Category Archives: Unique—Like Everybody Else

The Strange Link Between Attitudes Towards Sex and Drugs – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

According to evolutionary theories, people's attitudes to recreational drug use may be influenced by their preferred mating strategies.

The Ghost of Situationism and Why Personality is Not a Myth – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

A recent podcast on the "Myth" of personality trots out long discredited arguments against the reality of personality. Why do these ideas keep returning like a restless ghost?

Fantasy Choices and the Real Self – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Choices people make in fantasy contexts reflect rather than complement their personalities. People may be reluctant to create imaginary identities that mismatch their real selves.

The Mating Strategies of Extraverts – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Life History Theory views long-term and short-term mating strategies as polar opposites. However, some people, particularly extraverts, may pursue both, others neither.

Does Watching TV Encourage Narcissism? – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Research links watching certain TV genres, e.g. reality TV, with narcissism. Does this mean TV cultivates narcissism? Or is the relationship deeper and more complicated?

Psychedelic Drugs and the Nature of Personality Change – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

A recent study found increases in openness to experience following a dose of LSD. More detailed studies on psychedelics may lead to a deeper understanding of personality change.

Race Differences in Androgens: Do They Mean Anything? – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

What can group differences in androgen levels tell us about racial differences in reproductive strategies? Probably not much.

Personality Profiles of Great American Presidents – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

A study finds that presidential greatness is associated with a mix of bright and dark traits. Great presidents have been compassionate yet also knew how to manipulate people.

Personality Profiles of Great American Presidents – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

A study finds that presidential greatness is associated with a mix of bright and dark traits. Great presidents have been compassionate, yet also knew how to manipulate people.

Personality’s ‘Big One’ and the Enigma of Narcissism – Scott McGreal (Unique—Like Everybody Else)

Narcissists can be charismatic yet also alienate others. Narcissism combines adaptive and maladaptive traits. This makes it difficult to reconcile narcissism with the theory that all personality traits express a single underlying dimension such as a general factor of personality.