Oliver Scott Curry
@oliverscottcurry.bsky.social
Chief Science Officer www.kindness.org | Research Affiliate https://www.anthro.ox.ac.uk | www.oliverscottcurry.com
Evolution, cooperation, morality & politics. All posts are hypotheses.
Evolution, cooperation, morality & politics. All posts are hypotheses.
Pinned
The evolutionary psychological hypothesis that ‘humans faced adaptive problem X, and so have adaptive solution Y’, can be falsified by showing that ‘they did not face problem X’, and/or ‘they do not have solution Y’ 🤷♂️
In our new American Psychologist paper, we debunk the decades old zombie idea that evolutionary psychology is unfalsifiable.
🧵
🧵
Out now and open access for four weeks as the editor's choice Topic in Focus in American Psychologist.
Contrary to popular belief, evolutionary psychology hypotheses are testable and falsifiable.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Contrary to popular belief, evolutionary psychology hypotheses are testable and falsifiable.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
January 30, 2026 at 1:47 PM
The evolutionary psychological hypothesis that ‘humans faced adaptive problem X, and so have adaptive solution Y’, can be falsified by showing that ‘they did not face problem X’, and/or ‘they do not have solution Y’ 🤷♂️
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
In our new American Psychologist paper, we debunk the decades old zombie idea that evolutionary psychology is unfalsifiable.
🧵
🧵
Out now and open access for four weeks as the editor's choice Topic in Focus in American Psychologist.
Contrary to popular belief, evolutionary psychology hypotheses are testable and falsifiable.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Contrary to popular belief, evolutionary psychology hypotheses are testable and falsifiable.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
January 30, 2026 at 10:23 AM
In our new American Psychologist paper, we debunk the decades old zombie idea that evolutionary psychology is unfalsifiable.
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
I used to enjoy impressing people by identifying birds from a faint call in a wood. Now, thanks to the phenomenal success of the Merlin app, many people are telling me about the birds they have heard. Interesting to read the story of the Merlin app here - www.birds.cornell.edu/home/the-mag...
The Magic of Merlin
Imagine the world as you know it. Now, add 10 million people who care about birds. Did your world just get a little brighter?
Ten million. It’s an astronomical number. And yet that is exactly wha...
www.birds.cornell.edu
November 24, 2025 at 8:31 AM
I used to enjoy impressing people by identifying birds from a faint call in a wood. Now, thanks to the phenomenal success of the Merlin app, many people are telling me about the birds they have heard. Interesting to read the story of the Merlin app here - www.birds.cornell.edu/home/the-mag...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
"Haidt’s claims of inherent harm are not well-founded, and the policy proposals to ban kids entirely from social media are a bad idea. For older teenage boys, having no social media was associated with *worse* outcomes than having too much of it"
Two Major Studies, 125,000 Kids: The Social Media Panic Doesn’t Hold Up
For years now, we’ve been repeatedly pointing out that the “social media is destroying kids” narrative, popularized by Jonathan Haidt and others, has been built on a foundation of…
www.techdirt.com
January 23, 2026 at 4:16 AM
"Haidt’s claims of inherent harm are not well-founded, and the policy proposals to ban kids entirely from social media are a bad idea. For older teenage boys, having no social media was associated with *worse* outcomes than having too much of it"
A study of 946,798 (!) people in 72 countries "found no evidence…that the global penetration of social media is associated with widespread psychological harm…Facebook adoption predicted aspects of well-being *more positively* for younger individuals" #smma doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
January 23, 2026 at 1:49 PM
A study of 946,798 (!) people in 72 countries "found no evidence…that the global penetration of social media is associated with widespread psychological harm…Facebook adoption predicted aspects of well-being *more positively* for younger individuals" #smma doi.org/10.1098/rsos...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
"contrary to the compelling message of harm that dominates public debate, large-scale studies suggest that fears about impacts on mental health and wellbeing are over-stated, and that non-use is associated with negative outcomes as well as excessive use"
Expert Comment: Is an under-16 social media ban the right course? |
Dr Victoria Nash, Associate Professor and Senior Policy Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, researches the governance challenges of digital technologies, with a particular focus on online
www.ox.ac.uk
January 23, 2026 at 10:40 AM
"contrary to the compelling message of harm that dominates public debate, large-scale studies suggest that fears about impacts on mental health and wellbeing are over-stated, and that non-use is associated with negative outcomes as well as excessive use"
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
We're excited to announce the Spring 2026 Cooperation Colloquia!
