Jay Van Bavel, PhD
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Professor of Psychology at NYU (jayvanbavel.com) | Author of The Power of Us Book (powerofus.online) | Director of NYU Center for Conflict & Cooperation | trying to write a new book about collective decisions
Pinned
Are a few people ruining the internet for the rest of us?
Why does the online world seem so toxic compared with normal life? Our research shows that a small number of divisive accounts could be responsible – and offers a way out
www.theguardian.com
Only a small % of people engage in toxic activity online, but they’re responsible for a disproportionate share of hostile or misleading content on nearly every platform
Because super-users are so active, they dominate our collective impression of the internet www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
Because super-users are so active, they dominate our collective impression of the internet www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
💥New preprint!💥
For democracy to be truly representative we need to include many more voices. But young voters (18-25yo) face unique barriers and are often overlooked.
We describe these barriers, and propose a psychologically-informed approach to support and increase voter turnout among youth.
For democracy to be truly representative we need to include many more voices. But young voters (18-25yo) face unique barriers and are often overlooked.
We describe these barriers, and propose a psychologically-informed approach to support and increase voter turnout among youth.
November 10, 2025 at 7:59 PM
💥New preprint!💥
For democracy to be truly representative we need to include many more voices. But young voters (18-25yo) face unique barriers and are often overlooked.
We describe these barriers, and propose a psychologically-informed approach to support and increase voter turnout among youth.
For democracy to be truly representative we need to include many more voices. But young voters (18-25yo) face unique barriers and are often overlooked.
We describe these barriers, and propose a psychologically-informed approach to support and increase voter turnout among youth.
Expressions of blatantly immoral actions about outgroup members are growing on social media
This leads people to radically overestimate the degree to which political outgroup members support immoral actions
Democrats and Republicans are both off in their estimates. academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
This leads people to radically overestimate the degree to which political outgroup members support immoral actions
Democrats and Republicans are both off in their estimates. academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
November 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Expressions of blatantly immoral actions about outgroup members are growing on social media
This leads people to radically overestimate the degree to which political outgroup members support immoral actions
Democrats and Republicans are both off in their estimates. academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
This leads people to radically overestimate the degree to which political outgroup members support immoral actions
Democrats and Republicans are both off in their estimates. academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Online news consumption is systematically and consistently related to perceived #polarization across 10 countries, but not to attitude polarization (ie attitude extremity)
The effects of traditional media on polarization vary by country: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
The effects of traditional media on polarization vary by country: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
November 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Online news consumption is systematically and consistently related to perceived #polarization across 10 countries, but not to attitude polarization (ie attitude extremity)
The effects of traditional media on polarization vary by country: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
The effects of traditional media on polarization vary by country: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
'it is Trump’s willing participation in a mutual process of identity enactment, rather than any instructions contained in his speech, that should be the basis for assessing his ... responsibility for, the assault on the Capitol building'
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Examining the role of Donald Trump and his supporters in the 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol: A dual-agency model of identity leadership and engaged followership
This article develops a dual-agency model of leadership which treats collective phenomena as a co-production involving both leaders and followers who …
www.sciencedirect.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:14 PM
'it is Trump’s willing participation in a mutual process of identity enactment, rather than any instructions contained in his speech, that should be the basis for assessing his ... responsibility for, the assault on the Capitol building'
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
I didn't want to get into this discussion, but after seeing strong reactions to Kelly (2025), I think it's worth helping colleagues think more critically about what the paper actually shows—and doesn't show.
Spoiler: not the bombshell some claim.
#SocialPsychology #CognitiveDissonance
Spoiler: not the bombshell some claim.
#SocialPsychology #CognitiveDissonance
Debunking “When Prophecy Fails”
In 1954, Dorothy Martin predicted an apocalyptic flood and promised her followers rescue by flying saucers. When neither arrived, she recanted, her group dissolved, and efforts to proselytize ceased.....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I didn't want to get into this discussion, but after seeing strong reactions to Kelly (2025), I think it's worth helping colleagues think more critically about what the paper actually shows—and doesn't show.
Spoiler: not the bombshell some claim.
#SocialPsychology #CognitiveDissonance
Spoiler: not the bombshell some claim.
