Erin Westgate
@erinwestgate.bsky.social
Social psychologist, studying boredom, interest, and thinking (...and why it's so hard for so many of us!). Assistant Professor @ University of Florida 🐊
🌐 erinwestgate.com
📸 https://instagram.com/erin.corwin.westgate
🌐 erinwestgate.com
📸 https://instagram.com/erin.corwin.westgate
Pinned
Erin Westgate
@erinwestgate.bsky.social
· Dec 24
Are you living a good life? Take this quiz to find out.
Now is a good time to reflect on the life you’re leading — and what you want out of it.
www.washingtonpost.com
Are you leading a (mostly) happy life, a meaningful life, or a psychologically rich life? Take this fun quiz at the Washington Post and find out!
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...?
www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/int...?
Reposted by Erin Westgate
Devastated to see what’s happening at a place that I loved because it was the writing home of so many people I loved. what a gutting week
Should You Buy a Newspaper or a Yacht?
Advice for Jeff Bezos
www.theatlantic.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Devastated to see what’s happening at a place that I loved because it was the writing home of so many people I loved. what a gutting week
Reposted by Erin Westgate
From the Cooking community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Cooking community
www.reddit.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by Erin Westgate
As a former editor: PLEASE do this!
A quick e-mail saying: "I don't have time, but try [A] or [B]" can speed up the review process by *weeks*. And it also helps the many junior scientists who need reviewing experience on their CVs, but struggle to get invited.
A quick e-mail saying: "I don't have time, but try [A] or [B]" can speed up the review process by *weeks*. And it also helps the many junior scientists who need reviewing experience on their CVs, but struggle to get invited.
3) When you decline, suggest at least one other reviewer, preferably a junior scientist who tends to do a great job and is likely not on the radar of the editor.
February 6, 2026 at 11:45 AM
As a former editor: PLEASE do this!
A quick e-mail saying: "I don't have time, but try [A] or [B]" can speed up the review process by *weeks*. And it also helps the many junior scientists who need reviewing experience on their CVs, but struggle to get invited.
A quick e-mail saying: "I don't have time, but try [A] or [B]" can speed up the review process by *weeks*. And it also helps the many junior scientists who need reviewing experience on their CVs, but struggle to get invited.
Reposted by Erin Westgate
We had devastating cuts to @washingtonpost. Our health team of 14 lost 9 reporters yesterday despite it being listed as part of the Post’s new focus.
But I still have my job. Along w/a core team, we are still dedicated to covering public health, holding the powerful to account.
But I still have my job. Along w/a core team, we are still dedicated to covering public health, holding the powerful to account.
February 5, 2026 at 7:16 PM
We had devastating cuts to @washingtonpost. Our health team of 14 lost 9 reporters yesterday despite it being listed as part of the Post’s new focus.
But I still have my job. Along w/a core team, we are still dedicated to covering public health, holding the powerful to account.
But I still have my job. Along w/a core team, we are still dedicated to covering public health, holding the powerful to account.
Reposted by Erin Westgate
Another rigorous study calls into question the ability of animal models of alcohol use disorder to predict the discovery and development of new drug treatments.
Kudos to the authors for this solid, albeit negative, translational work!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Kudos to the authors for this solid, albeit negative, translational work!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 6, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Another rigorous study calls into question the ability of animal models of alcohol use disorder to predict the discovery and development of new drug treatments.
Kudos to the authors for this solid, albeit negative, translational work!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Kudos to the authors for this solid, albeit negative, translational work!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Erin Westgate
Imagination in bonobos!
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
Apes Share Human Ability to Imagine
YouTube video by Johns Hopkins University
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Imagination in bonobos!
