About

"Why Are We Like This?" is a science communication blog that translates peer-reviewed research on human behavior into accessible, engaging articles for curious general readers.

We explore the slightly exasperated, self-aware question we often ask about ourselves—why do we procrastinate, believe false things, hold grudges, or doomscroll?

Mission

Our goal is to act as a knowledgeable friend who reads the research so you don't have to. We respect your intelligence and aim to be conversational but substantive. We don't dumb things down; we translate.

What We Cover

• Human behavior, psychology, and decision-making
• Communication, media effects, and persuasion
• Relationships and social dynamics
• Misinformation and belief systems
• Technology's effects on how we think and interact

What we don't cover: Clinical psychology, medical advice, hard sciences, or hot takes.

Choose Your Own Depth

We know different readers want different things. That's why every article is designed with a "choose your own depth" structure:

• The Takeaway: An abstract at the top that gives you the answer.
• The Deep Dive: A full article with evidence, nuance, and context.
• Expandables: Interactive blocks for those who want to geek out on methodology, statistics, or historical context.

Our Approach

This site synthesizes peer-reviewed research. We show our work—every claim links to its source. We are transparent about uncertainty and the limitations of current research.

While the site is written by a real human, we focus on the research, not the personality.

Read the Blog