With @yanchenl.bsky.social @minhuayan.bsky.social @saptarshi.bsky.social @aronszekely.bsky.social @shafenbraedl.bsky.social @shuxianjin.bsky.social @smconstantino.bsky.social and more
Sign up here: list.ku.dk/postorius/li...
With @yanchenl.bsky.social @minhuayan.bsky.social @saptarshi.bsky.social @aronszekely.bsky.social @shafenbraedl.bsky.social @shuxianjin.bsky.social @smconstantino.bsky.social and more
Sign up here: list.ku.dk/postorius/li...
January 21, 2026 at 12:03 PM
We're excited to announce the Spring 2026 Cooperation Colloquia!
With @yanchenl.bsky.social @minhuayan.bsky.social @saptarshi.bsky.social @aronszekely.bsky.social @shafenbraedl.bsky.social @shuxianjin.bsky.social @smconstantino.bsky.social and more
Sign up here: list.ku.dk/postorius/li...
With @yanchenl.bsky.social @minhuayan.bsky.social @saptarshi.bsky.social @aronszekely.bsky.social @shafenbraedl.bsky.social @shuxianjin.bsky.social @smconstantino.bsky.social and more
Sign up here: list.ku.dk/postorius/li...
"Overall, research suggests that screen time, including social media use, plays little to no role in the well-being of most users. Its effects are not conclusively harmful or toxic in terms of decreasing well-being, increasing ill-being, or…stress." #smma www.jmir.org/2024/1/e59585
Ten Myths About the Effect of Social Media Use on Well-Being
This viewpoint reviews the empirical evidence regarding the association between social media use and well-being, including life satisfaction and affective well-being, and the association between socia...
www.jmir.org
January 21, 2026 at 2:07 PM
"Overall, research suggests that screen time, including social media use, plays little to no role in the well-being of most users. Its effects are not conclusively harmful or toxic in terms of decreasing well-being, increasing ill-being, or…stress." #smma www.jmir.org/2024/1/e59585
Yet another meta-analysis (k = 10, N = 4,674) finds "no significant effects of social media abstinence interventions on positive affect, negative affect, or life satisfaction" #smma doi.org/10.1038/s415...
January 20, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Yet another meta-analysis (k = 10, N = 4,674) finds "no significant effects of social media abstinence interventions on positive affect, negative affect, or life satisfaction" #smma doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
The kids are alright
statsandsociety.substack.com/p/how-bad-is...
statsandsociety.substack.com/p/how-bad-is...
How bad is the youth life-satisfaction crisis?
Certain groups are hurting, but overall you're creating a moral panic
statsandsociety.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:57 PM
The kids are alright
statsandsociety.substack.com/p/how-bad-is...
statsandsociety.substack.com/p/how-bad-is...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
Correction: the “you” is, of course, James Lovelock (not Ruse).
With thanks to @jdagg.bsky.social for catching it.
With thanks to @jdagg.bsky.social for catching it.
John Maynard Smith talking to Michael Ruse about Gaia, which JMS had earlier called ”just an evil religion”.
January 18, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Correction: the “you” is, of course, James Lovelock (not Ruse).
With thanks to @jdagg.bsky.social for catching it.
With thanks to @jdagg.bsky.social for catching it.
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
This reminded me of RD Alexander's evisceration of Gintis' Amazon customer review of The Biology of Moral Systems. The exchange no longer appears at Amazon, but here's Alexander:
rdalexander.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/b...
rdalexander.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/b...
