Scott Alexander criticizes psychological studies that confuse short-term reactions with long-term effects, using examples from video game violence research, media stereotype studies, and parenting research. Longer summary

Scott Alexander critiques psychological studies that draw broad conclusions about long-term effects based on short-term reactions. He uses examples from video game violence research, studies on media stereotypes, and child-rearing practices to illustrate the 'streetlight effect' - where researchers focus on easily measurable short-term effects rather than more relevant long-term impacts. He argues that temporary changes in mood or behavior immediately after an intervention don't necessarily translate to lasting personality changes or real-world actions. The post calls for more skepticism in interpreting such studies and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between immediate situational responses and genuine long-term effects. Shorter summary

Scott argues that social psychology is often misused in political discourse, presenting counterintuitive claims to demonstrate how easily it can be manipulated to support various agendas. Longer summary

This post critiques the use of social psychology in political discourse, arguing that it's often misused to support preexisting beliefs. Scott presents six counterintuitive social psychology claims that oppose common narratives, such as media violence preventing crime and fighting stereotypes increasing prejudice. He argues these claims, while not definitively proven, are as plausible as their more commonly accepted opposites. The post highlights the dangers of using speculative social psychology to justify social engineering, emphasizing that poorly replicated short-term studies can prove almost anything. Scott concludes by advocating for caution and subtlety when applying social psychology findings to social policy. Shorter summary