Christoph Abels
@cabels18.bsky.social
Post-Doctoral Fellow @unipotsdam.bsky.social, visiting @arc-mpib.bsky.social | PhD @hertieschool.bsky.social | Democracy, Technology, Behavioral Public Policy | Website: https://christophabels.com
Reposted by Christoph Abels
🚨New preprint! 🚨
"Boosting metacognition in entangled human-AI interaction to navigate cognitive-behavioral drift"
arxiv.org/pdf/2602.01959
Happy to see this new work coming to the surface alongside @cabels18.bsky.social @lorenzspreen.bsky.social @lewan.bsky.social and @stefanherzog.bsky.social
🧵
"Boosting metacognition in entangled human-AI interaction to navigate cognitive-behavioral drift"
arxiv.org/pdf/2602.01959
Happy to see this new work coming to the surface alongside @cabels18.bsky.social @lorenzspreen.bsky.social @lewan.bsky.social and @stefanherzog.bsky.social
🧵
February 9, 2026 at 11:27 AM
🚨New preprint! 🚨
"Boosting metacognition in entangled human-AI interaction to navigate cognitive-behavioral drift"
arxiv.org/pdf/2602.01959
Happy to see this new work coming to the surface alongside @cabels18.bsky.social @lorenzspreen.bsky.social @lewan.bsky.social and @stefanherzog.bsky.social
🧵
"Boosting metacognition in entangled human-AI interaction to navigate cognitive-behavioral drift"
arxiv.org/pdf/2602.01959
Happy to see this new work coming to the surface alongside @cabels18.bsky.social @lorenzspreen.bsky.social @lewan.bsky.social and @stefanherzog.bsky.social
🧵
Reposted by Christoph Abels
❄️🎣 What ice-fishing competitions reveal about human decision-making. New paper in @science.org by researchers from @mpib-berlin.bsky.social, @scioi.bsky.social, and the University of Eastern Finland.
👉 Read more: www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/newsroom/new...
📄 Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
👉 Read more: www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/newsroom/new...
📄 Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
January 29, 2026 at 7:32 PM
❄️🎣 What ice-fishing competitions reveal about human decision-making. New paper in @science.org by researchers from @mpib-berlin.bsky.social, @scioi.bsky.social, and the University of Eastern Finland.
👉 Read more: www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/newsroom/new...
📄 Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
👉 Read more: www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/newsroom/new...
📄 Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Die US-Demokratie steht an einem Kipppunkt: Der tödliche Schusswaffeneinsatz gegen Demonstranten ist kein Einzelfall mehr. Wenn die Trump-Regierung damit durchkommt, wird die Autokratisierung der USA kaum noch aufzuhalten sein.
www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amer...
www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amer...
Entsetzen nach erneuten tödlichen Schüssen in Minneapolis
Erneut ist in Minneapolis ein Mensch bei einem Einsatz gegen mutmaßlich illegale Einwanderer getötet worden. Die Wut im Bundesstaat ist groß. Die Eltern des Mannes erheben schwere Vorwürfe, die Demokr...
www.tagesschau.de
January 25, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Die US-Demokratie steht an einem Kipppunkt: Der tödliche Schusswaffeneinsatz gegen Demonstranten ist kein Einzelfall mehr. Wenn die Trump-Regierung damit durchkommt, wird die Autokratisierung der USA kaum noch aufzuhalten sein.
www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amer...
www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amer...
Reposted by Christoph Abels
The shooting of Alex Pretti was (US) state sanctioned murder and has been followed up by attempts to destroy evidence and stop local police (and even the FBI) from investigating.
Minnesota police are trying to counter the lies and illegality.
Terrifying
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
Minnesota police are trying to counter the lies and illegality.
Terrifying
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
open.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:46 AM
The shooting of Alex Pretti was (US) state sanctioned murder and has been followed up by attempts to destroy evidence and stop local police (and even the FBI) from investigating.
Minnesota police are trying to counter the lies and illegality.
Terrifying
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
Minnesota police are trying to counter the lies and illegality.
Terrifying
open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...
Reposted by Christoph Abels
Christmas came early this year! Very happy to see our paper out in Science Advances. Led by @lfoswaldo.bsky.social, we ran a unique collective field-experiment on Reddit, to better understand who is participating in online debates and why.
