Danica Dillion
@danicajdillion.bsky.social
Postdoc @csh.ac.at studying how social and technological change reshapes our beliefs. morality, AI, religion, politics, social networks. danicadillion.com
These relationships were robust across political parties and regional population sizes.
And interestingly, they didn't depend on the political makeup of someone’s network. Even if your close others share your party, denser networks still predicted more openness to opponents.
And interestingly, they didn't depend on the political makeup of someone’s network. Even if your close others share your party, denser networks still predicted more openness to opponents.
November 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
These relationships were robust across political parties and regional population sizes.
And interestingly, they didn't depend on the political makeup of someone’s network. Even if your close others share your party, denser networks still predicted more openness to opponents.
And interestingly, they didn't depend on the political makeup of someone’s network. Even if your close others share your party, denser networks still predicted more openness to opponents.
Next, we zoomed out to the county level. Using data from the Social Capital Atlas and Project Implicit, we found that counties with denser social networks showed lower partisan animosity—even after accounting for population, politics, demographics, and inequality.
November 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Next, we zoomed out to the county level. Using data from the Social Capital Atlas and Project Implicit, we found that counties with denser social networks showed lower partisan animosity—even after accounting for population, politics, demographics, and inequality.
We first asked a representative sample of Americans how well their 7 closest contacts know each other.
Those in denser social networks showed more openness (and indirectly, more warmth) toward political opponents through stronger feelings of unity with close & distant others.
Those in denser social networks showed more openness (and indirectly, more warmth) toward political opponents through stronger feelings of unity with close & distant others.
November 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
We first asked a representative sample of Americans how well their 7 closest contacts know each other.
Those in denser social networks showed more openness (and indirectly, more warmth) toward political opponents through stronger feelings of unity with close & distant others.
Those in denser social networks showed more openness (and indirectly, more warmth) toward political opponents through stronger feelings of unity with close & distant others.
We find that people embedded in denser social networks—where your close friends and family know each other—feel more unity not just with loved ones, but also with distant fellow Americans.
Your everyday sense of “we’re in this together” may extend to the national level.
Your everyday sense of “we’re in this together” may extend to the national level.
November 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
We find that people embedded in denser social networks—where your close friends and family know each other—feel more unity not just with loved ones, but also with distant fellow Americans.
Your everyday sense of “we’re in this together” may extend to the national level.
Your everyday sense of “we’re in this together” may extend to the national level.
Americans are growing more socially isolated and politically divided.
Our new paper in Applied Network Science suggests these two forms of disconnection may be linked. People with denser, more connected social networks often feel less partisan animosity.
🧵
Our new paper in Applied Network Science suggests these two forms of disconnection may be linked. People with denser, more connected social networks often feel less partisan animosity.
🧵
November 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Americans are growing more socially isolated and politically divided.
Our new paper in Applied Network Science suggests these two forms of disconnection may be linked. People with denser, more connected social networks often feel less partisan animosity.
🧵
Our new paper in Applied Network Science suggests these two forms of disconnection may be linked. People with denser, more connected social networks often feel less partisan animosity.
🧵
A person and a puppy are drowning in a lake. You can only save one—who do you choose? 1 in 5 dog owners would choose the puppy.
Are our relationships with our fur babies getting in the way of those with people?
New post (🔗 below 👇)
Are our relationships with our fur babies getting in the way of those with people?
New post (🔗 below 👇)
November 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
A person and a puppy are drowning in a lake. You can only save one—who do you choose? 1 in 5 dog owners would choose the puppy.
Are our relationships with our fur babies getting in the way of those with people?
New post (🔗 below 👇)
Are our relationships with our fur babies getting in the way of those with people?
New post (🔗 below 👇)
Dogs are amazing companions.
But when love for dogs surpasses love for people, it can come at a cost: less concern for others and deeper social disconnection.
But when love for dogs surpasses love for people, it can come at a cost: less concern for others and deeper social disconnection.
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Dogs are amazing companions.
But when love for dogs surpasses love for people, it can come at a cost: less concern for others and deeper social disconnection.
But when love for dogs surpasses love for people, it can come at a cost: less concern for others and deeper social disconnection.
Dog owners were more likely than non-owners to prioritize dogs, but even non-owners scored high on these measures.
