Decades of studies identify personality traits as an important predictor of life outcomes. However, previous investigations of personality-outcome associations have not taken a principled approach to covariate use or other sampling strategies to ensure the robustness of personality-outcome associations. The result is that it is unclear (1)...
Although individuals vary in how optimistic they are about the future, one assumption that researchers make is that optimism is sensitive to changes in life events and circumstances. We examined how optimism and pessimism changed across the lifespan and in response to life events in three large panel studies (combined N = 74,886). In the American and Dutch samples, we found that optimism increased ...
Few studies have examined birth order effects on personality in countries that are not Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD). However, theories have generally suggested that interculturally universal family dynamics are the mechanism behind birth order effects, and prominent theories such as resource dilutionwould predict even stronger linear effects in poorer countries. Here, ...
People’s risk preferences are thought to be central to many consequential real-life decisions, making it important to identify robust correlates of this construct. Various psychological theories have put forth a series of candidate correlates, yet the strength and robustness of their associations remain unclear because of disparate operationalizations of risk preference and analytic limitations in ...
It is very rare that the causal link between actions and outcomes can be observed directly. Often, it is much easier to observe correlation. To derive causality from correlation, economists use elaborate techniques. However, little is known about individuals’ capabilities to infer from correlational data in their everyday lives. I test if individuals erroneously infer...
Abstract: Our research question is to what extent does the familiarity with the testing environment impact the relative performance of boys and girls in standardized testing. We use an RCT-design on the full population of students in Grade 6 and 10 across several subjects in the Region of Madrid (Spain). This standardized test was either "Externally" administered, meaning that teachers...
In later life, social ties become increasingly important for one’s mental health. In this study, we test whether exogamous unions, in which one of the partner is migrant and one native, affect older individual’s social networks, and whether the association between exogamy and mental health operates through social networks. We hypothesize that immigrants gain social...
Temporary employees rank lower than permanent employees on various measures of mental and physical health, including well-being. Furthermore, much research has indicated an approximate U-shape pattern between age and well-being with a nadir in midlife. Temporary employment may well have different associations with well-being across the lifespan, likely harming people in midlife more than...
Unfortunately the event is canceled. As soon as a new date is fixed, it will be announced here on the website. BAMS is a joint seminar by the DIW Berlin, the Hertie School of Governance, the HU Berlin and the WZB.
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