Somewhat unsurprisingly, the movies have painted a highly inaccurate picture of the power of polygraphs, or so-called lie-detector tests. While many crime dramas showcase a seemingly miraculous technology for distinguishing truths from lies, this portrayal, itself, is far from true. However, a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that polygraph tests…
Read MoreClowns and Masked Fear
Over the last couple of months, there has been a surge in stories about so-called “creepy clowns” prowling the streets. This trend has caused mild panic as schools fear about the effect on children, and even the White House has weighed in. Terrifyingly, one such clown, with rainbow polka dots and curly blue hair even…
Read MoreExpressions of Pride: Instinctive and Useful
Why do we feel pride? Is pride even something to be avoided? This is a difficult question to answer, and Humintell congratulates Dr. Jessica Tracy for presenting a novel account of the emotion of pride in her acclaimed Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success. In this book, Dr. Tracy…
Read MoreFacial Recognition and Understanding Emotional Expressions
When you recognize a friend’s face, how do you know? Do you make a careful study of their nose and cheekbones? Are you thrown off if they don’t wear the usual expression? The vast majority of people probably scoffed at those questions. Facial recognition isn’t a matter of careful study, but instead it is an…
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