Brian Kurilla
@briankurilla.bsky.social
Experimental psychologist living in Raleigh, NC | Data Nerd | Posting (longish) musings about psychology, social behavior, politics, and everything in between.
One of the great ironies of democracy is that while elections demand careful, deliberate thought, politics encourages almost nothing but the laziest, most distorted forms of thinking — even among otherwise smart people.
September 16, 2025 at 5:47 PM
One of the great ironies of democracy is that while elections demand careful, deliberate thought, politics encourages almost nothing but the laziest, most distorted forms of thinking — even among otherwise smart people.
I’ve never been a big believer in the idea of free will. In fact, I’m pretty convinced the whole notion is a myth. If it weren’t, the entire enterprise of the social and behavioral sciences simply wouldn’t work.
September 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I’ve never been a big believer in the idea of free will. In fact, I’m pretty convinced the whole notion is a myth. If it weren’t, the entire enterprise of the social and behavioral sciences simply wouldn’t work.
It’s fascinating to think about how our small everyday routines can sometimes lead to big societal consequences.
August 30, 2025 at 4:51 PM
It’s fascinating to think about how our small everyday routines can sometimes lead to big societal consequences.
I’ve been thinking a lot about nostalgia lately — its benefits, its dangers, and even its sometimes paradoxical nature.
August 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I’ve been thinking a lot about nostalgia lately — its benefits, its dangers, and even its sometimes paradoxical nature.
Although I’m not proud to admit it, I used to look down a bit on people who mostly listened to music from their past. It always struck me as a sign of being stuck — unwilling to grow, unwilling to move forward.
August 28, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Although I’m not proud to admit it, I used to look down a bit on people who mostly listened to music from their past. It always struck me as a sign of being stuck — unwilling to grow, unwilling to move forward.
This time of year always feels heavier than I expect. The shift from summer to school, from looser days to stricter routines, comes with what feels like a sense of mourning.
August 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
This time of year always feels heavier than I expect. The shift from summer to school, from looser days to stricter routines, comes with what feels like a sense of mourning.
One of the most striking features of our current political climate is not just how divided we are, but how certain we are. Each side insists it holds the truth — without hesitation, without nuance.
August 22, 2025 at 7:17 PM
One of the most striking features of our current political climate is not just how divided we are, but how certain we are. Each side insists it holds the truth — without hesitation, without nuance.
Wow…I guess jobs numbers and other economic data reported by the government are about to become meaningless.
🚨BREAKING: Trump says he will fire labor statistics chief after weak jobs report
Trump says he will fire labor statistics chief after weak jobs report
Trump is turning his ire about poor jobs numbers on the number-crunchers.
trib.al
August 1, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Wow…I guess jobs numbers and other economic data reported by the government are about to become meaningless.
Something I feel like I hear people say more and more these days is that they “don’t really pay attention to politics.”
As if that’s something to be proud of. A badge of honor. Or a kind of virtue signal.
As if that’s something to be proud of. A badge of honor. Or a kind of virtue signal.
August 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Something I feel like I hear people say more and more these days is that they “don’t really pay attention to politics.”
As if that’s something to be proud of. A badge of honor. Or a kind of virtue signal.
As if that’s something to be proud of. A badge of honor. Or a kind of virtue signal.
Are all opinions ultimately wrong?
Short answer: yes. At least in a technical sense.
Short answer: yes. At least in a technical sense.
July 31, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Are all opinions ultimately wrong?
Short answer: yes. At least in a technical sense.
Short answer: yes. At least in a technical sense.
Opinion is a funny thing when you think about it. So is judgment more generally.
July 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Opinion is a funny thing when you think about it. So is judgment more generally.
We often talk as if the hardest part of meaningful conversation is being open-minded. But what’s arguably harder — and more often overlooked — is doing so without slipping into hypocrisy or self-righteousness.
July 27, 2025 at 11:23 AM
We often talk as if the hardest part of meaningful conversation is being open-minded. But what’s arguably harder — and more often overlooked — is doing so without slipping into hypocrisy or self-righteousness.
What happens when you define your identity based on what you distrust and reject?
We see a lot of that today in the current political landscape.
We see a lot of that today in the current political landscape.
July 24, 2025 at 12:20 PM
What happens when you define your identity based on what you distrust and reject?
We see a lot of that today in the current political landscape.
We see a lot of that today in the current political landscape.
In other news, Trump declares the world is flat and the sun revolves around the earth.
E.P.A. Is Said to Draft a Plan to End Its Ability to Fight Climate Change
www.nytimes.com
July 23, 2025 at 11:41 PM
In other news, Trump declares the world is flat and the sun revolves around the earth.