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
And more below 👇
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
And more below 👇
December 10, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Christmas came early this year! Very happy to see our paper out in Science Advances. Led by @lfoswaldo.bsky.social, we ran a unique collective field-experiment on Reddit, to better understand who is participating in online debates and why.
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
And more below 👇
Paper: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
And more below 👇
Reposted by Christoph Abels
It's out!!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Big thank you to my coauthors @small-schulz.bsky.social and @lorenzspreen.bsky.social, and to all participants who discussed 20 political issues over 4 weeks in 6 subreddit, 3 experimental conditions and let us observe.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Big thank you to my coauthors @small-schulz.bsky.social and @lorenzspreen.bsky.social, and to all participants who discussed 20 political issues over 4 weeks in 6 subreddit, 3 experimental conditions and let us observe.
December 11, 2025 at 10:34 AM
It's out!!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Big thank you to my coauthors @small-schulz.bsky.social and @lorenzspreen.bsky.social, and to all participants who discussed 20 political issues over 4 weeks in 6 subreddit, 3 experimental conditions and let us observe.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Big thank you to my coauthors @small-schulz.bsky.social and @lorenzspreen.bsky.social, and to all participants who discussed 20 political issues over 4 weeks in 6 subreddit, 3 experimental conditions and let us observe.
Reposted by Christoph Abels
🔬 How has psychology contributed to achieving the 🇺🇳 SDGs?
Our new preprint maps 230,000 psychology articles to the SDGs using our text2sdg R package (www.text2sdg.io) and analyzes historical trends in topics, national and gendered contributions, and citation patterns.
🔗 arxiv.org/abs/2512.08628
Our new preprint maps 230,000 psychology articles to the SDGs using our text2sdg R package (www.text2sdg.io) and analyzes historical trends in topics, national and gendered contributions, and citation patterns.
🔗 arxiv.org/abs/2512.08628
December 10, 2025 at 8:34 AM
🔬 How has psychology contributed to achieving the 🇺🇳 SDGs?
Our new preprint maps 230,000 psychology articles to the SDGs using our text2sdg R package (www.text2sdg.io) and analyzes historical trends in topics, national and gendered contributions, and citation patterns.
🔗 arxiv.org/abs/2512.08628
Our new preprint maps 230,000 psychology articles to the SDGs using our text2sdg R package (www.text2sdg.io) and analyzes historical trends in topics, national and gendered contributions, and citation patterns.
🔗 arxiv.org/abs/2512.08628
Reposted by Christoph Abels
We have a new preprint: osf.io/preprints/so...
What have we learned about social media - the constantly moving target of empirical research - over the past decade?
What have we learned about social media - the constantly moving target of empirical research - over the past decade?
October 30, 2025 at 10:53 AM
We have a new preprint: osf.io/preprints/so...
What have we learned about social media - the constantly moving target of empirical research - over the past decade?
What have we learned about social media - the constantly moving target of empirical research - over the past decade?
Reposted by Christoph Abels
⚠️New paper fothcoming in POQ! ⚠️
With @marcjacob.bsky.social and @seanjwestwood.bsky.social, we worried about norm-violating local politicians rising to higher office. We tested when voters defect from such politicians in local, state and federal races.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵...
With @marcjacob.bsky.social and @seanjwestwood.bsky.social, we worried about norm-violating local politicians rising to higher office. We tested when voters defect from such politicians in local, state and federal races.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵...
October 25, 2025 at 9:32 AM
⚠️New paper fothcoming in POQ! ⚠️
With @marcjacob.bsky.social and @seanjwestwood.bsky.social, we worried about norm-violating local politicians rising to higher office. We tested when voters defect from such politicians in local, state and federal races.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵...
With @marcjacob.bsky.social and @seanjwestwood.bsky.social, we worried about norm-violating local politicians rising to higher office. We tested when voters defect from such politicians in local, state and federal races.
osf.io/preprints/ps...
🧵...
Reposted by Christoph Abels
This month's Facts in my climate action newsletter focuses on the excellent study by @cabels18.bsky.social, @kiiahuttunen.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig & @lewan.bsky.social. I really appreciated their excellent analysis, please check out my summary here: wecanfixit.substack.com/i/174419696/...
