Nico
@nicolasrestrepo.bsky.social
Post-Doc at UC Davis working on the cultural evolution of collective rituals, bad at lists, a third thing.
Some of the mud that got to sit up and look around.
https://nicolasrestrep.github.io/restrepo_website/
Some of the mud that got to sit up and look around.
https://nicolasrestrep.github.io/restrepo_website/
First paper of the PD out!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
We argue that we can think about the start of a new collective ritual as a Stag Hunt Game. But a frequency-independent payoff is needed to get it going. In our case, perceived miracles is such a mechanism!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
We argue that we can think about the start of a new collective ritual as a Stag Hunt Game. But a frequency-independent payoff is needed to get it going. In our case, perceived miracles is such a mechanism!
The emergence of a new pilgrimage as an assurance game | Royal Society Open Science
Pilgrimage has received long-standing scholarly attention, but most theoretical work
focuses on how these rituals can be maintained, rather than the bigger puzzle of how
they emerge. Using empirical i...
royalsocietypublishing.org
September 9, 2025 at 11:30 PM
First paper of the PD out!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
We argue that we can think about the start of a new collective ritual as a Stag Hunt Game. But a frequency-independent payoff is needed to get it going. In our case, perceived miracles is such a mechanism!
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
We argue that we can think about the start of a new collective ritual as a Stag Hunt Game. But a frequency-independent payoff is needed to get it going. In our case, perceived miracles is such a mechanism!
This is an astounding contribution to our understanding of attitudinal formation, change, and stability. Turgut wrote it as a 3rd year grad student. You should hire him before someone else does.
a new working paper: osf.io/vsr5b
I propose a three-stage model of cohortization where dynamics of cohort learning and political sorting serve as complementary engines of aggregate political change.
I apply this to the case of the killing of George Floyd & the BLM.
it's also my job market paper!
I propose a three-stage model of cohortization where dynamics of cohort learning and political sorting serve as complementary engines of aggregate political change.
I apply this to the case of the killing of George Floyd & the BLM.
it's also my job market paper!
September 1, 2025 at 7:01 PM
This is an astounding contribution to our understanding of attitudinal formation, change, and stability. Turgut wrote it as a 3rd year grad student. You should hire him before someone else does.
Reposted by Nico
I am a huge fan of "what is this kind of argument and how can you do it right?" papers. I collect them and I've tried to write a couple, and think they can be tremendously useful especially for teaching. A new, useful addition to this set just arrived from @sociologicalsci.bsky.social:
How to Make a Functionalist Argument
Article: How to Make a Functionalist Argument | Sociological Science | Posted August 14, 2025
sociologicalscience.com
August 20, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I am a huge fan of "what is this kind of argument and how can you do it right?" papers. I collect them and I've tried to write a couple, and think they can be tremendously useful especially for teaching. A new, useful addition to this set just arrived from @sociologicalsci.bsky.social:
Worth saying that most of my papers have been collaborations with folks from my grad program. Of course, I am extraordinarily lucky to have been surrounded by them. But this ability to foster collaboration is, above all else, the mark of a successful grad program.
NEW Andrés Castro Araújo, Nicolás Restrepo Ochoa, "How to Make a Functionalist Argument." sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12...
August 16, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Worth saying that most of my papers have been collaborations with folks from my grad program. Of course, I am extraordinarily lucky to have been surrounded by them. But this ability to foster collaboration is, above all else, the mark of a successful grad program.
Reposted by Nico
"We argue that the resulting inability to talk plainly about functions is a major hindrance for theory building in the discipline."
This month in our journal, @sociologicalsci.bsky.social
This month in our journal, @sociologicalsci.bsky.social
NEW Andrés Castro Araújo, Nicolás Restrepo Ochoa, "How to Make a Functionalist Argument." sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12...
August 15, 2025 at 10:05 PM
"We argue that the resulting inability to talk plainly about functions is a major hindrance for theory building in the discipline."
This month in our journal, @sociologicalsci.bsky.social
This month in our journal, @sociologicalsci.bsky.social
Our paper on functionalist explanations with @acastroaraujo.bsky.social is out!
I am immensely proud & grateful to have been part of this project! It has really changed how I think about the explanations I make and the evidence necessary to back them up!
sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12...