We often think of extreme conformity and extreme cynicism as opposites. But are they really that different?
July 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
We often think of extreme conformity and extreme cynicism as opposites. But are they really that different?
As an experimental psychologist interested in social behavior and decision-making, I often find myself thinking about how new heuristics take shape — especially the cultural ones.
July 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
As an experimental psychologist interested in social behavior and decision-making, I often find myself thinking about how new heuristics take shape — especially the cultural ones.
Much of what drives human learning isn’t a desire for truth, but a desire for clarity, coherence, and control. A desire for *understanding.* It’s a subtle but important distinction.
July 16, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Much of what drives human learning isn’t a desire for truth, but a desire for clarity, coherence, and control. A desire for *understanding.* It’s a subtle but important distinction.
People who are okay with federal funding cuts to science seem to be under the impression that science should, at all times, remain neutral and apolitical.
But the truth is that science isn’t neutral. And it never really was.
But the truth is that science isn’t neutral. And it never really was.
July 13, 2025 at 1:12 PM
People who are okay with federal funding cuts to science seem to be under the impression that science should, at all times, remain neutral and apolitical.
But the truth is that science isn’t neutral. And it never really was.
But the truth is that science isn’t neutral. And it never really was.
Well, I guess that says something about what X has become.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, said that its Grok chatbot relied too heavily on input from users of his social media platform X after a code update, causing it to share a series of antisemitic comments on Tuesday.
Grok Chatbot Mirrored X Users’ ‘Extremist Views’ in Antisemitic Posts, xAI Says
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company said its Grok chatbot had also undergone a code update that caused it to share antisemitic messages this week.
trib.al
July 12, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Well, I guess that says something about what X has become.
It’s interesting — and honestly a little troubling — when people consider themselves science enthusiasts while supporting politicians and policies that actively undermine the conditions science needs to thrive.
July 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
It’s interesting — and honestly a little troubling — when people consider themselves science enthusiasts while supporting politicians and policies that actively undermine the conditions science needs to thrive.
Letting go of the need to be recognized is a unique kind of freedom.
But it’s not easy. Especially when the recognition you want is from people who’ve known you the longest.
But it’s not easy. Especially when the recognition you want is from people who’ve known you the longest.
July 12, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Letting go of the need to be recognized is a unique kind of freedom.
But it’s not easy. Especially when the recognition you want is from people who’ve known you the longest.
But it’s not easy. Especially when the recognition you want is from people who’ve known you the longest.
There’s a quiet vulnerability in letting yourself be seen in a new light.
There’s reward in that, of course — but also risk. I’m still learning how to recognize the reward. The risk, I know well.
There’s reward in that, of course — but also risk. I’m still learning how to recognize the reward. The risk, I know well.
July 9, 2025 at 9:50 PM
There’s a quiet vulnerability in letting yourself be seen in a new light.
There’s reward in that, of course — but also risk. I’m still learning how to recognize the reward. The risk, I know well.
There’s reward in that, of course — but also risk. I’m still learning how to recognize the reward. The risk, I know well.
For anyone who grew up in a family, community, or culture that cast them in a fixed role — the quiet one, the sensitive one, the observer — writing can become something more than a creative outlet. It can offer a way to become a more complete version of yourself.
July 7, 2025 at 9:15 PM
For anyone who grew up in a family, community, or culture that cast them in a fixed role — the quiet one, the sensitive one, the observer — writing can become something more than a creative outlet. It can offer a way to become a more complete version of yourself.
Today's day 16 of my mood tracking project. Each hour, I record what I'm doing & whether I've had meaningful social interactions. I also rate on a 1-5 scale feelings like assertiveness, regret, happiness, annoyance, & anxiety.
Here's my "average well-being" over the course of a typical day.
Here's my "average well-being" over the course of a typical day.
July 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Today's day 16 of my mood tracking project. Each hour, I record what I'm doing & whether I've had meaningful social interactions. I also rate on a 1-5 scale feelings like assertiveness, regret, happiness, annoyance, & anxiety.
Here's my "average well-being" over the course of a typical day.
Here's my "average well-being" over the course of a typical day.
One of the more underappreciated social dynamics is how families quietly assign roles: the shy one, the responsible one, the funny one, the intense one. Often these identities emerge in childhood and solidify before we’ve had the chance to fully form.
July 6, 2025 at 7:26 PM
One of the more underappreciated social dynamics is how families quietly assign roles: the shy one, the responsible one, the funny one, the intense one. Often these identities emerge in childhood and solidify before we’ve had the chance to fully form.