This suggests that seeing dogs as soulmates is widespread. 🐶💞
This suggests that seeing dogs as soulmates is widespread. 🐶💞
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Dog owners were more likely than non-owners to prioritize dogs, but even non-owners scored high on these measures.
This suggests that seeing dogs as soulmates is widespread. 🐶💞
This suggests that seeing dogs as soulmates is widespread. 🐶💞
The same trend appears locally:
US counties with lower birth rates have more pet stores and higher pet industry earnings, even after controlling for population and GDP.
US counties with lower birth rates have more pet stores and higher pet industry earnings, even after controlling for population and GDP.
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The same trend appears locally:
US counties with lower birth rates have more pet stores and higher pet industry earnings, even after controlling for population and GDP.
US counties with lower birth rates have more pet stores and higher pet industry earnings, even after controlling for population and GDP.
As the US birth rate falls, pet spending rises—with a strong negative correlation (r = -.93)
This link holds even after accounting for inflation, GDP, population, the poverty rate, and median age.
This link holds even after accounting for inflation, GDP, population, the poverty rate, and median age.
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
As the US birth rate falls, pet spending rises—with a strong negative correlation (r = -.93)
This link holds even after accounting for inflation, GDP, population, the poverty rate, and median age.
This link holds even after accounting for inflation, GDP, population, the poverty rate, and median age.
We wanted to know whether this soulmate bond shifts moral concern from people to dogs.
Would owners pick a dog’s life over a human’s—even a stranger’s dog?
So we posed moral dilemmas pitting dogs against people 💁⚖️🐶
Would owners pick a dog’s life over a human’s—even a stranger’s dog?
So we posed moral dilemmas pitting dogs against people 💁⚖️🐶
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
We wanted to know whether this soulmate bond shifts moral concern from people to dogs.
Would owners pick a dog’s life over a human’s—even a stranger’s dog?
So we posed moral dilemmas pitting dogs against people 💁⚖️🐶
Would owners pick a dog’s life over a human’s—even a stranger’s dog?
So we posed moral dilemmas pitting dogs against people 💁⚖️🐶
It’s no surprise that people who see their dog as a soulmate pamper them—sharing plates, beds, and fancy treats.
But many go further: preferring dogs over friends, and choosing dog time over people time.
But many go further: preferring dogs over friends, and choosing dog time over people time.
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
It’s no surprise that people who see their dog as a soulmate pamper them—sharing plates, beds, and fancy treats.
But many go further: preferring dogs over friends, and choosing dog time over people time.
But many go further: preferring dogs over friends, and choosing dog time over people time.
73% of dog owners see their dog as a soulmate ❤️🐶
They endorse statements like:
"My dog is my main companion"
"My dog is my main emotional support"
"My dog’s love is purer than most people’s love"
They endorse statements like:
"My dog is my main companion"
"My dog is my main emotional support"
"My dog’s love is purer than most people’s love"
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
73% of dog owners see their dog as a soulmate ❤️🐶
They endorse statements like:
"My dog is my main companion"
"My dog is my main emotional support"
"My dog’s love is purer than most people’s love"
They endorse statements like:
"My dog is my main companion"
"My dog is my main emotional support"
"My dog’s love is purer than most people’s love"
1 in 5 dog owners would save a puppy's life over yours. 🐶
The majority of pet owners see their dog as a soulmate. Many don’t just prefer their own dog over people—they’ll pick a stranger’s dog over a human life.
New preprint 🧵
The majority of pet owners see their dog as a soulmate. Many don’t just prefer their own dog over people—they’ll pick a stranger’s dog over a human life.
New preprint 🧵
August 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
1 in 5 dog owners would save a puppy's life over yours. 🐶
The majority of pet owners see their dog as a soulmate. Many don’t just prefer their own dog over people—they’ll pick a stranger’s dog over a human life.
New preprint 🧵
The majority of pet owners see their dog as a soulmate. Many don’t just prefer their own dog over people—they’ll pick a stranger’s dog over a human life.
New preprint 🧵
How do people feel about the bottleneck method?
In a preregistered study (n=239), an AI described as using a cognitive bottleneck was rated as more transparent, trustworthy, and moral than a baseline end-to-end model.
In a preregistered study (n=239), an AI described as using a cognitive bottleneck was rated as more transparent, trustworthy, and moral than a baseline end-to-end model.
August 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
How do people feel about the bottleneck method?
In a preregistered study (n=239), an AI described as using a cognitive bottleneck was rated as more transparent, trustworthy, and moral than a baseline end-to-end model.
In a preregistered study (n=239), an AI described as using a cognitive bottleneck was rated as more transparent, trustworthy, and moral than a baseline end-to-end model.
We set out to make AI more transparent without losing accuracy. Instead, it got *better* at matching people’s moral judgments.
Bottlenecks beat the baseline in nearly every moral framework × LLM pairing.
Bottlenecks beat the baseline in nearly every moral framework × LLM pairing.
August 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
We set out to make AI more transparent without losing accuracy. Instead, it got *better* at matching people’s moral judgments.
Bottlenecks beat the baseline in nearly every moral framework × LLM pairing.
Bottlenecks beat the baseline in nearly every moral framework × LLM pairing.
We tested bottleneck models for moral judgment across 6 moral frameworks × 6 LLMs (36 analyses)
Baseline: LLM reads a scenario → outputs a moral score
Bottleneck: LLM reads a scenario → rates features (e.g., harm, intent) → moral score derived from these ratings
Baseline: LLM reads a scenario → outputs a moral score
Bottleneck: LLM reads a scenario → rates features (e.g., harm, intent) → moral score derived from these ratings
August 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
We tested bottleneck models for moral judgment across 6 moral frameworks × 6 LLMs (36 analyses)
Baseline: LLM reads a scenario → outputs a moral score
Bottleneck: LLM reads a scenario → rates features (e.g., harm, intent) → moral score derived from these ratings
Baseline: LLM reads a scenario → outputs a moral score
Bottleneck: LLM reads a scenario → rates features (e.g., harm, intent) → moral score derived from these ratings
Bottleneck models in AI mirror this process. They first rate key features of a category and then make a judgment.
Bottlenecks have been used for tasks like bird species identification and tumor detection (Koh et al 2020).
The model 'shows its work' so you can inspect & fix steps as needed.
Bottlenecks have been used for tasks like bird species identification and tumor detection (Koh et al 2020).
The model 'shows its work' so you can inspect & fix steps as needed.
August 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Bottleneck models in AI mirror this process. They first rate key features of a category and then make a judgment.
Bottlenecks have been used for tasks like bird species identification and tumor detection (Koh et al 2020).
The model 'shows its work' so you can inspect & fix steps as needed.
Bottlenecks have been used for tasks like bird species identification and tumor detection (Koh et al 2020).
The model 'shows its work' so you can inspect & fix steps as needed.
People make judgments using mental shortcuts, focusing on a few key cues.
When deciding if something’s a bird, we might check for wings, feathers, and flight.
For morals, we look for cues like harm caused, intent, and victim vulnerability.
When deciding if something’s a bird, we might check for wings, feathers, and flight.
For morals, we look for cues like harm caused, intent, and victim vulnerability.
August 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
People make judgments using mental shortcuts, focusing on a few key cues.
When deciding if something’s a bird, we might check for wings, feathers, and flight.
For morals, we look for cues like harm caused, intent, and victim vulnerability.
When deciding if something’s a bird, we might check for wings, feathers, and flight.
For morals, we look for cues like harm caused, intent, and victim vulnerability.
New preprint 🚨
Cognitive bottlenecks make LLMs more morally aligned with people 🧠🤖
We made AI “think” more like people by narrowing its focus to a few key moral cues.
This AI better predicted people’s moral judgments & was more trusted.
🧵 ⬇️
Cognitive bottlenecks make LLMs more morally aligned with people 🧠🤖
We made AI “think” more like people by narrowing its focus to a few key moral cues.
This AI better predicted people’s moral judgments & was more trusted.
🧵 ⬇️
August 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
New preprint 🚨
Cognitive bottlenecks make LLMs more morally aligned with people 🧠🤖
We made AI “think” more like people by narrowing its focus to a few key moral cues.
This AI better predicted people’s moral judgments & was more trusted.
🧵 ⬇️
Cognitive bottlenecks make LLMs more morally aligned with people 🧠🤖
We made AI “think” more like people by narrowing its focus to a few key moral cues.
This AI better predicted people’s moral judgments & was more trusted.
🧵 ⬇️