Read new essays, papers, and announcements on cognitive and forensic cognitive science in law enforcement, emergency service, science and exploration, and “paranormal” sightings and interpretations. For the latest in my blog series The Forensic View from Psychology Today, go to that button on the home page. Read essays on current research in my Research Essays page, and watch my YouTube videos on human behavior today, in history, and at the extremes by pressing the YouTube button on the home page. I hope you’ll find everything on this website interesting and useful!
Most Recent posts
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The Biology of Impulse: Understanding Crimes Without Gain
For my September 2nd Psychology Today post. In a classic television scene, a psychologist asks a thief why he steals. The answer is simple: “Because I want them.” This encapsulates crimes for gain, but what about the behaviors that seem to make no sense? Why would an individual engage in a bar fight or an…
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Now Available: Dissociation and Belief
We’re pleased to announce that Dissociation and Belief: The Psychology of Why Things Go Horribly Wrong and What to Do About It is now available on Amazon. Released on March 8, 2026, this new book by Drs. Matthew J. Sharps and Jana L. Price-Sharps explores how dissociation shapes belief, judgment, memory, stress, and decision-making in…
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The Eyewitness as Storyteller
Did you know that ancient historians once believed the mongoose would dive down a crocodile’s throat and gnaw its way out? It sounds like an epic battle, but it never actually happened. Yet, people swore they saw it. Why? Because the human brain prefers a compelling narrative over boring reality. In this new post, we…