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
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
Reposted by Christoph Abels
How do autocrats stay in power?
Our new research dives into the strategies of political control—repression, co-optation, and indoctrination—used across 229 autocracies from 1946 to 2010. What we found will change the way you think about authoritarian resilience. 🧵👇
Our new research dives into the strategies of political control—repression, co-optation, and indoctrination—used across 229 autocracies from 1946 to 2010. What we found will change the way you think about authoritarian resilience. 🧵👇
January 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
How do autocrats stay in power?
Our new research dives into the strategies of political control—repression, co-optation, and indoctrination—used across 229 autocracies from 1946 to 2010. What we found will change the way you think about authoritarian resilience. 🧵👇
Our new research dives into the strategies of political control—repression, co-optation, and indoctrination—used across 229 autocracies from 1946 to 2010. What we found will change the way you think about authoritarian resilience. 🧵👇
Reposted by Christoph Abels
🌟🧠💪📝
#BOOSTING: Empowering citizens with behavioral science
New, freely available paper in Annual Review of Psychology.
PDF: tinyurl.com/boosting2025
For more: scienceofboosting.org
@arc-mpib.bsky.social @mpib-berlin.bsky.social
@annualreviews.bsky.social
#policy #behavioralscience
1/ 🧵👇
#BOOSTING: Empowering citizens with behavioral science
New, freely available paper in Annual Review of Psychology.
PDF: tinyurl.com/boosting2025
For more: scienceofboosting.org
@arc-mpib.bsky.social @mpib-berlin.bsky.social
@annualreviews.bsky.social
#policy #behavioralscience
1/ 🧵👇
January 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
🌟🧠💪📝
#BOOSTING: Empowering citizens with behavioral science
New, freely available paper in Annual Review of Psychology.
PDF: tinyurl.com/boosting2025
For more: scienceofboosting.org
@arc-mpib.bsky.social @mpib-berlin.bsky.social
@annualreviews.bsky.social
#policy #behavioralscience
1/ 🧵👇
#BOOSTING: Empowering citizens with behavioral science
New, freely available paper in Annual Review of Psychology.
PDF: tinyurl.com/boosting2025
For more: scienceofboosting.org
@arc-mpib.bsky.social @mpib-berlin.bsky.social
@annualreviews.bsky.social
#policy #behavioralscience
1/ 🧵👇
Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny, Lesson 1: Do not obey in advance.
Breaking News: Meta said it would end its fact-checking program and rely instead on Facebook and Instagram users to add notes or corrections to posts. The move is likely to please the incoming Trump administration and its conservative allies.
Meta Reveals Plan to Alter Fact-Checking Program
The move will end a third-party fact-checking system and rely on users to add notes or corrections to posts. It is likely to please the incoming Trump administration and its conservative allies.
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny, Lesson 1: Do not obey in advance.
On this Jan. 6, it’s a fitting moment to reflect on the threats to democracy posed by norm violations from political elites - and by a public that either supports or turns a blind eye to them.
@lewan.bsky.social, @kiiahuttunen.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig, and I discuss this in a recent publication.
@lewan.bsky.social, @kiiahuttunen.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig, and I discuss this in a recent publication.
Dodging the autocratic bullet: enlisting behavioural science to arrest democratic backsliding | Behavioural Public Policy | Cambridge Core
Dodging the autocratic bullet: enlisting behavioural science to arrest democratic backsliding
www.cambridge.org
January 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
On this Jan. 6, it’s a fitting moment to reflect on the threats to democracy posed by norm violations from political elites - and by a public that either supports or turns a blind eye to them.
@lewan.bsky.social, @kiiahuttunen.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig, and I discuss this in a recent publication.
@lewan.bsky.social, @kiiahuttunen.bsky.social, Ralph Hertwig, and I discuss this in a recent publication.