The "selfish gene" fully accounts for altruism
But what about anonymous, one-shot cooperation?
statsandsociety.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:46 PM
This reminded me of RD Alexander's evisceration of Gintis' Amazon customer review of The Biology of Moral Systems. The exchange no longer appears at Amazon, but here's Alexander:
rdalexander.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/b...
rdalexander.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-content/b...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
"If the evidence is so weak, why is the concern so strong?"
Evidence for link between digital technology use and teenage mental health problems is weak, our large study suggests
The research found little evidence that time spent on social media or frequent gaming causes mental health problems in early-to-mid adolescence.
theconversation.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:40 AM
"If the evidence is so weak, why is the concern so strong?"
A study of 25,629 adolescents finds "no evidence that time spent on social media…predicted later internalizing symptoms among girls or boys…The findings…do not support the widely held view that adolescent technology use is a major causal factor in their mental health difficulties" #smma
New longitudinal study finds no evidence that either #videogames nor #socialmedia use lead to later mental health issues in youth.
I look forward to the extensive news media coverage this receives: academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
I look forward to the extensive news media coverage this receives: academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
How do social media use, gaming frequency, and internalizing symptoms predict each other over time in early-to-middle adolescence?
AbstractBackground. The effects of adolescent digital technology use (e.g. social media, gaming) on their mental health are a major public health concern,
academic.oup.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:26 AM
A study of 25,629 adolescents finds "no evidence that time spent on social media…predicted later internalizing symptoms among girls or boys…The findings…do not support the widely held view that adolescent technology use is a major causal factor in their mental health difficulties" #smma
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
I'm thrilled to share that Unlocked has won the BPS Popular Science Book Award 2024! This is a genuine honour. At a time when conversations about tech are dominated by fear, I’m grateful to the BPS for highlighting the value of a more balanced, thoughtful approach:
www.bps.org.uk/news/congrat...
www.bps.org.uk/news/congrat...
www.bps.org.uk
December 20, 2024 at 2:54 PM
I'm thrilled to share that Unlocked has won the BPS Popular Science Book Award 2024! This is a genuine honour. At a time when conversations about tech are dominated by fear, I’m grateful to the BPS for highlighting the value of a more balanced, thoughtful approach:
www.bps.org.uk/news/congrat...
www.bps.org.uk/news/congrat...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
New longitudinal study finds no evidence that either #videogames nor #socialmedia use lead to later mental health issues in youth.
I look forward to the extensive news media coverage this receives: academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
I look forward to the extensive news media coverage this receives: academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
How do social media use, gaming frequency, and internalizing symptoms predict each other over time in early-to-middle adolescence?
AbstractBackground. The effects of adolescent digital technology use (e.g. social media, gaming) on their mental health are a major public health concern,
academic.oup.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:39 AM
New longitudinal study finds no evidence that either #videogames nor #socialmedia use lead to later mental health issues in youth.
I look forward to the extensive news media coverage this receives: academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
I look forward to the extensive news media coverage this receives: academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
"the concept of revenge as articulated in various anti-honor discourses, whether they be moral, legal, or political-philosophical, is not borne out by revenge and honor based cultures themselves"
In Defense of Revenge
One of the risks of studying the Icelandic sagas and loving them, is, precisely, loving them. And what is one loving when one loves them? The wit, the entertainment provided by perfectly told tales? A...
repository.law.umich.edu
January 15, 2026 at 4:33 AM
"the concept of revenge as articulated in various anti-honor discourses, whether they be moral, legal, or political-philosophical, is not borne out by revenge and honor based cultures themselves"
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
The classic of this genre is Latour's "Are we the baddies?" paper (PDF): www.bruno-latour.fr/sites/defaul...
January 15, 2026 at 6:35 AM
The classic of this genre is Latour's "Are we the baddies?" paper (PDF): www.bruno-latour.fr/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
“Our findings tell us that young people’s choices around social media and gaming may be shaped by how they’re feeling but not necessarily the other way around,” said Prof Neil Humphrey, a co-author [of a Manchester University study that followed 25,000 11- to 14-year-olds over three school years].
