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Michael E. W. Varnum Ph.D.

About

Michael E. W. Varnum, Ph.D., is an associate professor and social psychology area head in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. He’s the author of more than 70 scholarly publications and a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology. His work has been published in Nature Human Behaviour, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, Psychological Science, Perspectives on Psychological Science, and American Psychologist. His research focuses on understanding cultural variation, cultural change, and forecasting. He’s studied everything from mirror neurons to how we might react to the discovery of aliens. His work has been covered in media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Economist, National Geographic, Scientific American, and New Scientist.

Recent Posts
Are Scent Preferences Universal?
Is beauty in the nose of the sniffer? New studies suggest that alongside universal scent preferences, culture and individual idiosyncrasy shape which smells delight or disgust us.
Who's Afraid of AI—and Why?
Recent developments in artificial intelligence have raised some concerns. New studies in psychology shed light on who fears AI and why.
Why and When the Familiar Feels Good

We all love the thrill of experiencing something new. However, recent research can help us understand the powerful appeal of the familiar.

We all love the thrill of experiencing something new. However, recent research can help us understand the powerful appeal of the familiar.

Where Do Cultural Differences Come From?

New work suggests that basic features of our environments may hold the key to solving this puzzle.

New work suggests that basic features of our environments may hold the key to solving this puzzle.

Do Animals Have Culture?

We often think of culture as uniquely human. A growing body of evidence challenges that view.

We often think of culture as uniquely human. A growing body of evidence challenges that view.

How the Seasons Affect Our Psychology

Most of us are familiar with wintertime blues, but the seasons affect much more than just our mood.

Most of us are familiar with wintertime blues, but the seasons affect much more than just our mood.

Large Language Models May Radically Change Psychology

New studies suggest that Large Language Models may radically change how research in psychological science is done, presenting both opportunities and threats.

New studies suggest that Large Language Models may radically change how research in psychological science is done, presenting both opportunities and threats.