Articles and Books | NYU SPAM Lab

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New York University

SOCIAL PERCEPTION ACTION

and MOTIVATION LAB

Lab Director: Dr. Emily Balcetis

Books and Articles

Books

Social Psychology of Visual Perception
Emily Balcetis and G. Daniel Lassiter
This volume takes a contemporary and novel look at how people see the world around them. We generally believe we see our surroundings and everything in them with complete accuracy. However, as the contributions to this volume argue, this assumption is wrong: people’s view of their world is cloudy at best.

The Handbook of Impression Formation: A Social Psychological Approach
Emily Balcetis and Gordon B. Moskowitz
Presenting diverse perspectives from eminent scholars and contemporary researchers, The Handbook of Impression Formation contextualizes current and future areas of research in the social psychology of impression formation within a rich historic framework.

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Articles

After 15 years of research, a psychologist says this 'simple trick' can help millennials retire faster
February 25, 2020 CNBC
How seeing our future as part of the hear and now helps us make choices in the present that are more aligned with the people who we wish to become.

Up-and-Coming Voices: Brining Science to Justice
October 27, 2023 Association for Psychological Science
Dr. Emily Balcetis and fellow researcher, Dr. Jennie Qu-Lee discuss the relationship between attentional staring and video evidence interpretation.

ideas42 Seminar Series: A talk with Emily Balcetis
May 20, 2019 ideas42
Emily discusses her thoughts on behavioral science and what inspires her work.

Michael Phelps' Training Strategy Is a Blueprint for Any Kind of Success
March 5, 2020 Medium
Foreshadow failure to win big

The Rittenhouse jurors watch video, but that can't be counted on to prevent bias
November 19, 2021 NPR
Dr. Emily Balcetis discusses how our own biases can affect how we watch legal video evidence.

Misdiagnosing Our Cyberhealth
August 4, 2020 Scientific American
Why do we ignore information that could improve our ability to predict the odds of a personal cyberattack?

Seeing mountains in molehills: Embodied visual perception of the environment
Issue 4: 2014 The Inquisitive Mind
The way our surroundings look seems to change based on the state of our bodies....In a dynamic and interactive way, our bodies influence they way we see the world around us, which can impact the way we move—or decide not to move—within it.

Wishful Seeing
January 14, 2014 The British Psychological Society
Emily Balcetis outlines research on how desires and motivations change perceptions in the eyes of the beholder

Masks don't help, but tossing salt over the shoulder? Why people want to believe.
March 17, 2020 The Washington Post
Research shows that 'magical thinking' offers comfort during a crisis.

Where does great thinking come from? Look beyond the brain.
June 18, 2021 The Washington Post
Here's what holds us back from giving compliments and why to give more of them.

In the pandemic stories of everyday Americans, fear and grief feel fresh again
October 1, 2021 The Washington Post
Remembering the personal struggles and sacrifices of COVID-19; a review of Voices from the Pandemic.

Climate science may change minds. Climate sadness can change hearts.
August 6, 2021 The Washington Post
Emotions and how they can change collective action on environmentalism; a review of Warmth.

5 Steps to Help Clients Stay on Track for Retirement
November 18, 2022 U.S. Money News
Clients at some point are likely to ask, "Am I on track for retirement?" Advisors' likely answer: It depends.

Give More Compliments: It Won’t Be as Awkward as You Think
September 30, 2022 Psychology Today
Here's what holds us back from giving compliments and why to give more of them.

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Protecting Your Own Cyber Security During the Russian Invasion
March 11, 2022 Psychology Today
How the illusion of invulnerability clouds accurate self-assessment of risk.

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How Can We Combat "Compassion Fade"?
March 25, 2021 Psychology Today
Here's How many lives has America lost to COVID-19? Here's the psychology of why it's so hard to comprehend.

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Overcoming the March Motivational Slump
March 3, 2021 Psychology Today
Here's Have you given up on your New year's resolutions? Half have by March. If you're looking for how to get back on track with your goals, here's how.

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Why Relying on Research Experience Might Perpetuate Bias
December 11, 2020 Psychology Today
'Tis the season to review graduate program applications. Reviewers, do you know what perpetuates race-based bias? Here is one problem you might not be aware of.

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Reclaiming Our Fears
July 21, 2020 Psychology Today
The science and stories of finding fear as a motivating source for action.

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A Silver Lining of Social Distancing
March 13, 2020 Psychology Today
The upside of working remotely? We can innovate strategies to increase our own productivity.

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Fighting Back Against Harassment
February 18, 2020 Psychology Today
Wondering how hashtags can motivate collective action to stop the spread of violence? Here's the explanation for the one-two psychological punch they bring.

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When New Year's Resolutions Start to Challenge Us
January 10, 2020 Psychology Today
...and finding the right mindset to fight back.

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