Why People Do That publishes essays about the everyday behavior of other people: at work, in relationships, in families and in ordinary life. This page sets out how those essays are put together and what you can expect from them.
Who writes the essays
Every essay is written by Ben Alder, who also chooses the topics, edits each piece and signs off on it before it is published.
How a topic is chosen
Topics come from behaviors people actually struggle with: the questions readers send in, the situations that come up again and again in conversations, and the things people search for when someone has puzzled or hurt them.
How the research works
Each essay draws on published research in psychology, sociology and communication, and on the work of the researchers who have studied the behavior in question. When an essay leans on a particular study or idea, it names the researcher so you can look further. Where the evidence is thin, mixed or has not held up well, the essay says so.
Behavior is complicated, and no essay can describe every person. The aim is to describe common patterns well enough to be useful, not to diagnose anyone.
The role of AI tools
AI tools are used for support work: collecting material to check, organizing notes and spotting typos and clumsy phrasing. They don’t choose the topics or the arguments, and they don’t write the advice. Each essay is reshaped by the author until it says what he means, and every fact is checked against its original source before publication.
Not professional advice
These essays are general information. They are not psychological, medical, legal or relationship counseling, and they can’t take the place of a professional who knows your situation. Essays that touch on abuse, control or persistent distress point to where to find help.
If you or someone else is in danger, contact your local emergency services. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233.
Corrections and updates
Essays are revised when better evidence appears or when a clearer explanation is possible, and the date on each essay shows when it was last updated. If you find a mistake, write to [email protected]. Confirmed errors are corrected.
Money and independence
Some books, courses, apps or services mentioned here may be ones in which we have a financial interest, such as an affiliate link or another commercial arrangement. That never decides what the essays say. Recommendations are made because we think they’re useful, and our opinions are our own.