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Psychology & human behavior: videos Hacker News recommends
Psychology: cognitive biases, social psychology, decision making, motivation, habits, personality, experiments, happiness, relationships, behavioral science, persuasion. Below: every video in this topic that at least three HN users linked with real commentary, in at least three different months (52 talks, 37 explainers, 19 lectures), best-scored first, with the comments on each video page.
- 15 HN recommenders 15 months 2012–2026One of the most consistently recommended lecture series on HN, praised as fascinating, funny and eye-opening about human behavior across many scales.
- 9 HN recommenders 13 months 2015–2025J Jason Salotti · lectureRepeatedly called the best way to understand ADHD, and recommended to anyone before commenting on it.
- 13 HN recommenders 13 months 2016–2026D David Lessig · documentaryHN recommends it often and strongly as an eye-opening account of marketing psychology and the engineering of consumer society.
- 12 HN recommenders 12 months 2008–2023C Carnegie Mellon University · lecturePerennially recommended as an inspirational talk for people facing setbacks or choosing a direction, and a source of oft-quoted lines like the brick wall.
- 4 HN recommenders 11 months 2015–2026A Alain de Botton · documentaryHN recommends it as an illuminating, eye-opening long-form take on status, luck and how we judge the successful and unsuccessful.
- 12 HN recommenders 10 months 2021–2024HN recommends it repeatedly to people struggling with motivation, distraction or phone and internet addiction, as a science-based guide to dopamine.
- 13 HN recommenders 9 months 2017–2025J JustAdamCurtis · documentaryHN commenters recommend it constantly in threads about advertising, propaganda and manipulation as the origin story of the consumer society.
- 11 HN recommenders 10 months 2010–2022HN uses it in discussions of pay, management, and motivation as the standard short explanation of autonomy, mastery and purpose.
- 9 HN recommenders 9 months 2020–2024Linked in threads about meritocracy, careers and startups as a reminder that luck shapes who ends up on top.
- 10 HN recommenders 9 months 2015–2025HN people with ADHD or ADHD-affected relatives share it as an authoritative, practical talk that helped some seek diagnosis.
- 6 HN recommenders 6 months 2017–2022Several HN commenters credit the lecture series with helping them through depression or personal collapse and recommend it as long-form learning.
- 11 HN recommenders 8 months 2017–2026HN recommends it widely in advice threads on depression, habits, and goal setting as a funny, memorable way to see what to do by seeing what not to do.
- 7 HN recommenders 7 months 2018–2024Recommended as an empathetic, non-judgmental analysis of incel radicalization and how to counter it.
- 6 HN recommenders 7 months 2019–2026C Centrum Nadania · lectureHN commenters send people to it as the primary source for NVC, recommended for relationships, compassion and difficult conversations.
- 6 HN recommenders 6 months 2014–2023B BuffettMungerWisdom · talkHN regards it as a classic to revisit every few years for improving decisions and self-awareness.
- 6 HN recommenders 7 months 2014–2021H hgoetkehgoetke · documentaryRecommended in HN threads on gender gaps in tech as a well-researched look at how gender differences and professional choices may arise.
- 3 HN recommenders 6 months 2015–2023Recommended in vegetarian and animal-welfare threads as an introduction to the psychology behind how we treat animals differently.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2022–2026Frequently recommended in threads on learning, the 10,000 hours rule and deliberate practice as a clearer account of how expertise develops.
- 5 HN recommenders 6 months 2019–2025B Beckman Institute at Illinois · lectureHN commenters recommend it as an entertaining and informative explanation of how stress affects health.
- 6 HN recommenders 6 months 2018–2023T Tim Ferriss · podcast episodeHN recommends it as a thoughtful, honest look at the causes of addiction and depression, and as a deeper Mate interview than most.
- 6 HN recommenders 6 months 2015–2025HN links it constantly in threads on social media, polarization and outrage as the canonical explanation of why angry content wins.
- 7 HN recommenders 6 months 2021–2024The standard link whenever someone claims to be a visual learner or learning styles come up, with sources listed in the description.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2017–2026D Duke University Department of Political Science · lectureHN cites it heavily in diversity and academia debates as an intellectual analysis of the truth versus social justice conflict.
- 6 HN recommenders 6 months 2016–2026HN cites it as a concise, well-illustrated explanation of traffic flow, in threads on congestion, self-driving cars and driving habits.
