Steven Pinker's 10-Item Quiz Relating Psychology to Everyday Life

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Originally posted on April 16, 2014.

Part of our pleasure in writing psychological science is identifying the big ideas and findings that educated people should know.  Another part of our pleasure is relating these ideas and findings to people’s everyday lives.

Our Harvard colleague Steven Pinker, one of psychology’s public intellectuals, has offered—courtesy of the New York Times—a short quiz that invites people to relate some of psychology’s ideas to real life and pop culture.  Perhaps you, or your students, might enjoy some of the quiz items—here.

About the Author
David Myers has spent his entire teaching career at Hope College, Michigan, where he has been voted “outstanding professor” and has been selected by students to deliver the commencement address. His award-winning research and writings have appeared in over three dozen scientific periodicals and numerous publications for the general public. He also has authored five general audience books, including The Pursuit of Happiness and Intuition: Its Powers and Perils. David Myers has chaired his city's Human Relations Commission, helped found a thriving assistance center for families in poverty, and spoken to hundreds of college and community groups. Drawing on his experience, he also has written articles and a book (A Quiet World) about hearing loss, and he is advocating a transformation in American assistive listening technology (see www.hearingloop.org).