People

BDSM and the (Neuro-)Spicy Art of Intimacy

Much of human life is staged in the theatre of social performance. Where belonging means learning how to dance the choreography of power, how to…

Isabella HanaNovember 7, 2025

People Spiegeloog 440: Performance

What ‘’Self’’ Is Expressed in Art?

Art is often said to be the gateway to self expression. But what is truly being expressed? The artist’s identity - or the public’s thoughts…

Nora KeloglanianOctober 31, 2025

People Spiegeloog: The Outtakes

The Symbolism of It All: How Do Symbols Influence Our Decisions ?

Last summer, while strolling down the main street of a secluded seaside town with friends, I stumbled upon a secondhand shop filled with witchcraft supplies.…

Nora KeloglanianSeptember 22, 2025

People Spiegeloog 439: Balance

Knowledge at What Cost? Navigating the Morality of Scientific Inquiry around Indigenous Tribes

What if some truths are better left unknown? Pursuing and attaining knowledge has always been societally understood as a win, but is it still valuable…

Sandra HernándezJune 27, 2025

People Spiegeloog 439: Balance

An Eye for an Eye or a Heart for a Hurt?

Some of life’s inevitable hardships come at the hands of others. Whether in the form of an insult, a betrayal, or something harder to name,…

Ina TudorJune 25, 2025

People Spiegeloog 439: Balance

The Hidden Truth About Happiness

In Mad Men, Don Draper famously says: “What is happiness? It’s a moment before you need more happiness” (Weiner, 2012). This line reflects the idea…

Viktor FiskumJune 11, 2025

People Spiegeloog 437: Direction

The Paradox of Progress: Looking for Little Green Men, Ignoring Big Red Flags

Technological advancement reshapes what matters in the human narrative: not just the direction of our story as a species, but also the values we choose…

Isabella HanaMarch 7, 2025

People Spiegeloog 437: Direction

Spiegeloog 437: ‘Direction’ – Editorial

Dear readers, Over the span of a lifetime, we all tirelessly search for something - be it a person, a calling, a place in the…

Jules Kotowicz and Shriya BangFebruary 24, 2025

People Spiegeloog 436: Risk

Festina Lente: How AI is subtly Reshaping Human Expression

Language defines how we think, communicate, and make sense of the world. In the age of AI, tools like ChatGPT are not just assisting us—they…

Hanna NiedlDecember 30, 2024

People Spiegeloog 436: Risk

Spiegeloog 436: ‘Risk’ – Editorial

Dear Readers, There is a famous saying which posits that the only two things which are certain in life are taxes and death. However, between…

Jules Kotowicz and Shriya BangDecember 16, 2024

Ask the Expert People Spiegeloog 435: Fantasy

Ask the Expert: Teaching Dynamics

Annematt Collot D'Escury-Koenigs Angelique Bakker-Pieper Annematt Collot D'Escury-Koenigs's (developmental psychology) question Dear Angelique, How does teaching kids differ from teaching UvA students? Angelique Bakker-Pieper's (Work & Organizational…

Spiegeloog EditorsDecember 2, 2024

People Spiegeloog 435: Fantasy

From Stimulus to Stillness: Cultivating Contentment in an Age of Abundance

We live in a time of vast physical abundance, yet a profound mental health scarcity. Why is it that we increasingly crave more intense stimulation…

Shriya BangNovember 15, 2024

People Spiegeloog 433: Control

Reclaiming Control: Understanding the Long-Term Consequences of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

In 2016, the disturbing story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard rapidly gained public attention. The (now) 32-year-old woman was convicted of killing her mother, Dee Dee…

Shriya KashyapMay 20, 2024

Ask the Expert People Spiegeloog 429: Explore

Ask the Expert: It is all about belonging

Allard Feddes Annematt Collot D'Escury-Koenigs Allard Fedde's question is for Annematt Collot D'Escury-Koenigs (Developmental Psychology) Dear Anne-Matt, You are an expert on antisocial behaviour in…

Spiegeloog EditorsDecember 4, 2023

Office Hours People Spiegeloog 429: Explore

Office Hours: Nonlinear Career Paths

In the past, when it came to future plans, preoccupation with doing things by the book used to be far more common. Expectations on what…

Evita EgertDecember 1, 2023

People Spiegeloog 429: Explore The Corridor

The Corridor: Considering Optional Course Profiles

The mysterious optional course profile- an option we all have in our degrees, but may be curious or reluctant about taking. For this issue of…

Anushka SabhanamNovember 27, 2023

People Spiegeloog 429: Explore

Why is it so hard to say goodbye?

Goodbyes hurt. Someone leaving your life is often accompanied with feelings of pain and distress. Why is that? This article takes a closer look at…

Vadim MartschenkoNovember 22, 2023

People Spiegeloog 428: Alive The Corridor

The Corridor: Life Lessons

For a good proportion of this magazine’s editors, the Bachelor years at UvA will come to an end next summer. Amidst all the (optional) nostalgia…

Anika Korobkov and Vadim MartschenkoOctober 18, 2023

Ask the Expert People Spiegeloog 428: Alive

Ask the Expert: Countering Radicalization

Marte Otten Allard Feddes Marte Otten's question is for Allard Feddes (Social Psychology) Dear Allard, Nowadays, every other newspaper article or talkshow discusses polarisation: the…

Spiegeloog EditorsOctober 17, 2023

People Spiegeloog 428: Alive

Otto Selz – Monument for a Forgotten Pioneer

We would like to thank Richard Ridderinkhof and Spiegeloog alumni Viktor Bussato for allowing us to publish an English version of this piece on our…

Spiegeloog EditorsOctober 13, 2023

Ivory Tower People Spiegeloog 427: Anomalies

Ivory Tower: Anomalous Experience

In the behavioral sciences, one of the main methodological tensions is between qualitative and quantitative approaches. Traditionally, qualitative approaches focus on understanding human behavior through…

Denny BorsboomSeptember 27, 2023

Ask the Expert People Spiegeloog 427: Anomalies

Ask the Expert: Balancing Accuracy and ‘Coolness’

RICHARD RIDDERINKHOF’S QUESTION IS FOR MARTE OTTEN (BRAIN & COGNITION): Dear Marte, Your recent finding that human memory gets unreliable within seconds incited massive media…

Spiegeloog EditorsSeptember 20, 2023

People Spiegeloog 426: Liberation

Why Do All Good Things Come to an End?

There is nothing more heartbreaking than separating from a partner. Literally. A breakup is often associated with negative feelings such as loss, loneliness and longing…

Vadim MartschenkoMay 17, 2023

Ask the Expert People Spiegeloog 426: Liberation

Ask the Expert: Emotions, Actions, & Cognitions

Henk Jan Conradi’s (Clinical Psychology) question: Dear Richard, At the clinical psychology department we are, of course, interested in psychotherapy. Starting points for change differ…

Spiegeloog EditorsMay 3, 2023

Ask the Expert People Spiegeloog 425: Vision

Ask the Expert: Couple’s Conflicts

Bianca Boyer’s (Developmental Psychology) question: Dear Henk Jan, An interesting part of your work is the effectiveness of couples therapy and the working mechanisms thereof.…

Spiegeloog EditorsMarch 29, 2023