#SocialPsychology #CognitiveDissonance
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
I'll be starting as an Assistant Professor of Cognitive Science at Stony Brook in Fall '26!
My lab will take a social cognitive approach to studying how we form/update our beliefs and why we disagree about what is true vs false
I'll also be reviewing grad apps! See below for more info
My lab will take a social cognitive approach to studying how we form/update our beliefs and why we disagree about what is true vs false
I'll also be reviewing grad apps! See below for more info
November 6, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I'll be starting as an Assistant Professor of Cognitive Science at Stony Brook in Fall '26!
My lab will take a social cognitive approach to studying how we form/update our beliefs and why we disagree about what is true vs false
I'll also be reviewing grad apps! See below for more info
My lab will take a social cognitive approach to studying how we form/update our beliefs and why we disagree about what is true vs false
I'll also be reviewing grad apps! See below for more info
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
The Times editorial board has compiled a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion. The sobering reality is that the United States has regressed, to different degrees, on all 12.
Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy?
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
nyti.ms
November 8, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The Times editorial board has compiled a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion. The sobering reality is that the United States has regressed, to different degrees, on all 12.
The data from mainstream media to social media seems to be telling a story: the incentives of political discourse + news sharing amplify intergroup conflict around moralized issues (culture war)
In turn, politicians ignore socioeconomic issues (thus increasing inequality and right-wing populism).
In turn, politicians ignore socioeconomic issues (thus increasing inequality and right-wing populism).
We have perverse incentives on all media platforms (from social media to traditional media) to inflame conflict.
It's profitible because it captures attention and drives engagement ("mobilization")
In turn, this drives political actors to focus more on these issues.
It's profitible because it captures attention and drives engagement ("mobilization")
In turn, this drives political actors to focus more on these issues.
Cool new working paper on why and how cable news threw gasoline on the culture war fire. The culture war isn't optimal for electoral candidates, but it's optimal for cable news companies.
ungated: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/27v4x...
ungated: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/27v4x...
November 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The data from mainstream media to social media seems to be telling a story: the incentives of political discourse + news sharing amplify intergroup conflict around moralized issues (culture war)
In turn, politicians ignore socioeconomic issues (thus increasing inequality and right-wing populism).
In turn, politicians ignore socioeconomic issues (thus increasing inequality and right-wing populism).
I see this same pattern in psychology—there is a huge desire among early career scholars to do applied work
This is very important, but including basic science perspectives still improves the research quality
This is very important, but including basic science perspectives still improves the research quality
"Basic scientists consistently enhance scientific output quality, yet research and newly joining researchers have shifted toward applied orientations."
Preprint: arxiv.org/abs/2509.01530
#PhilSci #MetaSci #AcademicSky 🧪
Preprint: arxiv.org/abs/2509.01530
#PhilSci #MetaSci #AcademicSky 🧪
November 8, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I see this same pattern in psychology—there is a huge desire among early career scholars to do applied work
This is very important, but including basic science perspectives still improves the research quality
This is very important, but including basic science perspectives still improves the research quality
62% of adults reported societal division as a major source of stress in their lives. These people felt more isolated, excluded, and alone.
APA’s survey (N = 3,000) reveals Americans are feeling lonelier than ever, and it’s taking a toll on our health and relationships www.apa.org/pubs/reports...
APA’s survey (N = 3,000) reveals Americans are feeling lonelier than ever, and it’s taking a toll on our health and relationships www.apa.org/pubs/reports...
November 7, 2025 at 9:47 PM
62% of adults reported societal division as a major source of stress in their lives. These people felt more isolated, excluded, and alone.
APA’s survey (N = 3,000) reveals Americans are feeling lonelier than ever, and it’s taking a toll on our health and relationships www.apa.org/pubs/reports...
APA’s survey (N = 3,000) reveals Americans are feeling lonelier than ever, and it’s taking a toll on our health and relationships www.apa.org/pubs/reports...
The job market in the age of AI
November 7, 2025 at 4:04 AM
The job market in the age of AI
If you know anyone applying to PhD programs I highly recommend Raunak—he does really fantastic research in social cognitive science!
He’s also an absolute pleasure to work with: funny, smart & chill.
He’s also an absolute pleasure to work with: funny, smart & chill.
I'll be starting as an Assistant Professor of Cognitive Science at Stony Brook in Fall '26!