- 2 HN recommenders 4 months 2010–2023Commenters credit it with changing how they handle plans and recommend it as a short, sourced talk.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2022Recommended in moderation and deplatforming debates as a case for engagement and compassion over exclusion.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2016–2023Recommended as a funny, empathetic take on procrastination and the origin of the life calendar concept.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2017–2018D David Crossman · interviewHN commenters recommend it for its take on managing young employees and on how technology and approval-seeking affect behavior.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2019–2025V Vulk Coop · talkHN recommends it as an entertaining and eye-opening look at the irrational psychology behind language preferences, though some note it is not scientifically precise.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2011–2024HN points to it constantly in threads on inner monologue, visual versus verbal thinking and communication as the classic, entertaining demonstration that minds work differently.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2024E eroosters · commentaryShared in heated-discussion threads as a short, witty take on why extremism is appealing.
- 6 HN recommenders 4 months 2019–2025HN commenters most often cite it as a thorough, well-sourced debunking of The Bell Curve and of popular IQ claims.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2010–2026A Andrea Dorfman · videoHN commenters point lonely people to it as a moving, comforting piece of art about getting comfortable with solitude.
- 6 HN recommenders 4 months 2017–2018G Gravitahn · talkPointed to repeatedly in gender-in-tech threads, especially around the Google memo, as a science-based treatment of sex differences.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2018–2025HN commenters bring it up in threads about online mobs and cancellation as a relevant talk by a journalist who interviewed shamed people.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2014–2026J Jason Headley · comedy videoHN commenters link it as the quickest memorable illustration of listening versus problem-solving, and as shorthand in threads on empathy and support.
- 2 HN recommenders 4 months 2011–2022HN recommends it as a short, clear explanation of why people avoid saying things explicitly and how common knowledge works socially and politically.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2024Commenters call it a must-watch, funny and entertaining demonstration that morality has natural roots in animals.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2022S Stuart Walker · talkHN commenters cite it whenever a thread involves ignored warnings, shortcuts or routine risk, as the clearest introduction to the concept.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2016–2019HN people cite it when discussing perceived randomness, luck and player experience in games, and say more designers should heed it.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2017–2025HN commenters quote it for the line that the opposite of addiction is connection, and recommend it as a more plausible account of addiction than the standard model.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2010–2022HN recommends it as the standard talk on how too many options lead to paralysis and second-guessing.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2014–2020Recommended as a short, clear explanation of growth versus fixed mindset.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2013–2017I Ingsoc75 · documentaryRecommended as a classic documentary on military training and the psychology of going to war.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2015–2022HN commenters recommend it for the finding that idea exchange and connectivity drive productivity and wealth, which they apply to cities, offices and online communities.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2024HN fans say it offers value even to atheists by interpreting Bible stories as psychological and evolutionary archetypes, and some credit it with helping them through depression.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2014–2025HN commenters link it as the clearest short explanation of regression to the mean, especially for how it misleads people about feedback and statistics.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2013–2017S ScepticaTV · documentaryHN cites it as the classic demonstration of survivorship and confirmation bias in betting, trading and prediction claims.
- 1 HN recommenders 3 months 2009–2023D Dani Dögenigt · talkCited as the origin of the 'culture/philosophy as operating system' metaphor and as a quick introduction to McKenna's ideas.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2024HN recommends it as a clear explanation of why generations think differently and why IQ scores have risen.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2021J Julia Galef · talkHN recommends it as a short, accessible intro to Bayesian reasoning and priors.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2011–2023Recommended as a one-hour substitute for the book's opening chapters for those short on time.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2026S Stanford Iranian Studies Program · lectureHN recommends Sapolsky as an exceptional storyteller and points to this lecture on the biology of human behavior and violence.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2026HN points to it whenever analog versus digital clocks come up, as an idea that changed how commenters think about time perception.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2014–20179 99U · talkHN commenters point to it as a quick way to get the key concepts of the book and as an introduction to leadership thinking.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2023P Psychlopaedia.org · talkHN commenters recommend it as a comprehensive talk on depression, and one says it helped them through a bad period.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2020M Max Joseph · commentaryHN recommends it as a thoughtful critique of the great-leader-as-jerk myth in threads on difficult bosses.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2023Recommended as part of a long lecture series on psychology, complementing biology lectures, and named when HN asks for the best lecture series.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2022Shared in loneliness threads as a well-sourced, empathetic explanation, including for people struggling with it.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2010–2026HN cites it whenever money as an incentive comes up, as evidence that rewards can backfire for creative white-collar work.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2011–2022HN uses it as a go-to short critique of mandatory positivity in workplaces, startups and corporate culture.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2011–2025D Daniel Simons · demoHN uses it constantly as the classic demonstration that attention is selective, in threads on driving, motorcycles, AI and perception.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2013–2020Recommended as a quick, memorable explanation of how to support someone in pain without making it about yourself.