Welcome to the Vibes Project

Learn about the big ideas driving this project

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Have you ever wondered why we are the way we are? It’s an age-old question and one you’ve probably asked yourself.

This project is built on the idea that “the way we are” can be explained by what I call “vibes”. To me, vibes are a subtle yet powerful part of being human. They shape how we see ourselves, navigate social situations, connect with others, and interact with culture.

Vibes are also a part of how we socialize. A conversation with someone can produce a gut feeling that makes an impression. We feel the vibes. Maybe they are:

• Awkward and self-conscious

• Confident and charismatic

• Weird and abstract

• Sensitive and introspective

• Eager to make an impression

While these gut reactions can be insightful, they often create an incomplete picture and oversimplify who we are. I’m aiming for something deeper: a more empathetic, nuanced look at our differences and similarities. I hope that vibes can help us see one another from new, more informed perspectives.

A few of the big questions:

• Why do we behave/think/react the way we do?

• What’s behind the differences in our vibes?

• How can understanding vibes shift our perspectives of ourselves and others?

Psychology, brain science, anthropology, and history provide a useful foundation and I’m now deep in the research. My hunch is that vibes could be a novel way to think about and explain human behavior. They are essentially human and not limited by gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, or location.

I’ll be sharing ideas, theories, and discoveries from my research, and I hope you’ll challenge me, share your thoughts, and help this project grow. There’s so much to explore and I would love your help.

Join me by leaving comments, replying to emails, and introducing this idea to friends.

More soon!