I am immensely proud & grateful to have been part of this project! It has really changed how I think about the explanations I make and the evidence necessary to back them up!
sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12...
August 14, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Our paper on functionalist explanations with @acastroaraujo.bsky.social is out!
I am immensely proud & grateful to have been part of this project! It has really changed how I think about the explanations I make and the evidence necessary to back them up!
sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12...
I am immensely proud & grateful to have been part of this project! It has really changed how I think about the explanations I make and the evidence necessary to back them up!
sociologicalscience.com/articles-v12...
Reposted by Nico
no one does recession music like ke$ha
May 31, 2025 at 4:28 AM
no one does recession music like ke$ha
Our paper on the resilience of animal networks is out! Animals have culture: dolphins use sponges to hunt, elephants swat flies with branches.
What happens to their capacity to keep and pass on knowledge when members are lost to poaching?
That's the question we try to answer!
shorturl.at/GvG0d
What happens to their capacity to keep and pass on knowledge when members are lost to poaching?
That's the question we try to answer!
shorturl.at/GvG0d
Network indicators of cultural resilience to anthropogenic removals in animal societies | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Social learning, information transmission and culture play vital roles in the lives
of social animals, influencing their survival, reproduction and ability to adapt to
changing environments. However, ...
shorturl.at
May 1, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Our paper on the resilience of animal networks is out! Animals have culture: dolphins use sponges to hunt, elephants swat flies with branches.
What happens to their capacity to keep and pass on knowledge when members are lost to poaching?
That's the question we try to answer!
shorturl.at/GvG0d
What happens to their capacity to keep and pass on knowledge when members are lost to poaching?
That's the question we try to answer!
shorturl.at/GvG0d
Hey friends, I’m job hunting!
Looking for roles in data science or research—if you hear of anything, I’d love it if you send it my way.
If you’re looking for someone who knows Python, R, Stan, has collected and worked with all kinds of data, and is always excited to learn more—let’s talk! 😊
Looking for roles in data science or research—if you hear of anything, I’d love it if you send it my way.
If you’re looking for someone who knows Python, R, Stan, has collected and worked with all kinds of data, and is always excited to learn more—let’s talk! 😊
April 22, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Hey friends, I’m job hunting!
Looking for roles in data science or research—if you hear of anything, I’d love it if you send it my way.
If you’re looking for someone who knows Python, R, Stan, has collected and worked with all kinds of data, and is always excited to learn more—let’s talk! 😊
Looking for roles in data science or research—if you hear of anything, I’d love it if you send it my way.
If you’re looking for someone who knows Python, R, Stan, has collected and worked with all kinds of data, and is always excited to learn more—let’s talk! 😊
I know there's a lot going on right now, but my housemate's beloved Dog Choco is fighting for his life and they really need all support they can get.
If you can spare a few dollars, it would mean the world:
www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-...
If you can spare a few dollars, it would mean the world:
www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-...
Donate to Help Save Chocolate's life, organized by Andrea Hernandez
Hi, my name is Andrea, and this is my best friend, Chocolate. Chocolate isn’t just a pet—h… Andrea Hernandez needs your support for Help Save Chocolate's life
www.gofundme.com
April 2, 2025 at 12:40 AM
I know there's a lot going on right now, but my housemate's beloved Dog Choco is fighting for his life and they really need all support they can get.
If you can spare a few dollars, it would mean the world:
www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-...
If you can spare a few dollars, it would mean the world:
www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-...
Reposted by Nico
One final time: I am on the post-doc market! I have primary interests in pol. ID motivational explanations for misinfo and hostility towards DEI.
I have a lot of work in closing stages, and a lot of future ideas for great work that would be a strong addition to a lab.
Please share far and wide!
I have a lot of work in closing stages, and a lot of future ideas for great work that would be a strong addition to a lab.
Please share far and wide!
February 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
One final time: I am on the post-doc market! I have primary interests in pol. ID motivational explanations for misinfo and hostility towards DEI.
I have a lot of work in closing stages, and a lot of future ideas for great work that would be a strong addition to a lab.
Please share far and wide!
