Jay Van Bavel, PhD
jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Jay Van Bavel, PhD
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social
Professor of Psychology at NYU (jayvanbavel.com) | Author of The Power of Us Book (powerofus.online) | Director of NYU Center for Conflict & Cooperation | trying to write a new book about collective decisions
Behold the power of social norms.

People will quickly shape their actions to match those around them...often to the point of absurdity.
November 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Chimpanzees use 22 types of tools in the wild but they are capable of doomscrolling like the rest of us.

This video of Sugriva using Instagram is shocking because it's so similar to how humans use social media--engaging with content that triggers our emotions, like images of our friends and foes.
November 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM