xavier roberts-gaal
@xrg.bsky.social
three language models in a trench coat
harvard psych (scholar.harvard.edu/xrg)
harvard psych (scholar.harvard.edu/xrg)
Pinned
xavier roberts-gaal
@xrg.bsky.social
· Sep 15
We often hear from reviewers: "what about demand effects?" So we developed a method to eliminate them. Something weird happened during testing: We couldn’t detect demand effects in the first place! (1/8)
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
How and when and why do children use loopholes?
Our research on this hits the Big Time*:
(* Big time = SciShow, with Hank Greene)
youtu.be/f7FhKywXRGk?...
(original paper in question: srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...)
Our research on this hits the Big Time*:
(* Big time = SciShow, with Hank Greene)
youtu.be/f7FhKywXRGk?...
(original paper in question: srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...)
Lying and 6 Other Things Babies Learn Early
YouTube video by SciShow
youtu.be
November 18, 2025 at 7:49 PM
How and when and why do children use loopholes?
Our research on this hits the Big Time*:
(* Big time = SciShow, with Hank Greene)
youtu.be/f7FhKywXRGk?...
(original paper in question: srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...)
Our research on this hits the Big Time*:
(* Big time = SciShow, with Hank Greene)
youtu.be/f7FhKywXRGk?...
(original paper in question: srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...)
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
🚨New Preprint: We develop a novel task that probes counterfactual thinking without using counterfactual language, and that teases apart genuine counterfactual thinking from related forms of thinking. Using this task, we find that the ability for counterfactual thinking emerges around 5 years of age.
October 13, 2025 at 7:58 PM
🚨New Preprint: We develop a novel task that probes counterfactual thinking without using counterfactual language, and that teases apart genuine counterfactual thinking from related forms of thinking. Using this task, we find that the ability for counterfactual thinking emerges around 5 years of age.
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
The NIH has awarded a $14.2M Director’s Transformative Research Award to a team led by Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist @ardemp.bskyverified.social, Prof. @liye-tsri.bsky.social and Assoc. Prof. @xinjin.bsky.social to map interoception and build the first atlas of this hidden sixth sense.
Scripps Research-led team receives $14.2M NIH award to map the body’s “hidden sixth sense”
www.scripps.edu
October 10, 2025 at 12:06 AM
The NIH has awarded a $14.2M Director’s Transformative Research Award to a team led by Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist @ardemp.bskyverified.social, Prof. @liye-tsri.bsky.social and Assoc. Prof. @xinjin.bsky.social to map interoception and build the first atlas of this hidden sixth sense.
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
October 1, 2025 at 3:16 PM
🚨 New preprint 🚨
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Across 3 experiments (n = 3,285), we found that interacting with sycophantic (or overly agreeable) AI chatbots entrenched attitudes and led to inflated self-perceptions.
Yet, people preferred sycophantic chatbots and viewed them as unbiased!
osf.io/preprints/ps...
Thread 🧵
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
My friends @foddy.net and @gcuzzillo.bsky.social's game @babystepsgame.bsky.social came out today and it looks amazing. @foddy.net is an artist and philosopher in the truest sense of the words, who just happens to be using video games as his medium at the moment: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/a...
When You Fall on Your Face, a Philosophical Designer Succeeds
www.nytimes.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
My friends @foddy.net and @gcuzzillo.bsky.social's game @babystepsgame.bsky.social came out today and it looks amazing. @foddy.net is an artist and philosopher in the truest sense of the words, who just happens to be using video games as his medium at the moment: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/a...
love this really elegant paper spearheaded by Linas!
one of the clearest instances of resource-rational social cognition i've seen
worth a read!
one of the clearest instances of resource-rational social cognition i've seen
worth a read!
🚨New paper out w/ @gershbrain.bsky.social & @fierycushman.bsky.social from my time @Harvard!
Humans are capable of sophisticated theory of mind, but when do we use it?
We formalize & document a new cognitive shortcut: belief neglect — inferring others' preferences, as if their beliefs are correct🧵
Humans are capable of sophisticated theory of mind, but when do we use it?
We formalize & document a new cognitive shortcut: belief neglect — inferring others' preferences, as if their beliefs are correct🧵
September 17, 2025 at 2:38 AM
love this really elegant paper spearheaded by Linas!
one of the clearest instances of resource-rational social cognition i've seen
worth a read!
one of the clearest instances of resource-rational social cognition i've seen
worth a read!
