Recent Popular Press Essays
(From the past five years; does not include essays that only appear in McAndrew's Psychology Today Blog)
How stories about haunted houses become self-perpetuating
- Next Truth Magazine, February, 2020
The psychology of gossip - It is a social skill.
- Actively Learn, January 14, 2020
in Next Truth: Young People Science - January 7, 2020
Why do old people hate new music?
- Albany Times Union, December 19, 2019
Why losing a dog is harder than losing a relative or friend
- Middle East North African Financial Network (MENAFN), November 24, 2019
Why we love blood-curdling screams
- Amazing Stories (QueerSciFi.com), November 6, 2019
Why clowns creep us out - Magnet, November 2, 2019
Why we love big, blood-curdling screams
- Big Think, October 30, 2019
(also in the Wausau Pilot & Review)
How stories about haunted houses become self-perpetuating
- Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture,
October 29, 2019
Why we love big, blood-curdling screams
- Livescience, KASL Radio, & Medical Xpress, October 29, 2019
Why old people hate new music
- The Citizen (South Africa), October 28, 2019
Fear of clowns explained by a psychologist
- Mic, October 28, 2019
Why We Love Big, Blood-Curdling Screams
- The Conversation, October 28, 2019
(also in Discover Magazine, The Houston Chronicle,
Science 2.0, San Antonio Express-News,
Chicago Tribune, SFGate, The Apopka Voice, &
many other media outlets)
Why haunted houses terrify us
- Fast Company, October 23, 2019
Why do you stop liking new music as you get older?
- Curiosity.com, October 21, 2019
Houses of Horror - Aeon Magazine, October 21, 2019
Curious Kids: Why old people hate new music
- ActivelyLearn.com, October 17, 2019
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend
- Times Herald-Record (Middletown NY), October 15, 2019
Why old people hate new music - Der Freitag, October 9, 2019
Why old people hate new music - Quartz, October 7, 2019
Why old people hate new music
- Northwest Florida Daily News, October 7, 2019
Why clowns creep us out
- National Geographic Indonesia, October 6, 2019
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend
- RawStory & Kitsap Sun, October 4, 2019
Why old people hate new music
- also in parent24, October 3, 2019
Why do old people hate new music?
- Psychology Today; also in LiveWire, October 1, 2019
Curiosity & WHYY TV - Philadelphia, October 1, 2019
Why you shouldn't want to be happy all the time
- The Good Men Project, October 1, 2019
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend
- Havasu News, September 30, 2019
Could a lack of intellectual humility be at the root of what ails America? - Blavity, September 27, 2019
Curious Kids: Why do old people hate new music?
- The Conversation, The Associated Press, Chicago Tribune,
San Francisco Chronicle, The Baltimore Sun, & more than
100 other media outlets - September 26, 2019
The psychology behind why clowns creep us out
- ActivelyLearn.com, September 25, 2019
"The Best Days of Our Lives?" An essay about high school included in the playbill for Groan Ups, which ran in London’s Vaudeville Theatre - opened September 20, 2019
How the God you worship influences the ghosts you see
- The Durango Herald & The Meridian Star, September 14, 2019
Why clowns are creepy - FirstPost, September 14, 2019
Gossip - IOL.com, (Independent Online) September 12, 2019
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or a friend
- McCall Digest, September 11, 2019
Why clowns creep us out - Inverse, Canal Antigua,
& Tuoi Tre - September 10, 2019
How the God you worship influences the ghosts you see
- Business Mirror, September 9, 2019
The psychology behind why clowns creep us out
-The New Orleans Advocate, The Wire, CNN Espanol, Considerable,
CNN Indonesia, & The Salina Post, - September 9, 2019
The psychology behind why clowns creep us out
- All-about-Psychology.com, activelylearn.com,
& The Maui News, September 7, 2019
This is why clowns creep you out
- CNN, Quartz, Popular Science, Arizona Daily Star,
WKRC TV, The Oneonta Daily Star, & Local12 -September 6, 2019
How the God you worship influences the ghosts you see (Indonesian) - The Conversation, September 5, 2019
The psychology behind why clowns creep us out
- The Conversation; also in RTL TV & Snopes.com
- also appeared in several dozen other news outlets
- September 4-5, 2019
Politicians don't seem to laugh at themselves as much anymore
- Intellectual Takeout, Wall Street Window, alternet,
Utica College Center of Public Affairs and Election Research,
August 22, 2019
Politicians don't seem to laugh at themselves as much anymore
- The Conversation, Skagit Valley Herald, SFGate, & more than a
dozen other outlets, August 21, 2019
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a loved one
- The Fresh Toast, August 8, 2019
Why Nigerian Prince scams continue to dupe us
- Snopes.com/The Associated Press, August 5, 2019
Humility may be the key to solving polarization
- July 30, 2019
Why some people see ghosts and other presences
- Next Truth Magazine, July 30, 2019
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend
- Considerable, July 15, 2019
Why a lack of intellectual humility is what ails America
- Salon, June 1, 2019 (also in Libertarian Republic)
Why we need more intellectual humility and less moral outrage
- Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), May 31, 2019
What is at the root of United States' ills? A lack of intellectual humility - Scroll India, May 30, 2019
Is a lack of intellectual humility at the root of what ails America?