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
I am thrilled to share a new paper w/ Amalia Bastos, out now in @science.org
We provide the first experimental evidence that a nonhuman animal can follow along a pretend scenario & track imaginary objects. Work w/ Kanzi, the bonobo, at Ape Initiative
youtu.be/NUSHcQQz2Ko
Reposted by Erin Westgate
As part of an effort to celebrate scholars who apply their research in service of social change, SPSP is highlighting the late Dr. Samuel Sommers - who served as an expert in several cases on different aspects of the criminal justice system.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/wr7V50Y9sKA
Learn more: https://ow.ly/wr7V50Y9sKA
February 5, 2026 at 8:05 PM
As part of an effort to celebrate scholars who apply their research in service of social change, SPSP is highlighting the late Dr. Samuel Sommers - who served as an expert in several cases on different aspects of the criminal justice system.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/wr7V50Y9sKA
Learn more: https://ow.ly/wr7V50Y9sKA
Reposted by Erin Westgate
To all the non-academics who don't understand the point of academic freedom and don't care to learn about it, let me give you a factor you might care about:
Tenure is the biggest reason you get my services at a steep discount over my private sector value.
Tenure is the biggest reason you get my services at a steep discount over my private sector value.
No Tenure for Oklahoma.
Instead, faculty will be on "renewable contracts “tied to teaching effectiveness, student completion, job placement, and economic alignment.”
#academicsky
Instead, faculty will be on "renewable contracts “tied to teaching effectiveness, student completion, job placement, and economic alignment.”
#academicsky
Tenure Will Be Eliminated at Most of Oklahoma’s Public Colleges, Governor Says
Gov. J. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, directed the state’s two-dozen regional universities and community colleges to phase out the practice. Existing faculty members will be grandfathered in.
www.chronicle.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:16 AM
To all the non-academics who don't understand the point of academic freedom and don't care to learn about it, let me give you a factor you might care about:
Tenure is the biggest reason you get my services at a steep discount over my private sector value.
Tenure is the biggest reason you get my services at a steep discount over my private sector value.
Reposted by Erin Westgate
No Tenure for Oklahoma.
Instead, faculty will be on "renewable contracts “tied to teaching effectiveness, student completion, job placement, and economic alignment.”
#academicsky
Instead, faculty will be on "renewable contracts “tied to teaching effectiveness, student completion, job placement, and economic alignment.”
#academicsky
Tenure Will Be Eliminated at Most of Oklahoma’s Public Colleges, Governor Says
Gov. J. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, directed the state’s two-dozen regional universities and community colleges to phase out the practice. Existing faculty members will be grandfathered in.
www.chronicle.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:40 AM
No Tenure for Oklahoma.
Instead, faculty will be on "renewable contracts “tied to teaching effectiveness, student completion, job placement, and economic alignment.”
#academicsky
Instead, faculty will be on "renewable contracts “tied to teaching effectiveness, student completion, job placement, and economic alignment.”
#academicsky
Reposted by Erin Westgate
“In addition, the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County is conducting contact tracing in two University of Florida classes in which exposure to measles may have occurred.”
was somehow NOT the opening sentence in an email to UF faculty, staff, and students.
was somehow NOT the opening sentence in an email to UF faculty, staff, and students.
February 6, 2026 at 1:01 AM
“In addition, the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County is conducting contact tracing in two University of Florida classes in which exposure to measles may have occurred.”
was somehow NOT the opening sentence in an email to UF faculty, staff, and students.
was somehow NOT the opening sentence in an email to UF faculty, staff, and students.
okay who put measles on their 2026 bingo card
February 6, 2026 at 12:04 AM
okay who put measles on their 2026 bingo card
Reposted by Erin Westgate
Some people will be tempted to think that having the state dictate faculty teaching loads we can repair trust in institutions and avoid authoritarianism when in actuality having the state dictate faculty teaching is part of an authoritarian program.
February 5, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Some people will be tempted to think that having the state dictate faculty teaching loads we can repair trust in institutions and avoid authoritarianism when in actuality having the state dictate faculty teaching is part of an authoritarian program.
Reposted by Erin Westgate
McGill is hiring a faculty lecturer in social psychology, in a (non-adjunct) permanent teaching position.
Please consider being my colleague, Montreal is really great: mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/McGill...
Please consider being my colleague, Montreal is really great: mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/McGill...