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
💙New paper!💙
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Transmission networks of long-term and short-term knowledge in a foraging society
Abstract. Cultural transmission across generations is key to cumulative cultural evolution. While several mechanisms—such as vertical, horizontal, and obli
academic.oup.com
September 14, 2025 at 7:52 AM
💙New paper!💙
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
out now in Open Mind: "People Evaluate Agents Based on the Algorithms That Drive Their Behavior"
by Bigelow & me
Paper: direct.mit.edu/opmi/article...
OSF: osf.io/yzbrq/?view_...
by Bigelow & me
Paper: direct.mit.edu/opmi/article...
OSF: osf.io/yzbrq/?view_...
September 15, 2025 at 1:29 PM
out now in Open Mind: "People Evaluate Agents Based on the Algorithms That Drive Their Behavior"
by Bigelow & me
Paper: direct.mit.edu/opmi/article...
OSF: osf.io/yzbrq/?view_...
by Bigelow & me
Paper: direct.mit.edu/opmi/article...
OSF: osf.io/yzbrq/?view_...
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
In a new paper, my colleagues and I set out to demonstrate how method biases can create spurious findings in relationship science, by using a seemingly meaningless scale (e.g., "My relationship has very good Saturn") to predict relationship outcomes. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Pseudo Effects: How Method Biases Can Produce Spurious Findings About Close Relationships - Samantha Joel, John K. Sakaluk, James J. Kim, Devinder Khera, Helena Yuchen Qin, Sarah C. E. Stanton, 2025
Research on interpersonal relationships frequently relies on accurate self-reporting across various relationship facets (e.g., conflict, trust, appreciation). Y...
journals.sagepub.com
September 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
In a new paper, my colleagues and I set out to demonstrate how method biases can create spurious findings in relationship science, by using a seemingly meaningless scale (e.g., "My relationship has very good Saturn") to predict relationship outcomes. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
No Evidence of Experimenter Demand Effects in Three Online Psychology Experiments: https://osf.io/g6xhf
September 15, 2025 at 4:44 PM
No Evidence of Experimenter Demand Effects in Three Online Psychology Experiments: https://osf.io/g6xhf
We often hear from reviewers: "what about demand effects?" So we developed a method to eliminate them. Something weird happened during testing: We couldn’t detect demand effects in the first place! (1/8)
September 15, 2025 at 5:19 PM
We often hear from reviewers: "what about demand effects?" So we developed a method to eliminate them. Something weird happened during testing: We couldn’t detect demand effects in the first place! (1/8)
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
My website is official 🙌 Excited to share that I am interested in reviewing applications for Harvard’s Clinical Science PhD program this fall as I look for the first student to join my lab! I appreciate it if you can share with your network :)
psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/mark-...
psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/mark-...
Mark Chen | Department of Psychology
psychology.fas.harvard.edu
September 9, 2025 at 4:31 PM
My website is official 🙌 Excited to share that I am interested in reviewing applications for Harvard’s Clinical Science PhD program this fall as I look for the first student to join my lab! I appreciate it if you can share with your network :)
psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/mark-...
psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/mark-...
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
🔥Exciting news in experimental philosophy🔥
Very happy to announce that there will be soon a new journal named “Experimental Philosophy”.
It will be open access, free of charge for authors and follow all Open Science principles.
Editors and Editorial Board below.
More information coming soon...
Very happy to announce that there will be soon a new journal named “Experimental Philosophy”.
It will be open access, free of charge for authors and follow all Open Science principles.
Editors and Editorial Board below.
More information coming soon...
May 20, 2025 at 10:28 AM
🔥Exciting news in experimental philosophy🔥
Very happy to announce that there will be soon a new journal named “Experimental Philosophy”.
It will be open access, free of charge for authors and follow all Open Science principles.
Editors and Editorial Board below.
More information coming soon...
Very happy to announce that there will be soon a new journal named “Experimental Philosophy”.
It will be open access, free of charge for authors and follow all Open Science principles.
Editors and Editorial Board below.
More information coming soon...
the functional form of moral judgment is (sometimes) the nash bargaining solution
new preprint👇
new preprint👇
May 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM
the functional form of moral judgment is (sometimes) the nash bargaining solution
new preprint👇
new preprint👇
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
Does Moral Valence Influence the Construal of Alternative Possibilities?
(PDF) Does Moral Valence Influence the Construal of Alternative Possibilities?
PDF | It is often thought that an agent may be held morally responsible for bringing about a negative outcome only if they could have done otherwise.... | Find, read and cite all the research you need...
www.researchgate.net
January 18, 2024 at 3:10 PM
Does Moral Valence Influence the Construal of Alternative Possibilities?
