Bastian Jaeger
@bxjaeger.bsky.social
Assistant Professor @ Tilburg University 🇳🇱
❤️🧠Moral Psychology & Altruism
🌚🌝First impressions & Social biases
🔬📊Meta-science
❤️🧠Moral Psychology & Altruism
🌚🌝First impressions & Social biases
🔬📊Meta-science
Three preregistered experiments with prolific participants (N = 2,254) found no evidence for experimenter demand effects
osf.io/preprints/ps...
osf.io/preprints/ps...
November 12, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Three preregistered experiments with prolific participants (N = 2,254) found no evidence for experimenter demand effects
osf.io/preprints/ps...
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Across the 41 samples, some rankings replicated more often (family > ingroup) , some less often (outgroup targets > environment).
In general, cultural differences were most pronounced when comparing people's concern for abstract environmental targets vs. specific non-human animals.
In general, cultural differences were most pronounced when comparing people's concern for abstract environmental targets vs. specific non-human animals.
November 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Across the 41 samples, some rankings replicated more often (family > ingroup) , some less often (outgroup targets > environment).
In general, cultural differences were most pronounced when comparing people's concern for abstract environmental targets vs. specific non-human animals.
In general, cultural differences were most pronounced when comparing people's concern for abstract environmental targets vs. specific non-human animals.
We also used a multidimensional cultural distance score to quantify how culturally different the 41 groups were to the US where the original hierarchy was first observed. The closer a sample was to the US culturally, the more similar its hierarchy of moral concern.
November 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
We also used a multidimensional cultural distance score to quantify how culturally different the 41 groups were to the US where the original hierarchy was first observed. The closer a sample was to the US culturally, the more similar its hierarchy of moral concern.
We found that, on average, 11/13 adjacent rankings in the typical hierarchy (e.g., family > ingroup) replicated across the 41 samples, which suggests that there are substantial cross-cultural similarities.
November 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
We found that, on average, 11/13 adjacent rankings in the typical hierarchy (e.g., family > ingroup) replicated across the 41 samples, which suggests that there are substantial cross-cultural similarities.
Recent work on this topic (mostly using the Moral Expansiveness Scale) points to a hierarchy of moral concern that has replicated across many studies.
November 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Recent work on this topic (mostly using the Moral Expansiveness Scale) points to a hierarchy of moral concern that has replicated across many studies.
🐶New preprint! 🐶 co-led by Ayça Akkuş
w/ @drcharlie.bsky.social & Brock Bastian
We explore cultural and individual differences in the hierarchy of moral concern in a sample of >6500 participants from 41 cultural groups.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
w/ @drcharlie.bsky.social & Brock Bastian
We explore cultural and individual differences in the hierarchy of moral concern in a sample of >6500 participants from 41 cultural groups.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
November 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
🐶New preprint! 🐶 co-led by Ayça Akkuş
w/ @drcharlie.bsky.social & Brock Bastian
We explore cultural and individual differences in the hierarchy of moral concern in a sample of >6500 participants from 41 cultural groups.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
w/ @drcharlie.bsky.social & Brock Bastian
We explore cultural and individual differences in the hierarchy of moral concern in a sample of >6500 participants from 41 cultural groups.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
A self/other asymmetry in the perceived emotional costs of self-reporting good deeds: Participants believed that (1) reporting their own good deeds will leave them feeling worse, and that (2) others will not suffer similar negative feelings.
doi.org/10.1016/j.je...
doi.org/10.1016/j.je...
October 30, 2025 at 3:09 PM
A self/other asymmetry in the perceived emotional costs of self-reporting good deeds: Participants believed that (1) reporting their own good deeds will leave them feeling worse, and that (2) others will not suffer similar negative feelings.
doi.org/10.1016/j.je...
doi.org/10.1016/j.je...
🙂🧠
"At the within-person level, declines in life satisfaction predicted subsequent declines in cognitive function, and vice versa."
(n > 60,000 from multiple countries)
doi.org/10.1037/pspp...