Democracy is worth fighting for. Here's how
Facts: Fight democratic backsliding ⚖️| Feelings: Unthinkable Resource Hub🫶| Action: Protect democracy🗳️
wecanfixit.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This month's Facts in my climate action newsletter focuses on the excellent study by @cabels18.bsky.social, @kiiahuttunen.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig & @lewan.bsky.social. I really appreciated their excellent analysis, please check out my summary here: wecanfixit.substack.com/i/174419696/...
Reposted by Christoph Abels
My new @science.org editorial on the role of scientists in defending democracy is out today. As authoritarianism takes hold in the US, we must fight for the democratic principles that enable a free society and scientists have a key role. I hope you'll join us.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Scientists’ role in defending democracy
The United States’ democratic leadership, commitment to freedom of expression, and investment in the pursuit of knowledge have long enabled its preeminence in science and technology. Yet today we are ...
www.science.org
August 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
My new @science.org editorial on the role of scientists in defending democracy is out today. As authoritarianism takes hold in the US, we must fight for the democratic principles that enable a free society and scientists have a key role. I hope you'll join us.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🔍 “I just want a second opinion.”
More people are turning to ChatGPT for health advice. Many would use it for self-diagnosis.
But here's the problem: These tools don’t just answer, they align. And that’s where things get risky.
🧵 on GenAI, health, and confirmation bias
More people are turning to ChatGPT for health advice. Many would use it for self-diagnosis.
But here's the problem: These tools don’t just answer, they align. And that’s where things get risky.
🧵 on GenAI, health, and confirmation bias
New research out!🚨
In our new paper, we discuss how generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can mediate confirmation bias in health information seeking.
As people turn to these tools for health-related queries, new risks emerge.
🧵👇
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
In our new paper, we discuss how generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can mediate confirmation bias in health information seeking.
As people turn to these tools for health-related queries, new risks emerge.
🧵👇
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
NYAS Publications
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications, such as ChatGPT, are transforming how individuals access health information, offering conversational and highly personalized interactions. Whi...
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 28, 2025 at 10:38 AM
🔍 “I just want a second opinion.”
More people are turning to ChatGPT for health advice. Many would use it for self-diagnosis.
But here's the problem: These tools don’t just answer, they align. And that’s where things get risky.
🧵 on GenAI, health, and confirmation bias
More people are turning to ChatGPT for health advice. Many would use it for self-diagnosis.
But here's the problem: These tools don’t just answer, they align. And that’s where things get risky.
🧵 on GenAI, health, and confirmation bias
Reposted by Christoph Abels
New research out!🚨
In our new paper, we discuss how generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can mediate confirmation bias in health information seeking.
As people turn to these tools for health-related queries, new risks emerge.
🧵👇
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
In our new paper, we discuss how generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can mediate confirmation bias in health information seeking.
As people turn to these tools for health-related queries, new risks emerge.
🧵👇
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
NYAS Publications
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications, such as ChatGPT, are transforming how individuals access health information, offering conversational and highly personalized interactions. Whi...
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 28, 2025 at 10:15 AM
New research out!🚨
In our new paper, we discuss how generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can mediate confirmation bias in health information seeking.
As people turn to these tools for health-related queries, new risks emerge.
🧵👇
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
In our new paper, we discuss how generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can mediate confirmation bias in health information seeking.
As people turn to these tools for health-related queries, new risks emerge.
🧵👇
nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Generative AI (GenAI) can do more than just answer questions - it can tailor its responses based on users’ preferences, habits, and even emotional tone.
We call this capability hypercustomization - explored in our new paper in Behavioral Science & Policy. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We call this capability hypercustomization - explored in our new paper in Behavioral Science & Policy. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The governance & behavioral challenges of generative artificial intelligence’s hypercustomization capabilities - Christoph M. Abels, Ezequiel Lopez-Lopez, Jason W. Burton, Dawn L. Holford, Levin Brink...