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2026Recommended as a worthwhile real-world experiment whenever trolley problems or moral dilemmas come up.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2012–2014HN commenters recommend it as a thoughtful take on doing gamification and game design well.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2014–2017Recommended in habit and motivation threads for its simple anchor-then-tiny-action recipe.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017HN commenters recommend it when asked how to learn better or keep improving.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2024–2026H Harvard Business Review · tutorialHN commenters share it as a short, practical resource for people who struggle with small talk.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2012–2024HN uses it to argue that systems rather than bad apples drive cruelty, and for its section on how anonymity changes behavior.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2023HN people recommend it for its simple, powerful idea of marginal adjustments and its usefulness for tackling big projects.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2015–2023P PLOS Media · demoUsed as vivid evidence of crow intelligence and animal physical reasoning in discussions of cognition.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2024Cited in threads about perceived time as a good, detailed explanation of the effect.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2026D Derek Sivers · explainerA go-to short explanation of how movements start and why early followers matter.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2025HN commenters use it as supporting material in arguments about IQ and the g-factor view of intelligence.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2015–2023Recommended as a clear demonstration of confirmation bias and the value of trying to break your own hypothesis.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2018HN recommends it as an accessible way to understand why people across the political spectrum disagree and to better understand opposing views.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2026Cited in threads on motorcycle and cyclist safety to explain why drivers look and still miss them.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2016–2019T Thriving In Science · lectureHN uses it as the expert primer on burnout that dispels common misconceptions.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2026HN cites it as one of the best TED talks and as evidence that people adapt to and come to like outcomes they cannot change.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2025Recommended as a solid introduction to personality and IQ research, and cited as the source for factor-analysis claims about personality and intelligence.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2025Recommended as a good primer on what IQ scores mean and their limited effect on life outcomes.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021T This Place · explainerRecommended as a convincing counterargument to the widely repeated idea of the uncanny valley.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2025H HealthyGamerGG · explainerHN commenters call it enlightening for understanding the emotional challenges of gifted kids, especially those who struggle later in school or college.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2021HN points to it for an accessible explanation of why wealth and creative output are so unevenly distributed.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2020Recommended as one of the best bridges between mind and computation, and as a sample of Bach's thinking on AI and philosophy.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2015–2018T The Bookman · documentaryHN commenters cite it, especially during the Google memo debate, as expert testimony on biological contributions to gender differences.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2024–2026HN cites it in LLM randomness and number-picking threads as evidence that humans are also biased and predictable when asked for random numbers.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2013–2018V VladCantSleep · demoUsed in threads on bias and social engineering as a vivid example of how bystanders treat different thieves.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2014–2024T TED Blog Video · explainerHN uses it again and again as shorthand for the idea that resentment of unfair pay and inequality is built into primates, including us.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020Offered as a persuasion success story in threads about polarization and online toxicity.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2022Praised as one of the great non-technical talks, appearing in best-talk lists.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2025W Weirdo Video · documentaryShared in political threads as a timeless warning about divisive manipulation and demagogues.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2015–2022Pointed to as a well-cited hour on IQ and genetics whenever intelligence and heritability come up.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2011–2017Used to illustrate predictable irrationality, such as defaults and the effect of the middle option among three choices.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2010–2014Recommended in threads about culture and time orientation as an accessible presentation of Zimbardo's framework.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2015–2024T TheSymposionNights · lectureHN shares it as a compact explanation of how hierarchy and stress affect health, pointing to the longer full lecture.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2023A Alexander Grace · videoHN brings it up in dating app threads as a real-world illustration of how hard Tinder is for men.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2024V Vikas Ojha · lectureHN recommends it as an insightful catalog of the biases that drive bad decisions, and links it often in Munger memorials and self-improvement threads.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2013–2021HN brings it up in threads about impostor syndrome, confidence, and body language as an interesting talk on faking it until you feel it.
- 1 HN recommenders 2 months 2012–2016HN cites it in MBTI threads as an attempt to link personality types to measurable brain activity patterns.
Showing the 100 best-scored of 165. Use search to find the rest.
Questions
What is the most recommended psychology & human behavior video on Hacker News?
1. Introduction to Human Behavioral Biology by Stanford: One of the most consistently recommended lecture series on HN, praised as fascinating, funny and eye-opening about human behavior across many scales.
How is this psychology & human behavior list ranked?
By HackerTube's score: the number of distinct months in which an HN comment recommended the video, plus half a point for every month with a strong recommendation. One viral thread counts less than steady recommendations over years.
Where do the videos come from?
From every Hacker News comment between 2007 and 2026 that linked a YouTube video, labeled by an AI model as a recommendation, a citation, a joke or a criticism. The list is published by HackerTube under ODC-By 1.0; this edition adds indexable pages and the comment context.
Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.