"At the within-person level, declines in life satisfaction predicted subsequent declines in cognitive function, and vice versa."
(n > 60,000 from multiple countries)
doi.org/10.1037/pspp...
October 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM
🙂🧠
"At the within-person level, declines in life satisfaction predicted subsequent declines in cognitive function, and vice versa."
(n > 60,000 from multiple countries)
doi.org/10.1037/pspp...
"At the within-person level, declines in life satisfaction predicted subsequent declines in cognitive function, and vice versa."
(n > 60,000 from multiple countries)
doi.org/10.1037/pspp...
"Overconfidence persists in tournament chess, a real-world information environment that should be inhospitable to it"
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
October 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
"Overconfidence persists in tournament chess, a real-world information environment that should be inhospitable to it"
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
"As the second registered report to challenge its efficacy, this study’s results cast serious doubt on the BTS [Bayesian truth serum] as a reliable tool for mitigating socially desirable responding and improving the validity of self-report data in psychological research."
doi.org/10.1177/2515...
doi.org/10.1177/2515...
October 17, 2025 at 1:14 PM
"As the second registered report to challenge its efficacy, this study’s results cast serious doubt on the BTS [Bayesian truth serum] as a reliable tool for mitigating socially desirable responding and improving the validity of self-report data in psychological research."
doi.org/10.1177/2515...
doi.org/10.1177/2515...
There is a robust link between intergroup contact & reduced prejudice, but does contact actually cause a reduction in prejudice?
Across multiple longitudinal data sets (N > 20,000), very few people reported increased contact AND reduced prejudice.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Across multiple longitudinal data sets (N > 20,000), very few people reported increased contact AND reduced prejudice.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
October 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
There is a robust link between intergroup contact & reduced prejudice, but does contact actually cause a reduction in prejudice?
Across multiple longitudinal data sets (N > 20,000), very few people reported increased contact AND reduced prejudice.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
Across multiple longitudinal data sets (N > 20,000), very few people reported increased contact AND reduced prejudice.
psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
The practice of physiognomy dates back to ancient Greece and ancient China.
Today it's mostly seen as pseudoscience in academic circles.
Today it's mostly seen as pseudoscience in academic circles.
October 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
The practice of physiognomy dates back to ancient Greece and ancient China.
Today it's mostly seen as pseudoscience in academic circles.
Today it's mostly seen as pseudoscience in academic circles.
🐶Now out at JNB🐶
We examine the prevalence and psychological correlates of lay beliefs in physiognomy - the idea that a person's character is reflected in their facial appearance.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
We examine the prevalence and psychological correlates of lay beliefs in physiognomy - the idea that a person's character is reflected in their facial appearance.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
October 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
🐶Now out at JNB🐶
We examine the prevalence and psychological correlates of lay beliefs in physiognomy - the idea that a person's character is reflected in their facial appearance.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
We examine the prevalence and psychological correlates of lay beliefs in physiognomy - the idea that a person's character is reflected in their facial appearance.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Interesting summary of the tactics used by the animal agriculture industry to counteract efforts to advocate for dietary shifts as a climate change mitigation strategy.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
October 2, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Interesting summary of the tactics used by the animal agriculture industry to counteract efforts to advocate for dietary shifts as a climate change mitigation strategy.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Evidence of convergent validity among thin-slice behavioral coding metrics
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
October 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Evidence of convergent validity among thin-slice behavioral coding metrics
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
"When a stereotype-inconsistent group member was presented, those with both greater inhibitory and greater updating ability showed more stereotype reduction, suggesting that these executive functions are jointly important for regulating stereotype accessibility"
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
September 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
"When a stereotype-inconsistent group member was presented, those with both greater inhibitory and greater updating ability showed more stereotype reduction, suggesting that these executive functions are jointly important for regulating stereotype accessibility"
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Experimentally reducing the relevance of sexual desire in participants' partner preferences decreased prioritization of attractiveness for both men and women
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Experimentally reducing the relevance of sexual desire in participants' partner preferences decreased prioritization of attractiveness for both men and women
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
This review suggests that the average effectiveness of choice architecture interventions on behaviour is smaller than often reported and that there is substantial heterogeneity in their effects
@szaszibarnabas.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
@szaszibarnabas.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
September 23, 2025 at 12:54 PM
This review suggests that the average effectiveness of choice architecture interventions on behaviour is smaller than often reported and that there is substantial heterogeneity in their effects
@szaszibarnabas.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
@szaszibarnabas.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Across 44 countries, individuals with stronger free will belief were more punitive toward everyday moral transgressions.
