Center for Conflict and Cooperation at NYU
@centerconflictcooperation.com
We conduct cutting-edge research to understand what divides and what unites us.
Website: https://www.centerconflictcooperation.com/
Website: https://www.centerconflictcooperation.com/
...The authors explore key phenomena such as the ‘paradox of virality’—where widely shared content is often not widely liked—and assess the strengths and limitations of the popular ‘information-as-virus’ metaphor.”
🎨 Cover image by Justine Rideout.
🎨 Cover image by Justine Rideout.
October 22, 2025 at 2:56 PM
...The authors explore key phenomena such as the ‘paradox of virality’—where widely shared content is often not widely liked—and assess the strengths and limitations of the popular ‘information-as-virus’ metaphor.”
🎨 Cover image by Justine Rideout.
🎨 Cover image by Justine Rideout.
...Steve Rathje and Jay J. Van Bavel review the psychology of information spread. They argue that fundamental psychological processes cause similar types of content to go viral in most contexts, both online and offline, from historical gossip to modern social media posts...
October 22, 2025 at 2:56 PM
...Steve Rathje and Jay J. Van Bavel review the psychology of information spread. They argue that fundamental psychological processes cause similar types of content to go viral in most contexts, both online and offline, from historical gossip to modern social media posts...
Here's how the journal describes it:
“Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on? In our hyper-connected world, understanding the mechanics of ‘virality’ is crucial. In this issue of Trends in Cognitive Sciences..."
“Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on? In our hyper-connected world, understanding the mechanics of ‘virality’ is crucial. In this issue of Trends in Cognitive Sciences..."
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October 22, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Here's how the journal describes it:
“Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on? In our hyper-connected world, understanding the mechanics of ‘virality’ is crucial. In this issue of Trends in Cognitive Sciences..."
“Why do some ideas spread widely, while others fail to catch on? In our hyper-connected world, understanding the mechanics of ‘virality’ is crucial. In this issue of Trends in Cognitive Sciences..."
Are you concerned about the potential psychological impacts of AI chatbots? Comment & discuss!
October 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Are you concerned about the potential psychological impacts of AI chatbots? Comment & discuss!
People also viewed the sycophantic chatbot as unbiased and the disagreeable chatbot as highly biased.
In reality, *both* chatbots were biased: the sycophantic chatbot was simply biased in the user’s favor.
In reality, *both* chatbots were biased: the sycophantic chatbot was simply biased in the user’s favor.
October 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
People also viewed the sycophantic chatbot as unbiased and the disagreeable chatbot as highly biased.
In reality, *both* chatbots were biased: the sycophantic chatbot was simply biased in the user’s favor.
In reality, *both* chatbots were biased: the sycophantic chatbot was simply biased in the user’s favor.
However, people enjoyed the sycophantic chatbot much more than the disagreeable chatbot and were more likely to choose to use it again.
October 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
However, people enjoyed the sycophantic chatbot much more than the disagreeable chatbot and were more likely to choose to use it again.
Interacting with these chatbots affected people’s political stances...
-The sycophantic chatbot led to more extreme & certain beliefs
-The disagreeable chatbot led to less extreme & certain beliefs
-The off-the-shelf model had no impact on belief extremity
-The sycophantic chatbot led to more extreme & certain beliefs
-The disagreeable chatbot led to less extreme & certain beliefs
-The off-the-shelf model had no impact on belief extremity
October 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Interacting with these chatbots affected people’s political stances...
-The sycophantic chatbot led to more extreme & certain beliefs
-The disagreeable chatbot led to less extreme & certain beliefs
-The off-the-shelf model had no impact on belief extremity
-The sycophantic chatbot led to more extreme & certain beliefs
-The disagreeable chatbot led to less extreme & certain beliefs
-The off-the-shelf model had no impact on belief extremity
3,285 participants discussed political topics with:
-A "sycophantic" chatbot prompted to validate beliefs (ex: “I can tell you've really thought this through!”)
-A "disagreeable" chatbot prompted to challenge beliefs (ex: “Have you considered xyz evidence?”)
-An off-the-shelf model (GPT-5 & GPT-4o)
-A "sycophantic" chatbot prompted to validate beliefs (ex: “I can tell you've really thought this through!”)
-A "disagreeable" chatbot prompted to challenge beliefs (ex: “Have you considered xyz evidence?”)
-An off-the-shelf model (GPT-5 & GPT-4o)
October 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
3,285 participants discussed political topics with:
-A "sycophantic" chatbot prompted to validate beliefs (ex: “I can tell you've really thought this through!”)
-A "disagreeable" chatbot prompted to challenge beliefs (ex: “Have you considered xyz evidence?”)
-An off-the-shelf model (GPT-5 & GPT-4o)
-A "sycophantic" chatbot prompted to validate beliefs (ex: “I can tell you've really thought this through!”)
-A "disagreeable" chatbot prompted to challenge beliefs (ex: “Have you considered xyz evidence?”)
-An off-the-shelf model (GPT-5 & GPT-4o)
Thanks @jayvanbavel.bsky.social and Anni Sternisko for organizing the conference. We appreciate all those who were able to come out and attend!
June 11, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Thanks @jayvanbavel.bsky.social and Anni Sternisko for organizing the conference. We appreciate all those who were able to come out and attend!