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
Part 2 of the Freakonomics series on fraud in academic research is out. With the same people as part 1 (@briannosek.bsky.social @joesimmons.bsky.social @urisohn.bsky.social Leif Nelson, me, and Max Bazerman), plus Ivan Oransky.
freakonomics.com/podcast/can-...
freakonomics.com/podcast/can-...
Can Academic Fraud Be Stopped? - Freakonomics
Can Academic Fraud Be Stopped? - Freakonomics
freakonomics.com
January 18, 2024 at 8:32 AM
Part 2 of the Freakonomics series on fraud in academic research is out. With the same people as part 1 (@briannosek.bsky.social @joesimmons.bsky.social @urisohn.bsky.social Leif Nelson, me, and Max Bazerman), plus Ivan Oransky.
freakonomics.com/podcast/can-...
freakonomics.com/podcast/can-...
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
Inspiring words from this NASA official
December 20, 2023 at 5:30 PM
Inspiring words from this NASA official
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
How far can we trust representation analyses or mechanistic interpretations? Our new work, led by Dan Friedman shows that analyses based on simplifying the model or its representations can be misleading about how the model will behave out of distribution! arxiv.org/abs/2312.03656
December 10, 2023 at 4:21 PM
How far can we trust representation analyses or mechanistic interpretations? Our new work, led by Dan Friedman shows that analyses based on simplifying the model or its representations can be misleading about how the model will behave out of distribution! arxiv.org/abs/2312.03656
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
November 28, 2023 at 4:51 AM
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
Scientists paid large publishers over $1 billion in four years to have their studies published with open access
well done, folks
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
well done, folks
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
November 25, 2023 at 5:51 AM
Scientists paid large publishers over $1 billion in four years to have their studies published with open access
well done, folks
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
well done, folks
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
CALL FOR PAPERS: SPP 2024
The Society for Philosophy and Psychology (SPP) invites submissions of papers to be presented at its 50th Annual Meeting to be held June 19-June 22, 2024 at Purdue University (local organizer: Corey Maley).
The Society for Philosophy and Psychology (SPP) invites submissions of papers to be presented at its 50th Annual Meeting to be held June 19-June 22, 2024 at Purdue University (local organizer: Corey Maley).
November 21, 2023 at 10:35 PM
CALL FOR PAPERS: SPP 2024
The Society for Philosophy and Psychology (SPP) invites submissions of papers to be presented at its 50th Annual Meeting to be held June 19-June 22, 2024 at Purdue University (local organizer: Corey Maley).
The Society for Philosophy and Psychology (SPP) invites submissions of papers to be presented at its 50th Annual Meeting to be held June 19-June 22, 2024 at Purdue University (local organizer: Corey Maley).
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
Our perspective paper "Machine Culture" is out in Nature Human Behavior.
Free access version: rdcu.be/drzoS
Free access version: rdcu.be/drzoS
November 20, 2023 at 9:30 PM
Our perspective paper "Machine Culture" is out in Nature Human Behavior.
Free access version: rdcu.be/drzoS
Free access version: rdcu.be/drzoS
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
November 20, 2023 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
Discussion Forum on my "Rethinking Norm Psychology", edited by @dryan149.bsky.social. 14 great commentaries by @duhe.bsky.social @evanwestra.bsky.social @kristinandrews.bsky.social @thepsychologist.bsky.social Molly Crockett, Kim Sterelny...#neuroskyence #philsky journals.sagepub.com/topic/collec...
November 17, 2023 at 3:45 PM
Discussion Forum on my "Rethinking Norm Psychology", edited by @dryan149.bsky.social. 14 great commentaries by @duhe.bsky.social @evanwestra.bsky.social @kristinandrews.bsky.social @thepsychologist.bsky.social Molly Crockett, Kim Sterelny...#neuroskyence #philsky journals.sagepub.com/topic/collec...
Reposted by xavier roberts-gaal
Delighted to share this new preprint lead by Arthur Le Pargneux. When somebody needs to "take one for the team" (pull a late night, walk an extra mile, trudge through mud), do people think that moral responsibility falls upon whoever has the weakest bargaining position?
osf.io/preprints/ps...
1/2
osf.io/preprints/ps...
1/2
November 18, 2023 at 12:26 PM
Delighted to share this new preprint lead by Arthur Le Pargneux. When somebody needs to "take one for the team" (pull a late night, walk an extra mile, trudge through mud), do people think that moral responsibility falls upon whoever has the weakest bargaining position?
osf.io/preprints/ps...
1/2
osf.io/preprints/ps...
1/2