Netflix weighed into the crowded true crime genre in 2017 with the release of its show, Mindhunter, which is based on the book by FBI agent John Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The first season of the show highlighted the early work by the FBI in profiling incarcerated serial killers (even coining the term along the way).Read More

The answer might come from research about people’s perceptions of their own abilities (Dunning-Kruger effect and bias). Social psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger conducted research that demonstrated that novices often overestimate their ability because they do not know just how much they do not yet know. The idea is captured nicely in the title...Read More

I have always told classes that to truly understand some concept, do not look at its definition but rather at how it is measured.  For example, knowing an intelligence test includes questions on math problems or word problems tells you more about how the test defines intelligence than the definition itself.  Something similar might be...Read More

The opioid epidemic that is gripping Eastern, Kentucky by the throat does not appear to be relenting.  This epidemic is being fueled by a number of social and economic factors as well as an abundant supply of opiates. Opiate addiction often begins by accident after an injury or surgery when an individual takes prescription painkillers...Read More

Due to family and financial circumstances, Jason did not receive formal education after third grade. “Educational neglect is a larger problem for rural Appalachia and other parts of the country than people really understand,” said Jason who grew up in London, Kentucky. Motivated to create his own opportunities, he earned his GED and an associate...Read More

For most of us in the U.S., a large part of who we are is defined by what we do. On average we spend over a third of our day working – often brining work home in the evenings or on weekends. Read More

What is it about humans that we kill each other?  Why are there so many killings?  Are we, as a species, pre-programmed to be violent?  Is violence part of human nature?Read More

Do you think you are a better-than-average driver?  Chances are you do.  And you know what?  So do 80-90% of other drivers. On the old radio show “Prairie Home Companion,” there was a fictitious town called Lake Wobegon where “all the children are above average.”  Think about that for a second: not everyone can be...Read More

Let’s just face it, as scary as they are, psychopaths fascinate us! Psychopathy has earned a place both in science and pop culture. Just look at the most recent episode of Law & Order: SVU or Criminal Minds to find the latest manifestation of psychopathy on the screen. Read More

The majority of individuals who have held a job have likely had their performance evaluated in some form. Employee reactions to and acceptance of performance appraisal may be key indicators of effectiveness of the appraisal system. Dr. Henning and her colleagues were interested in looking at how people respond to receiving positive and negative performance...Read More