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is changing human–machine interactions and the broader information ecosystem. Much as social media algorithms persona...
journals.sagepub.com
July 7, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Generative AI (GenAI) can do more than just answer questions - it can tailor its responses based on users’ preferences, habits, and even emotional tone.
We call this capability hypercustomization - explored in our new paper in Behavioral Science & Policy. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We call this capability hypercustomization - explored in our new paper in Behavioral Science & Policy. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Christoph Abels
We are hiring, @arc-mpib.bsky.social a postdoc for a project to investigate why citizens feel alienated from liberal democracy and how a shared sense of reality can be restored.
Work with @lfoswaldo.bsky.social @anaskozyreva.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig and me:
www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2084802/2025...
Work with @lfoswaldo.bsky.social @anaskozyreva.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig and me:
www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2084802/2025...
Postdoctoral Position | Center for Adaptive Rationality
www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de
June 19, 2025 at 12:18 PM
We are hiring, @arc-mpib.bsky.social a postdoc for a project to investigate why citizens feel alienated from liberal democracy and how a shared sense of reality can be restored.
Work with @lfoswaldo.bsky.social @anaskozyreva.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig and me:
www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2084802/2025...
Work with @lfoswaldo.bsky.social @anaskozyreva.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig and me:
www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/2084802/2025...
Reposted by Christoph Abels
#Demokratie retten – Forschende verschiedenster Disziplinen unter Leitung des Potsdamer Kognitionswissenschaftlers Prof. @lewan.bsky.social haben ein "Anti-Autocracy Handbook" veröffentlicht, in dem sie auf das weltweite Wiederaufleben der Autokratie reagieren: www.uni-potsdam.de/de/medieninf...
June 19, 2025 at 11:36 AM
#Demokratie retten – Forschende verschiedenster Disziplinen unter Leitung des Potsdamer Kognitionswissenschaftlers Prof. @lewan.bsky.social haben ein "Anti-Autocracy Handbook" veröffentlicht, in dem sie auf das weltweite Wiederaufleben der Autokratie reagieren: www.uni-potsdam.de/de/medieninf...
Reposted by Christoph Abels
I am privileged to announce the publication of the Anti-Autocracy Handbook: sks.to/autocracy 1/12
The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: A Scholars' Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding
The Anti-Autocracy Handbook is a call to action, resilience, and collective defence of democracy, truth, and academic freedom in the face of mounting authoritarianism. It tries to provide guidance to ...
sks.to
June 19, 2025 at 9:44 AM
I am privileged to announce the publication of the Anti-Autocracy Handbook: sks.to/autocracy 1/12
Reposted by Christoph Abels
Nudging has shaped behavioral policy for years—but what are its downsides? In our latest episode, 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐠 makes the case for shifting from nudging to 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠—an alternative behavioral science approach that fosters people’s agency, self-control, and decision-making skills. tinyurl.com/3yvfwxc8
May 20, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Nudging has shaped behavioral policy for years—but what are its downsides? In our latest episode, 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐠 makes the case for shifting from nudging to 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠—an alternative behavioral science approach that fosters people’s agency, self-control, and decision-making skills. tinyurl.com/3yvfwxc8
Reposted by Christoph Abels
Honest people don’t lie. Or do they? Liars aren’t honest. Or are they?
One puzzling conundrum in contemporary politics is that politicians who seem to be estranged from facts and evidence are nonetheless considered honest by their followers.
1/n
One puzzling conundrum in contemporary politics is that politicians who seem to be estranged from facts and evidence are nonetheless considered honest by their followers.
1/n
April 10, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Honest people don’t lie. Or do they? Liars aren’t honest. Or are they?
One puzzling conundrum in contemporary politics is that politicians who seem to be estranged from facts and evidence are nonetheless considered honest by their followers.
1/n
One puzzling conundrum in contemporary politics is that politicians who seem to be estranged from facts and evidence are nonetheless considered honest by their followers.
1/n
Reposted by Christoph Abels
Unbemerkt wachsende Probleme, dann der abrupte Kollaps: Der Psychologe Ralph Hertwig beschreibt den Zerfall von Demokratien wissenschaftlich. Das hilft bei ihrer Rettung.
