Jonathan Berman

Becoming increasingly convinced that happiness peaks around age two.

Life satisfaction mostly declines with age. Previous findings (esp. the famous U-shaped age-SWB trajectory) were artifacts of misspecified models. doi.org/10.1093/esr/...

Looks like my favorite paper on the age trajectory of happiness is finally out!!! So happy for the authors. Go check it out, it’s great.

A "nationally represented sample" is often nationally represented on a small number of dimensions, and unrepresentative on a great many dimensions. It's the data equivalent of a film that is "based on a true story."

Weather matters more when visiting nature, so it’s less clear that the benefits outweigh the costs.

Traveling to cities off season (i.e., in bad weather) is supremely underrated. Easy access to restaurants and culture, little overcrowding/fewer tourists, and cheaper transportation fares. So many benefits.

There’s a big difference between results that are surprising and results that are mundane. So much rests on latter. Not that much rests on the former.

Accurate

I’m also moving away from Twitter, but I don’t think this is how the new block feature works. I have blocked Musk and I don’t see his posts. He, however can see mine.

All newspapers should be required to replace the term “non binding pledge” with “pinky swear”.

1/n

Trying out Blue Sky

Would be fantastic if some former guests could retweet/whatever you call it here, so I'm not starting from scratch again

@matthiasnau.bsky.social @jzberman.bsky.social @eikofried.bsky.social @katejj.bsky.social @erikwengstrom.bsky.social @jacobbellmund.bsky.social

I used to worry about my low confidence in my research until it struck me that I am supposed to have low confidence--that's why I am doing the research. Now I worry when I don't have that feeling.

Here's a brilliant one page essay on the theme: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Currently resisting the urge to start every paragraph of a review by saying “And another thing!”

Horrible.