Why are we so obsessed by true crime stories?

True crime stories like Making a Murderer, Serial, and Dirty John are extremely popular. But why are millions of people, especially women, so obsessed with true crime stories? And is it actually a good thing?

Ilse van de Groep • March 18, 2019

Hanging out with the right crowd: positive peer pressure in adolescence

Peer pressure in adolescence often has negative connotations for worried parents and in the media. Jorien investigated the positive influence of peers on decision-making and examined the neural underpinnings of peer influence in the adolescent brain.

Jorien van Hoorn • January 12, 2017

How to set prejudice aside when watching a debate

The last few weeks have seen the long-anticipated debates between the Democrats’ presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and the Republican Donald Trump. The debates were very fierce and both candidates availed of every opportunity to make personal attacks.

Gert-Jan Lelieveld • October 19, 2016

Self-esteem: is there more to it than meets the eye?

Have you ever wondered where your self-esteem comes from? Maybe it’s that you consider yourself to be intelligent and successful in your work, or that your friends tell you that you have such a warm and bubbly personality...

Laura van der Aar • May 23, 2016

Black Pete and the Academic

Can Zwarte Piet still be black? What does the academic have to say about this? Or should we keep silent?

Carolien Rieffe • December 03, 2014

How we vote

Although we like to think that our vote is solely the outcome of rational deliberation, research demonstrates the various influences on our political preferences. Even the language that is used might impact our ideological leanings.

Jojanneke van der Toorn • March 17, 2014

Digital surveillance programs - safeguards or spies?

Do we perceive states that read our emails, web chats, and other (digital) communications as safeguards or as spies? Research indicates that these attitudes are largely influenced by how news reports about these controversial issues are framed.

Gerdien de Vries • June 18, 2013

'Facebook depression?' The influence of social media on adolescents

The growing use of social networking sites also fosters concerns about the negative consequences for adolescents of using these sites. But do adolescents themselves confirm that they are depressed because of Facebook?

Barbara Braams • May 09, 2013

About polite Moroccans and rude Dutch

You may think that honor and aggression are closely linked. In this contribution I will paint a more nuanced picture, and show that honor is also linked to politeness and constructive conflict management.

Fieke Harinck • April 08, 2013

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