I have a lot of work in closing stages, and a lot of future ideas for great work that would be a strong addition to a lab.
Please share far and wide!
And doing thankless, boring, absolutely essential stuff
February 14, 2025 at 4:38 AM
And doing thankless, boring, absolutely essential stuff
Reposted by Nico
Change over time is often depicted as a trendline. But what does shape a trendline? Which forces? Our new paper presents a method allowing to “decompose” trendlines into constituent forces. Also, we tackle an old puzzle: Does culture change “one funeral at a time”? 🧵(1/8) doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
February 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Change over time is often depicted as a trendline. But what does shape a trendline? Which forces? Our new paper presents a method allowing to “decompose” trendlines into constituent forces. Also, we tackle an old puzzle: Does culture change “one funeral at a time”? 🧵(1/8) doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Reposted by Nico
My first PhD project is out there. Thank you to my advisor @psmaldino.bsky.social and to mentor, co-author and friend @babeheim.bsky.social for encouraging and helping build this exciting and insightful collaboration. Onwards!
The Development of Risk Attitudes and their Cultural Transmission
New preprint w/ Alejandro Pérez Velilla & @babeheim.bsky.social. This is one of the best modeling papers I have ever been involved in, tackling developmental, cultural, and class differences in risk attitudes.
osf.io/preprints/so...
New preprint w/ Alejandro Pérez Velilla & @babeheim.bsky.social. This is one of the best modeling papers I have ever been involved in, tackling developmental, cultural, and class differences in risk attitudes.
osf.io/preprints/so...
January 29, 2025 at 3:07 AM
My first PhD project is out there. Thank you to my advisor @psmaldino.bsky.social and to mentor, co-author and friend @babeheim.bsky.social for encouraging and helping build this exciting and insightful collaboration. Onwards!
My favorite thing on the internet!
youtu.be/jnyyuxPBPeg?... blown away that this was 13 years ago but as the year comes to a close and rousing anthems are needed here is one of my favorite performances of @themountaingoats.bsky.social's "This Year", with guest vocals from Craig Finn. I was in the audience at this show, it was great.
mountain goats (with craig finn) - this year
YouTube video by andrewsullivan4
youtu.be
December 30, 2024 at 10:29 PM
My favorite thing on the internet!
Paper with @tkeskinturk.bsky.social out! Culture is often described as a landscape. We build these landscapes and examine movements across them. People move to popular positions, but this implies different overall patterns based on the ruggedness of the terrain
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
December 27, 2024 at 6:16 PM
Paper with @tkeskinturk.bsky.social out! Culture is often described as a landscape. We build these landscapes and examine movements across them. People move to popular positions, but this implies different overall patterns based on the ruggedness of the terrain
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Lazio’s kit so unlicensed might as well be called Roma BlueSky and field Castolo
December 8, 2024 at 9:01 PM
Lazio’s kit so unlicensed might as well be called Roma BlueSky and field Castolo
Ah no, Marino y Asprilla metiéndoles gol. Asi se debe sentir la heroina.
November 30, 2024 at 3:03 AM
Ah no, Marino y Asprilla metiéndoles gol. Asi se debe sentir la heroina.
Forgive me Father, for I have sinned
November 27, 2024 at 1:02 AM
Forgive me Father, for I have sinned
Reposted by Nico
Watching the big fight on tv
November 16, 2024 at 6:03 AM
Watching the big fight on tv
A lot of people coming over so I will share the only thing I know to be true in this world:
If you want to watch soccer in the US, there’s no better bang for your buck that paramount’s coverage of Serie A.
If you want to watch soccer in the US, there’s no better bang for your buck that paramount’s coverage of Serie A.
November 10, 2024 at 9:06 PM
A lot of people coming over so I will share the only thing I know to be true in this world:
If you want to watch soccer in the US, there’s no better bang for your buck that paramount’s coverage of Serie A.
If you want to watch soccer in the US, there’s no better bang for your buck that paramount’s coverage of Serie A.
A little game I call: Is this a predatory journal email or a Zen Koan?
The world can be a messed up place, but emails from predatory journals are such an immense source of joy.
October 28, 2024 at 5:35 PM
A little game I call: Is this a predatory journal email or a Zen Koan?