Faculty Lecturer - Department of Psychology
Please refer to the How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates) job aid for instructions on how to apply. If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at ...
mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:36 PM
McGill is hiring a faculty lecturer in social psychology, in a (non-adjunct) permanent teaching position.
Please consider being my colleague, Montreal is really great: mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/McGill...
Please consider being my colleague, Montreal is really great: mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/McGill...
Reposted by Erin Westgate
Professors Are Being Watched: ‘We’ve Never Seen This Much Surveillance’ www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/u...
Professors Are Being Watched: ‘We’ve Never Seen This Much Surveillance’
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Professors Are Being Watched: ‘We’ve Never Seen This Much Surveillance’ www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/u...
My grad advisor was (and still is) great about this. He routinely turns down interviews on my work and points them towards me instead. It is gracious and deeply appreciated - an example to model for sure
A grad student I know recently had his work covered in a high profile outlet...but his name wasn't mentioned at all despite his advisor explicitly saying he did all of the work.
Since I've straddled the line between academic and journalist, I see both sides. Here are a couple ways to avoid this:
Since I've straddled the line between academic and journalist, I see both sides. Here are a couple ways to avoid this:
February 4, 2026 at 2:19 AM
My grad advisor was (and still is) great about this. He routinely turns down interviews on my work and points them towards me instead. It is gracious and deeply appreciated - an example to model for sure
Reposted by Erin Westgate
💥New paper alert! Dyadic Decisions About Effort: How Caregivers Shape Young Children’s Persistence (with @reutshachnai.bsky.social)
One of my favorites! If you’re curious about what we’ve been up to in @leonardlearnlab.bsky.social, take a look!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
One of my favorites! If you’re curious about what we’ve been up to in @leonardlearnlab.bsky.social, take a look!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
February 3, 2026 at 1:49 PM
💥New paper alert! Dyadic Decisions About Effort: How Caregivers Shape Young Children’s Persistence (with @reutshachnai.bsky.social)
One of my favorites! If you’re curious about what we’ve been up to in @leonardlearnlab.bsky.social, take a look!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
One of my favorites! If you’re curious about what we’ve been up to in @leonardlearnlab.bsky.social, take a look!
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Erin Westgate
New sci-hub just dropped.
February 2, 2026 at 2:47 PM
New sci-hub just dropped.
Reposted by Erin Westgate
🚨New WP "@Grok is this true?"
We analyze 1.6M factcheck requests on X (grok & Perplexity)
📌Usage is polarized, Grok users more likely to be Reps
📌BUT Rep posts rated as false more often—even by Grok
📌Bot agreement with factchecks is OK but not great; APIs match fact-checkers
osf.io/preprints/ps...
We analyze 1.6M factcheck requests on X (grok & Perplexity)
📌Usage is polarized, Grok users more likely to be Reps
📌BUT Rep posts rated as false more often—even by Grok
📌Bot agreement with factchecks is OK but not great; APIs match fact-checkers
osf.io/preprints/ps...
February 3, 2026 at 9:55 PM
🚨New WP "@Grok is this true?"
We analyze 1.6M factcheck requests on X (grok & Perplexity)
📌Usage is polarized, Grok users more likely to be Reps
📌BUT Rep posts rated as false more often—even by Grok
📌Bot agreement with factchecks is OK but not great; APIs match fact-checkers
osf.io/preprints/ps...
We analyze 1.6M factcheck requests on X (grok & Perplexity)
📌Usage is polarized, Grok users more likely to be Reps
📌BUT Rep posts rated as false more often—even by Grok
📌Bot agreement with factchecks is OK but not great; APIs match fact-checkers
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Erin Westgate
Tally one for personality on the "person situation debate scoreboard" that the psychologists in the Epstein files are pretty uniformly high on dominance, narcissism, need for admiration. Haven't come across a single "Oh, HIM? Never would have guessed!"
February 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Tally one for personality on the "person situation debate scoreboard" that the psychologists in the Epstein files are pretty uniformly high on dominance, narcissism, need for admiration. Haven't come across a single "Oh, HIM? Never would have guessed!"