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
September 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Across 44 countries, individuals with stronger free will belief were more punitive toward everyday moral transgressions.
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
Can we measure someone's overall moral goodness?
This paper identifies some important conceptual and methodological challenges
@jessiesun.bsky.social @eschwitz.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...
This paper identifies some important conceptual and methodological challenges
@jessiesun.bsky.social @eschwitz.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...
September 11, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Can we measure someone's overall moral goodness?
This paper identifies some important conceptual and methodological challenges
@jessiesun.bsky.social @eschwitz.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...
This paper identifies some important conceptual and methodological challenges
@jessiesun.bsky.social @eschwitz.bsky.social
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Nice review of recent research showing that younger children start out with a more expansive moral circle than older children and adults
@juliamarshall.bsky.social, @mattiwilks.bsky.social, @karrineldner.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@juliamarshall.bsky.social, @mattiwilks.bsky.social, @karrineldner.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 9, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Nice review of recent research showing that younger children start out with a more expansive moral circle than older children and adults
@juliamarshall.bsky.social, @mattiwilks.bsky.social, @karrineldner.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@juliamarshall.bsky.social, @mattiwilks.bsky.social, @karrineldner.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Are you doing research on impression formation, face perception, personality judgment, or related topics?
Then you might be interested in joining our collaborative study!
Follow the link for more information: tilburgss.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
#socialpsyc #PsychSciSky
Then you might be interested in joining our collaborative study!
Follow the link for more information: tilburgss.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
#socialpsyc #PsychSciSky
September 2, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Are you doing research on impression formation, face perception, personality judgment, or related topics?
Then you might be interested in joining our collaborative study!
Follow the link for more information: tilburgss.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
#socialpsyc #PsychSciSky
Then you might be interested in joining our collaborative study!
Follow the link for more information: tilburgss.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
#socialpsyc #PsychSciSky
We also tested what happens when the overrepresentation of attractive candidates is pointed out to participants. This reduced fairness ratings by a lot.
Pointing out an overrepresentation of white candidates in race-biased outcomes reduced fairness ratings, but only by a little.
Pointing out an overrepresentation of white candidates in race-biased outcomes reduced fairness ratings, but only by a little.
August 26, 2025 at 1:16 PM
We also tested what happens when the overrepresentation of attractive candidates is pointed out to participants. This reduced fairness ratings by a lot.
Pointing out an overrepresentation of white candidates in race-biased outcomes reduced fairness ratings, but only by a little.
Pointing out an overrepresentation of white candidates in race-biased outcomes reduced fairness ratings, but only by a little.
When participants described differently biased outcomes in an open-ended way, most spontaneously mentioned gender & race when seeing outcomes that were biased along these dimensions (~70%).
But only ~20% mentioned attractiveness when seeing attractiveness-biased outcomes
But only ~20% mentioned attractiveness when seeing attractiveness-biased outcomes
August 26, 2025 at 1:16 PM
When participants described differently biased outcomes in an open-ended way, most spontaneously mentioned gender & race when seeing outcomes that were biased along these dimensions (~70%).
But only ~20% mentioned attractiveness when seeing attractiveness-biased outcomes
But only ~20% mentioned attractiveness when seeing attractiveness-biased outcomes
Across many studies, we found that race- & gender-biased selections are seen as less fair than unbiased selections, but this was much less pronounced for attractiveness.
August 26, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Across many studies, we found that race- & gender-biased selections are seen as less fair than unbiased selections, but this was much less pronounced for attractiveness.