- Garn Press, May 28, 2019
Is a lack of intellectual humility what ails America?
- Psychology Today (and numerous other media outlets), May 26, 2019
Is a lack of intellectual humility at the root of what ails America?
- AlterNet, May 25, 2019 (also in ATT.net & Global Economic Intersection)
America is facing an intellectual humility crisis - Newsweek, May 24, 2019
- (also in Pennsylvania Capital-Star, & Attention to the Unseen)
Could a lack of humility be at the root of what ails America?
- The Conversation - May 23, 2019
(also in The Chicago Tribune, The Houston Chronicle, Towle Road, Government Executive, The Fairfield Citizen, The Alton Telegraph, The
Good-Men Project, BIZCATALYST 360, LittleBytes News, Calcutta News,
Kiowa County Press, hdReporter, & many others)
Gossip is a social skill - not a character flaw
- Business Mirror, May 2, 2019
The psychology of happiness - ActivelyLearn.com - May 1, 2019
Gossip is a social skill, not a character flaw, studies (including of lobstermen) show - The Portland Press Herald (Maine), April 26, 2019
​
Why losing a dog is so hard - Wall Street Window, February 11, 2019
- also in OregonLive.com
Why losing a dog is so hard - The Irish Examiner, January 2, 2019
- also in SitNews
Why "topophilia" is at an all-time high every Christmas
- Inverse - December 23, 2018
Curiosity.com - December 20, 2018
Why you underestimate how much other people like you - Psychology Today Magazine, December 11, 2018
- also in MAPO
Why losing a dog is so hard - PsyPost, November 29, 2018
Ghosts & Religion - Raw Story - October 31, 2018
- also in MENAFN.com
Why haunted houses creep us out - Neuroscience News, October 29, 2018
Why haunted houses creep us out - October 26, 2018
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a loved one
- Erraticus, October 2, 2018
Why clowns creep us out
- International Business Times, September 29, 2018
Why losing a dog is so hard - The Philly Voice, September 25, 2018
- also in India TV, The Pantagraph, The Southern Illinoisan, & St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative
- The Big Smoke, August 28, 2018
Why "Nigerian Prince" scams continue to dupe us
- Channel News Asia, August 22, 2018
Why "Nigerian Prince" Scams Continue to Dupe Us
- Salon, August 18, 2018
Why "Nigerian Prince" scams continue to dupe us
- International Business Times, August 8, 2018
Why "Nigerian Prince" scams continue to dupe us
- MERCATORNET, August 7, 2018
Why "Nigerian Prince" scams continue to dupe us
- Heavy, August 5, 2018 (also in iAfrikan)
Psychology explains why "Nigerian Prince" scammers continue to dupe us
- Inverse, August 4, 2018 (also in The Reader)
Why We Still Fall for the 'Nigerian Prince' Scam
- The Conversation, August 3, 2018
- also in The Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
Actualite Houssenia Writing, & others.