Reposted by Erin Westgate
Here’s What the Latest Epstein Files Say About His Ties to Higher Ed: Collectively, the files underscore how deeply Epstein remained embedded in academic and intellectual circles even after his criminal history became public. www.chronicle.com/article/here...
Here’s What the Latest Epstein Files Say About His Ties to Higher Ed
New documents released by the Department of Justice on Friday reinforce that long after his criminal convictions, many prominent professors continued to communicate with him.
www.chronicle.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Here’s What the Latest Epstein Files Say About His Ties to Higher Ed: Collectively, the files underscore how deeply Epstein remained embedded in academic and intellectual circles even after his criminal history became public. www.chronicle.com/article/here...
Reposted by Erin Westgate
'to treat peer review as a throughput problem is to misunderstand what is at stake. Review is not simply a production stage in the research pipeline; it is one of the few remaining spaces where the scientific community talks to itself.' 1/3
AI is not a peer, so it can’t do peer review
If we still believe that science is a vocation grounded in argument, curiosity and care, we can’t delegate judgement to machines, says Akhil Bhardwaj
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:17 AM
'to treat peer review as a throughput problem is to misunderstand what is at stake. Review is not simply a production stage in the research pipeline; it is one of the few remaining spaces where the scientific community talks to itself.' 1/3
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Fuck your favourite song. Tell me your least favourite song. The one that makes you die inside the moment you hear the first 3 seconds.
February 4, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Reposted by Erin Westgate
Why is it that small animals like insects have a landspace body plan when viewed head-on, but larger animals like elephants are taller than wide?
With @m-v.bsky.social, we find out in our new preprint titled 'Size and shape of terrestrial animals' - arxiv.org/html/2602.00...
With @m-v.bsky.social, we find out in our new preprint titled 'Size and shape of terrestrial animals' - arxiv.org/html/2602.00...
February 3, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Why is it that small animals like insects have a landspace body plan when viewed head-on, but larger animals like elephants are taller than wide?
With @m-v.bsky.social, we find out in our new preprint titled 'Size and shape of terrestrial animals' - arxiv.org/html/2602.00...
With @m-v.bsky.social, we find out in our new preprint titled 'Size and shape of terrestrial animals' - arxiv.org/html/2602.00...
Reposted by Erin Westgate
Lots of overlap with this list I created recently for some Chi-town visitors...
I also heartily endorse everything on Jin and Lydia's list that isn't on mine!
(Caveat: no cheap eats on this list, due to who I created it for)
I also heartily endorse everything on Jin and Lydia's list that isn't on mine!
(Caveat: no cheap eats on this list, due to who I created it for)
Current Chicago Restaurant Faves
Current Chicago Restaurant Faves Coffee Sawada, West Loop Favourite coffee shop for hanging: Avondale Coffee Club There are no great coffee shops in the Loop (that I know of), but the best place to ...
docs.google.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Lots of overlap with this list I created recently for some Chi-town visitors...
I also heartily endorse everything on Jin and Lydia's list that isn't on mine!
(Caveat: no cheap eats on this list, due to who I created it for)
I also heartily endorse everything on Jin and Lydia's list that isn't on mine!
(Caveat: no cheap eats on this list, due to who I created it for)
Reposted by Erin Westgate
SPSP is just around the corner and in our backyard of Chicago! @lydiaemery.bsky.social and I love the Chicago food scene, and we've put together a list of places we like. We hope this will help you enjoy and explore Chicago!! See y'all soon!!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Chicago Restaurant Recs
Chicago Restaurant Recommendations from Jin Goh and Lydia Emery Chicago has an amazing food scene. You can get a great meal in pretty much any neighborhood, all of which have unique culture, food, an...
docs.google.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:39 PM
SPSP is just around the corner and in our backyard of Chicago! @lydiaemery.bsky.social and I love the Chicago food scene, and we've put together a list of places we like. We hope this will help you enjoy and explore Chicago!! See y'all soon!!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...