Demokratie zu Autokratie: Die Kernschmelze der Demokratie
Unbemerkt wachsende Probleme, dann der abrupte Kollaps: Der Psychologe Ralph Hertwig beschreibt den Zerfall von Demokratien wissenschaftlich. Das hilft bei ihrer Rettung.
www.zeit.de
April 3, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Unbemerkt wachsende Probleme, dann der abrupte Kollaps: Der Psychologe Ralph Hertwig beschreibt den Zerfall von Demokratien wissenschaftlich. Das hilft bei ihrer Rettung.
Very comprehensive and thought-provoking interview about our paper on democratic backsliding. Definitely worth reading (in German)
Können Demokratien wie Kernkraftwerke havarieren? Ja, sagt der Psychologe Ralph Hertwig: indem wir Normverletzungen tolerieren und normalisieren, die vor allem von politischen Eliten ausgehen.
Erosion politischer Systeme : Die Kernschmelze der Demokratie
Kann eine Demokratie wie ein Atomreaktor havarieren? Psychologen haben ein Modell dafür entwickelt. Ein Interview mit Ralph Hertwig
www.spektrum.de
March 27, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Very comprehensive and thought-provoking interview about our paper on democratic backsliding. Definitely worth reading (in German)
I had the pleasure of writing for the BPP Blog, exploring how behavioral science can step up where social media fails to tackle misinformation.
Key takeaway: As platforms step back from accountability, a vigilant and resilient public is the strongest shield against misinformation.
Key takeaway: As platforms step back from accountability, a vigilant and resilient public is the strongest shield against misinformation.
Corporate needs you to handle misinformation yourself – behavioural science can help
Misinformation thrives in an environment where platform providers shape the rules yet evade responsibility. As companies like Meta and X dismantle fact-checking and relax content moderation, users are left to…
Misinformation thrives in an environment where platform providers shape the rules yet evade responsibility. As companies like Meta and X dismantle fact-checking and relax content moderation, users are left to…
Corporate needs you to handle misinformation yourself – behavioural science can help
Misinformation thrives in an environment where platform providers shape the rules yet evade responsibility. As companies like Meta and X dismantle fact-checking and relax content moderation, users are left to navigate a fragmented and often deceptive digital landscape. But behavioural science offers solutions. In this blog, Christoph M. Abels walks us through the strategies that help individuals critically assess information, resist manipulation, and adapt to a world where platforms no longer seriously attempt to verify content for accuracy.
bppblog.com
February 14, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I had the pleasure of writing for the BPP Blog, exploring how behavioral science can step up where social media fails to tackle misinformation.
Key takeaway: As platforms step back from accountability, a vigilant and resilient public is the strongest shield against misinformation.
Key takeaway: As platforms step back from accountability, a vigilant and resilient public is the strongest shield against misinformation.
Reposted by Christoph Abels
Science is under a wide-ranging attack in the U.S. From arbitrary and catastrophic funding cuts to censorship based on keywords, scholarship is no longer free from government interference. How can scientists respond? 1/n
February 12, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Science is under a wide-ranging attack in the U.S. From arbitrary and catastrophic funding cuts to censorship based on keywords, scholarship is no longer free from government interference. How can scientists respond? 1/n
Reposted by Christoph Abels
A large number of members of the Psychology chapter of the German National Academy of Sciences (The Leopoldina) have signed an expression of concern about recenr developments in the U.S. relating to science: docs.google.com/document/u/1... 1/n
February 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A large number of members of the Psychology chapter of the German National Academy of Sciences (The Leopoldina) have signed an expression of concern about recenr developments in the U.S. relating to science: docs.google.com/document/u/1... 1/n
Reposted by Christoph Abels
As the Trump administration and Elon Musk work to dismantle USAID, the government’s lead agency for delivering humanitarian aid for generations, right-wing influencers have flooded the internet with falsehoods about its work, promoting unfounded claims and conspiratorial thinking. nyti.ms/4htWHN0
February 8, 2025 at 12:40 AM
As the Trump administration and Elon Musk work to dismantle USAID, the government’s lead agency for delivering humanitarian aid for generations, right-wing influencers have flooded the internet with falsehoods about its work, promoting unfounded claims and conspiratorial thinking. nyti.ms/4htWHN0