Frequently asked
Curious Claims, Checked
Short questions, careful answers. Each one tells you whether the claim rests on laboratory findings, everyday demonstrations or nothing much at all.
Is the bystander effect real?
laboratory finding Yes, in a specific sense. Darley and Latané's 1968 studies showed people helped less, and more slowly, when they believed others could also help. But a 2020 analysis of CCTV footage from Amsterdam, Lancaster and Cape Town found at least one bystander intervened in about nine out of ten public conflicts. Read more
Do we only use 10% of our brains?
unsupported popular claim No. Brain imaging shows activity across all regions over the course of a day, and injury to almost any area produces effects. The claim has no traceable scientific origin.
Is 93% of communication non-verbal?
unsupported popular claim No. The 7-38-55 split comes from Albert Mehrabian's 1967 studies of single words with mismatched tone or expression. He has stated it doesn't apply to communication in general. Read more
Can you spot a liar by their eyes or fidgeting?
meta-analysis Not reliably. Bond and DePaulo's 2006 meta-analysis found average accuracy of about 54%, only a little above chance. Most body cues, including gaze aversion, are weak or unrelated to lying.
Does memory work like a video recording?
laboratory finding No. Studies from Bartlett (1932) to Loftus and Palmer (1974) and the DRM word lists (1995) show memory is rebuilt at recall and can absorb later information. Read more
Does power posing change your hormones?
failed replication The original 2010 hormonal finding wasn't confirmed by a larger 2015 replication. A smaller effect on self-reported feelings of power may exist.
What is the replication crisis?
It's the discovery that many published results don't reappear when studies are repeated. In 2015, the Open Science Collaboration repeated 100 psychology studies and roughly 36% produced statistically significant results again. Larger samples, pre-registration and multi-lab projects such as Many Labs have since become more common.
Are the Milgram and Stanford Prison studies still valid?
Milgram's core finding, that authority pressure can push people to act against their conscience, has partial support from Jerry Burger's 2009 replication, though the original percentages are debated. The Stanford Prison Experiment is now widely viewed as a demonstration rather than a controlled experiment, following archival critiques such as Thibault Le Texier's in 2019.
Can I try these experiments on my friends?
everyday demonstration Keep it to low-stakes observation, with people who agree to take part. Avoid deception, embarrassment or pressure. And remember: what you notice is a prompt for a better question, not evidence.
Is this site giving psychological advice?
No. Brainpicnicfrenzy is an educational site about research findings. If you're worried about your memory, mood or behaviour, speak to a qualified health professional.