Current and Proposed Projects
The projects below are seeking funding and often other forms of assistance or participation. If you have relevant expertise, resources to contribute, or know of potential sources of usually tax-deductible support (large or small, public or private) for this work, please be in touch.
We are also open to assisting with additional or complementary project ideas that are already funded and appreciate hearing about any relevant resources.
Rationality, Inter-group Conflict, and Religious Belief
A cross-disciplinary exploration of the problems and possibilities surrounding religious belief in an age of science and globalization.
Support is sought for 1) the publication of a book of further responses (mostly second responses) by eminent scholars to an article (Thornhill-Miller & Millican, 2015) that the editor of the European Journal for Philosophy of Religion has called the most important article ever published in that journal, and 2) Publication of empirical research charting the cognitive biases that both help shape our religion and ideological beliefs and then also exacerbate the problems between us based upon those differences.
Cognitive biases and Luxury Consumption East & West
This project focuses on understanding how cognitive biases and related emotional patterns influence luxury consumption and consumer behavior across cultures. Preliminary work, including a large pilot study, and novel tools has explored cultural differences and key biases, some of which seem to vary between East and West. Further support is needed to write up these findings and extend the study. Future phases may also investigate how these behavioral insights could help luxury markets integrate sustainability goals, aligning consumer desires with ecological responsibility and profit-making potential.
Debiasing the (Mis-)Information Space
Psychology & AI project developing tools to identify, analyze, and rate the level of cognitive biases at work in news stories and other texts.
Gamifying Self-Understanding and Self-Development
This project is an online platform for public use and research purposes. It addresses a fundamental need for leaders and all individuals alike: the need to better understand themselves in order to lead and engage more effectively with others. Based upon Dr. Thornhill-Miller’s teaching (e.g. his “Understanding Yourself in Order to Lead Others” Global Leadership course), and using some of his psychometric work, and programming, the platform aims to offer an engaging and rewarding path to self-awareness, with instant feedback on key traits and potentials, providing an innovative and gamified approach to psychological self-exploration. Support is now sought to complete the final online packaging/launch for the platform so it can be used by the public and to secure ongoing resources to maintain and grow the site. Your contribution can help bring this valuable tool to life, empowering individuals to avoid problems for themselves and with others, unlocking their full potential for all of us.