Ever felt Guilty over Grieving over a Dog more than a Friend? - This story is for you - Upworthy, July 31, 2018
Why losing a dog can be worse than losing a friend
- Univision, July 18, 2018
- also in Infobae, Magnet, Entrepeneur, La Nueva Espana, Culturizando,
& Cadena SER
​
Why losing a dog can be as traumatic as losing a relative or friend
- Business Insider, May 11, 2018
Why the Death of a Dog Hurts so Much - Quartz, April 26, 2018
How the God You Worship Influences the Ghosts You See - The Big Think, April 25, 2018
Why Pretty Girls Get Bullied
- Psychology Today Magazine, April 22, 2018
- also in StandUptoBullying.net
Mourning a Dog Can be Harder than Mourning a Person
- Tonic (by Vice), April 10, 2018
- also in GV Wire, Alternet, & others
Gossip is a social skill - not a character flaw
- Core Aspect, March 7, 2018
The science behind why there's no place like home for the
holidays - The Chicago Tribune, December 22, 2017
Nostalgia for home during the holidays
- The Daily Mail, December 15, 2017
- also in Univision, The Week, The Conversation, PSYCHlopaedeia
& others
Beauty cues: Four traits men unknowingly seek in women
- Psychology Today Magazine,
- November/December 2017, Vol. 50, #6, pp. 42-43
- also in Questia & Your Tango
How the God you worship influences the ghosts you see
- Magnet, November 20, 2017
How the God you worship influences the ghosts you see
- Quartz, October 31, 2017
Why some people see ghosts and other paranormal presences
- Your Tango Magazine, October 31, 2017
- also in Psychology Today
How the God you worship influences the ghosts you see
- Raw Story, October 26, 2017
How the God you worship influences the ghosts you see
-The Conversation, October 25, 2017
(also in The Chicago Tribune, KVUE-ABC News, & Others)
Why Clowns Creep Us Out
- JSTOR Daily, September 17, 2017
Creeped out by clowns? This might be why
- CNN, September 8, 2017
For restaurant profits, it's about everything but the food
- The New Influencer, April 28, 2017
For restaurants looking to boost profits, it's often about
everything but the food. - Hospitality Magazine,
- April 26, 2017
For restaurants looking to boost profits, it's often about everything but the food - The Conversation, April 24, 2017
It can be harder to lose a dog than a relative or friend - here's why - Business Insider, March 19, 2017
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, March 15, 2017
- also in MamaMia & The Observer
A psychologist explains why losing a dog can be as painful as losing a relative - Quartz, March 14, 2017
(also in The Telegraph)
Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend
- The Conversation, March 9, 2017
(also in ActivelyLearn.com, & others)
Why you will always be haunted by high school
- Quartz, March 3, 2017
The surprising factor that can predict your life span
- Your Tango, January 5, 2017
- also in Psychology Today
The perils of a life in isolation
- Intellectual Takeout, November 17, 2016
The perils of a life in isolation
- The Conversation, November 10, 2016
- also in The Associated Press, IFL Science, Spring.St, & others
Why your past and your future make it hard to enjoy the present
- Medical Daily, November 2, 2016
Evolutionary psychology explains why haunted houses creep us out
- GOOD Magazine, October 28, 2016
Why clowns creep us out
- The Washington Post, October 27, 2016
It's healthier to be sad sometimes than happy all the time
- Quartz, October 12, 2016
The psychology behind why clowns creep us out
- Time Magazine, September 29, 2016
- also in PBS Newshour, Quartz, Scientific American, Salon, The New Republic,
The Daily Mail, The Conversation, Yahoo News, & others
Here's why you're terrified of creepy clowns
- The Daily Beast, September 28, 2016
(also in The Conversation)
Why you don't want to be happy all of the time
- Slate (France), September 14, 2016
Happiness doesn't last, and here's why that's OK
- CNN, August 25, 2016 (also in Reliawire)
Don't try to be happy. We're programmed to be dissatisfied
- The Guardian, August 17, 2016
- also in The Sydney Morning Herald
Permanent happiness is a myth: Why you shouldn't want to always be happy - Salon, August 15, 2016
- also in Real Clear Science
Why you shouldn't want to always be happy
- Time Magazine, August 12, 2016
- also in IFL Science, The Conversation, & Intellectual Takeout
The evolutionary psychology behind mass shootings
- CNN, July 8, 2016
We never leave high school: Science proves adolescence unforgettable -- for better or worse
- Salon, June 19, 2016
Gossip in your office probably does more good than harm
- HRZone, June 10, 2016
- also in Psychology Today
This is why you're still thinking about high school
- The Washington Post, June 6, 2016
- also in Raw Story
How can we better understand "The Office Creep?"
- HRZone, June 6, 2016
Why are high school memories burned into our brains?
- The Guardian, June 2, 2016 (also in Business Insider)
​
Why high school stays with us forever
- The Conversation, June 1, 2016
How gossiping at work can help you get ahead
- Business Insider, February 16, 2016
Gossip is a social skill - not a character flaw
- LiveScience, February 1, 2016
Humans evolved to gossip because it's a necessary social skill
- Quartz, January 26, 2016
Gossip is a social skill - not a character flaw
- Quillette, January 25, 2016
Research shows humans evolved to gossip
- Raw Story, January 23, 2016
How gossip can help you - Time Magazine, January 21, 2016
Gossip isn't a flaw - It's a necessary social skill
- The New Republic, January 20, 2016
- also in Mashable, The Conversation, Steam Register, & BizCatalyst360.com
The making of a murderer (mass shootings)
- The Daily Mail, January 4, 2016
If you give a man a gun: The evolutionary psychology of mass shootings - Quartz, December 16, 2015
Why are shooters invariably young men?
- Newsweek, December 7, 2015
You should know how the male brain reacts to handling
a gun - The Huffington Post, December 4, 2015
- also in The Conversation
​
​
Why do haunted houses creep us out?
- Newsweek, October 31, 2015 (also in Mashable)
This is why haunted houses creep us out
- Time Magazine, October 30, 2015
- also in LiveScience, Business Insider, The Raw Story,
The Conversation, & others
