands. Read More ›
people-with-tv-screens-on-the-brain-addicted-to-social-media-manipulation-and-mind-control-by-media-teenager-disconnected-to-reality-stockpack-adobe-stock
People with TV screens on the brain, addicted to social media, manipulation and mind control, by media, teenager disconnected to reality

The Dark Art of Online “Nudging”: How to Protect Yourself

Organizations of all kinds use psychological tricks to move our minds as we browse — but a handy acronym helps detect them
The FORCES acronym helps us sense when a website, app, news report, or video source is nudging us to think and act in ways that perhaps we hadn’t expected. Read More ›
overwhelming-information-data-explode-out-of-head-of-young-human-brain-too-much-media-too-much-information-maximalism-news-social-media-addiction-coping-strategies-for-digital-overload-stockpack-adobe-stock
overwhelming information data explode out of head of young human brain, too much media, too much information, maximalism, news, social media addiction - coping strategies for digital overload

Social Media Cutting Into Your Sanity? Try the Great Unplug

Video producer Adam Nieri looks at the pros and cons of a post-AI world and recommends structured timeouts to regain perspective
Video producer Adam Nieri looks at the pros and cons of a post-AI world and recommends structured timeouts to regain perspective. Read More ›
humanoid-ai-robot-assists-old-senior-woman-in-her-household-serving-drink-and-food-replacing-human-caregiver-stockpack-adobe-stock
humanoid AI robot assists old senior woman in her household. serving drink and food, replacing human caregiver

Why AI Will Not and Cannot Think Our Thoughts

How can a robot ever have a spiritual vision of reality? How can it even be emotional?
Could an android at a child's funeral read the mourners' thoughts and emotions? Or would it view the death as a mere rearrangement of atoms in a wooden box? Read More ›
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Canceled word on a red enter key of the black pc keyboard. Concepts of cancel culture, ostracism and call-out culture social media and in the Internet. Computer enter key with message.

The Cancel Culture Mob Comes for the Psychologists

The response “It’s complicated,” chosen by nearly half of psychology profs, is a roundabout confession of cowardice in the face of mobs threatened by findings they hope to stifle
Cancel Culture at universities aims to protect a set of core beliefs from challenge by new evidence. If a discipline is to thrive, it must defeat the Cancel mob Read More ›
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Sand running through the bulbs of an hourglass measuring the passing time in a countdown to a deadline with copy space.

Does Time Exist? That’s Not As Clear As We Might Think

We picture a clock when we think of time but, physicists note, that’s not how we experience it as living beings
The COVID lockdowns often introduced people to a different approach to time from what they were used to, with mixed results. Read More ›