Gwern.net — Psychology & Cognitive Science

Anti-Spaced Repetition for Serendipity · Gwern.net

Gwern — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Proposal: the spacing curve could be used to review only flashcards one has forgotten, instead of almost forgotten. This inverse or opposite spaced repetition system would be useful for systematic efficient reviewing of indefinitely large sets of notes, citations, movies or other media to rewatch, etc., which could not feasibly be memorized, but which would generate serendipity or re-assesments if reviewed at some point in the distant future.

What Is The Morning Writing Effect? · Gwern.net

Gwern — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Many writers anecdotally report they write best first thing early in the morning, apparently even if they are not morning people. Do they, and why?

What Is The Collecting Mindset? · Gwern.net

Gwern — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The activity of manufactured collecting is puzzling; what explains the enormous resources spent on what is, by and large, neither lucrative, prestigious, nor entertaining? Is it just a misfire and quirk of human psychology poorly adapted to industrial society where ‘collectibles’ can be varied and marketed 24/7/365?

Ordinary Incompetence · Gwern.net

Gwern — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Incompetence is the norm; most people who engage in a task (even when incentivized for performance or engaging in it for countless hours) may still be making basic errors which could be remedied with coaching or deliberate practice.

Progress In Beauty · Gwern.net

Gwern — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 00:00:00 +0000

Physical beauty & attractiveness of the general population of men/women seems to have increased greatly in the past few centuries, judging by surviving art/photos, contemporary judgments, and objective criteria like missing teeth, likely due to economic/technological/medical/nutritional improvements, but less from cosmetic tricks. Beauty may, however, be in decline very recently as some of those trends reverse (eg. now too much food, not too little).

Dual n-Back FAQ · Gwern.net

Gwern — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A compendium of DNB, WM, IQ information up to 2015.

Genius Revisited Revisited · Gwern.net

Gwern — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 00:00:00 +0000

A book study of surveys of the high-IQ elementary school HCES concludes that high IQ is not predictive of accomplishment; I point out that the disappointing results are consistent with the subjects not being geniuses due to regression to the mean (because of extremely early IQ tests) & small sample size.

How Complex Are Individual Differences? · Gwern.net

Gwern — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Individual human brains are more predictable and similar than they are different, reflecting low Kolmogorov complexity and implying that beta uploading may be more feasible than guessed, with suggestions on optimizing archived information.

Are Sunk Costs Fallacies? · Gwern.net

Gwern — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Human and animal sunk costs often aren’t, and sunk cost bias may be useful on an individual level to encourage learning. Convincing examples of sunk cost bias typically operate on organizational levels and are probably driven by non-psychological causes like competition.

Spaced Repetition for Efficient Learning · Gwern.net

Gwern — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Efficient memorization using the spacing effect: literature review of widespread applicability, tips on use & what it’s good for.

The Explore-Exploit Dilemma in Media Consumption · Gwern.net

Gwern — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

How much should we rewatch our favorite movies (media) vs keep trying new movies? Most spend most viewing time on new movies, which is unlikely to be good. I suggest an explicit Bayesian model of imprecise ratings + enjoyment recovering over time for Thompson sampling over movie watch choices.

The Melancholy of Subculture Society · Gwern.net

Gwern — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Internet links small groups, helping dissolve big groups; good, bad? But a bit sad.

Dual n-Back Meta-Analysis · Gwern.net

Gwern — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Does DNB increase IQ? What factors affect the studies? Probably not: gains are driven by studies with weakest methodology like apathetic control groups.

Iodine and Adult IQ meta-analysis · Gwern.net

Gwern — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Iodine improves IQ in fetuses; adults as well? A meta-analysis of relevant studies says no.

The IQ Halo effect · Gwern.net

Gwern — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

On desirable correlates of intelligence

Conscientiousness & Online Education · Gwern.net

Gwern — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Technology-driven shift in demand for Conscientiousness, not intelligence

Culture Is Not About Esthetics · Gwern.net

Gwern — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Aesthetically & economically, maybe there is too much new art. Don’t take this too seriously.

Education is not about Learning · Gwern.net

Gwern — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Examples of low-hanging fruit suggesting the education system does not solely optimize for learning