My lab will take a social cognitive approach to studying how we form/update our beliefs and why we disagree about what is true vs false
I'll also be reviewing grad apps! See below for more info
My lab will take a social cognitive approach to studying how we form/update our beliefs and why we disagree about what is true vs false
I'll also be reviewing grad apps! See below for more info
November 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
If you know anyone applying to PhD programs I highly recommend Raunak—he does really fantastic research in social cognitive science!
He’s also an absolute pleasure to work with: funny, smart & chill.
He’s also an absolute pleasure to work with: funny, smart & chill.
The so-called debunking of “cult psychology” from the recent paper on When Prophecy Fails is misleading.
Check out the comments on this thread, where philosophers point out where the key premises of the book replicate in the vast majority of similar cults & a huge replication of dissonance theory.
Check out the comments on this thread, where philosophers point out where the key premises of the book replicate in the vast majority of similar cults & a huge replication of dissonance theory.
This is all p misleading IMO. I just saw this link so haven't read it yet (but will, though I also think lots of the retweets of this haven't read it as well, given its provenance). I don't see how this counters (eg) Dawson 1999 which goes through 13 millennial cults and finds 12 show the effect 1/n
November 6, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The so-called debunking of “cult psychology” from the recent paper on When Prophecy Fails is misleading.
Check out the comments on this thread, where philosophers point out where the key premises of the book replicate in the vast majority of similar cults & a huge replication of dissonance theory.
Check out the comments on this thread, where philosophers point out where the key premises of the book replicate in the vast majority of similar cults & a huge replication of dissonance theory.
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
This is appalling. There has to be a way to hold massive companies accountable for *knowingly* facilitating & profiting from criminal behavior. And yes, I understand the value of Section 230, but here we have a trillion $ company that profits by letting its users get scammed. Has to be a better way.
Over the years I have read A LOT of damning stories about what Meta executives were saying internally about serious harms on their platforms (most of them written by Reuters’ @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social ). His new story is a blockbuster:
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
sherwood.news/tech/meta-pr...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
sherwood.news/tech/meta-pr...
Meta projected 10% of 2024 revenue came from scams and banned goods, Reuters reports
The report shows that the company was hesitant to crack down harder on scams, due to the billions in revenue that they were generating for Meta....
sherwood.news
November 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM
This is appalling. There has to be a way to hold massive companies accountable for *knowingly* facilitating & profiting from criminal behavior. And yes, I understand the value of Section 230, but here we have a trillion $ company that profits by letting its users get scammed. Has to be a better way.
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
For each additional moral–emotional word in a social media post, the number of shares increases 13%
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
November 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
For each additional moral–emotional word in a social media post, the number of shares increases 13%
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
#SocialMedia can distort #PublicOpinion, causing issues for individuals and society.
Join us November 13 to hear Jay Van Bavel, PhD discuss how modern technology interacts with human #psychology to create a “funhouse mirror” version of public opinion: https://ow.ly/7iF050XntZv
Join us November 13 to hear Jay Van Bavel, PhD discuss how modern technology interacts with human #psychology to create a “funhouse mirror” version of public opinion: https://ow.ly/7iF050XntZv
November 5, 2025 at 10:15 PM
#SocialMedia can distort #PublicOpinion, causing issues for individuals and society.
Join us November 13 to hear Jay Van Bavel, PhD discuss how modern technology interacts with human #psychology to create a “funhouse mirror” version of public opinion: https://ow.ly/7iF050XntZv
Join us November 13 to hear Jay Van Bavel, PhD discuss how modern technology interacts with human #psychology to create a “funhouse mirror” version of public opinion: https://ow.ly/7iF050XntZv
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
Fan and Baumard reveal new evidence of rising individualism over history, which suggests that wealth rather than Protestantism contributed to individualism
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Fan and Baumard reveal new evidence of rising individualism over history, which suggests that wealth rather than Protestantism contributed to individualism
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
New data showing massive increase in forward funding obligations to R01s as of this summer
More context about the why & disastrous implications here:
www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
bsky.app/profile/drug...
More context about the why & disastrous implications here:
www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
bsky.app/profile/drug...
November 5, 2025 at 6:35 PM
New data showing massive increase in forward funding obligations to R01s as of this summer
More context about the why & disastrous implications here:
www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
bsky.app/profile/drug...