Social media time does not increase teenagers’ mental health problems – study
Research finds no evidence heavier social media use or more gaming increases symptoms of anxiety or depression
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:01 AM
“Our findings tell us that young people’s choices around social media and gaming may be shaped by how they’re feeling but not necessarily the other way around,” said Prof Neil Humphrey, a co-author [of a Manchester University study that followed 25,000 11- to 14-year-olds over three school years].
“The latest annual homicide rate for males (14 per million population) was almost *triple* that for females (5.1 per million…)"
Within the 16-24 age group, the rate for males (28.8 per million) was over *eight times* that for females (3.5 per million)🤯
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Within the 16-24 age group, the rate for males (28.8 per million) was over *eight times* that for females (3.5 per million)🤯
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Homicide in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics
Analyses of information held within the Home Office Homicide Index, which contains detailed record-level information about each homicide recorded by police in England and Wales.
www.ons.gov.uk
January 13, 2026 at 10:27 AM
“The latest annual homicide rate for males (14 per million population) was almost *triple* that for females (5.1 per million…)"
Within the 16-24 age group, the rate for males (28.8 per million) was over *eight times* that for females (3.5 per million)🤯
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Within the 16-24 age group, the rate for males (28.8 per million) was over *eight times* that for females (3.5 per million)🤯
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
This week, we talk to Léo Fetuchi about the moralization of self-control and the lack thereof.
youtu.be/duLUU9e0i0k
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-99f5i...
youtu.be/duLUU9e0i0k
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-99f5i...
Moralizing Self-Control with Léo Fetuchi
YouTube video by Evolutionary Psychology (The Podcast)
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This week, we talk to Léo Fetuchi about the moralization of self-control and the lack thereof.
youtu.be/duLUU9e0i0k
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-99f5i...
youtu.be/duLUU9e0i0k
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-99f5i...
A Brief History of Moral Panics About Kids and Media | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/free...
A Brief History of Moral Panics About Kids and Media
Whenever a revolutionarily new means of communication comes along, the young glom onto it and many of their elders believe it is leading to the wreck and ruin of the young.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:03 AM
A Brief History of Moral Panics About Kids and Media | Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/free...
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
How appealing an explanation is, is only in part down to how well it actually *explains*, research by klopfenstein.bsky.social & @hugoreasoning.bsky.social suggests.
Usefulness and surprisingness matter too, the latter especially explaining why poor explanations become popular:
buff.ly/NaSAlaJ
Usefulness and surprisingness matter too, the latter especially explaining why poor explanations become popular:
buff.ly/NaSAlaJ
January 12, 2026 at 9:18 AM
How appealing an explanation is, is only in part down to how well it actually *explains*, research by klopfenstein.bsky.social & @hugoreasoning.bsky.social suggests.
Usefulness and surprisingness matter too, the latter especially explaining why poor explanations become popular:
buff.ly/NaSAlaJ
Usefulness and surprisingness matter too, the latter especially explaining why poor explanations become popular:
buff.ly/NaSAlaJ
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
"too much emphasis is being placed on descriptive or predictive research, with not enough emphasis being placed on what cognitive processes are *for*—the problems that these processes have been genetically and culturally evolved to solve... the real-world problems solved by cognitive processes"
On the Problems Solved by Cognitive Processes
Cognitive scientists have focused too narrowly on the acquisition of data and on the methods to extract patterns from those data. We argue that a successful science of the mind requires widening our ...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:20 PM
"too much emphasis is being placed on descriptive or predictive research, with not enough emphasis being placed on what cognitive processes are *for*—the problems that these processes have been genetically and culturally evolved to solve... the real-world problems solved by cognitive processes"
Reposted by Oliver Scott Curry
BIG FIGHT AT POLAND’S WROCLAW ZOO!!!
January 9, 2026 at 8:02 PM
BIG FIGHT AT POLAND’S WROCLAW ZOO!!!