More context about the why & disastrous implications here:
www.forbes.com/sites/brucel...
bsky.app/profile/drug...
There will be a brain drain out of the US to Canada, Europe and other countries.
And once we lose these top researchers we may never get them back.
It‘s been a monumental mistake to attack science and higher education.
And once we lose these top researchers we may never get them back.
It‘s been a monumental mistake to attack science and higher education.
Canada makes pitch for US researchers to relocate with $1.7bn in new funding. My story for @science.org 🧪
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Canada’s new budget aims to lure U.S. researchers to relocate
Spending plan also calls for smaller research spending cut than feared
www.science.org
November 5, 2025 at 8:21 PM
There will be a brain drain out of the US to Canada, Europe and other countries.
And once we lose these top researchers we may never get them back.
It‘s been a monumental mistake to attack science and higher education.
And once we lose these top researchers we may never get them back.
It‘s been a monumental mistake to attack science and higher education.
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
Already one of our most popular events of the year. Join us!
How does social media distort our understanding of what the public thinks? Join us on November 13 for the 2025 #DavidLecture with Jay Van Bavel, PhD about how technology and psychology interact to create a funhouse mirror version of public opinion: https://ow.ly/uaPk50XiyHF
November 5, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Already one of our most popular events of the year. Join us!
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
Tips for resisting the anti-science lurch on.ft.com/47XOPkv | opinion
Tips for resisting the anti-science lurch
The loss of robust evidence in the public realm harms us all
on.ft.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Tips for resisting the anti-science lurch on.ft.com/47XOPkv | opinion
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
We built the openESM database:
▶️60 openly available experience sampling datasets (16K+ participants, 740K+ obs.) in one place
▶️Harmonized (meta-)data, fully open-source software
▶️Filter & search all data, simply download via R/Python
Find out more:
🌐 openesmdata.org
📝 doi.org/10.31234/osf...
▶️60 openly available experience sampling datasets (16K+ participants, 740K+ obs.) in one place
▶️Harmonized (meta-)data, fully open-source software
▶️Filter & search all data, simply download via R/Python
Find out more:
🌐 openesmdata.org
📝 doi.org/10.31234/osf...
October 22, 2025 at 7:34 PM
We built the openESM database:
▶️60 openly available experience sampling datasets (16K+ participants, 740K+ obs.) in one place
▶️Harmonized (meta-)data, fully open-source software
▶️Filter & search all data, simply download via R/Python
Find out more:
🌐 openesmdata.org
📝 doi.org/10.31234/osf...
▶️60 openly available experience sampling datasets (16K+ participants, 740K+ obs.) in one place
▶️Harmonized (meta-)data, fully open-source software
▶️Filter & search all data, simply download via R/Python
Find out more:
🌐 openesmdata.org
📝 doi.org/10.31234/osf...
For each additional moral–emotional word in a social media post, the number of shares increases 13%
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
November 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
For each additional moral–emotional word in a social media post, the number of shares increases 13%
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
These has been sharp rise in moralized language on social media
Two processes explained this shift:
(1) within-user increases in moral language over time
(2) highly moralized users became more active while less moralized users disengaged osf.io/preprints/ps...
Two processes explained this shift:
(1) within-user increases in moral language over time
(2) highly moralized users became more active while less moralized users disengaged osf.io/preprints/ps...
November 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
These has been sharp rise in moralized language on social media
Two processes explained this shift:
(1) within-user increases in moral language over time
(2) highly moralized users became more active while less moralized users disengaged osf.io/preprints/ps...
Two processes explained this shift:
(1) within-user increases in moral language over time
(2) highly moralized users became more active while less moralized users disengaged osf.io/preprints/ps...
Reposted by Jay Van Bavel, PhD
Another ~monthly update on the state of the #psychjobs market: more jobs continue to trickle in, though at a decreasing pace. We've nearly hit parity with covid in absolute terms, although the prior year baseline was higher this year than that, so we still see a slightly larger relative decrease.
November 4, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Another ~monthly update on the state of the #psychjobs market: more jobs continue to trickle in, though at a decreasing pace. We've nearly hit parity with covid in absolute terms, although the prior year baseline was higher this year than that, so we still see a slightly larger relative decrease.