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Work And Play Lab


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Work And Play Lab


Why does empathy feel like hard work? Why do we avoid effort yet find it meaningful? How is technology reshaping our motivation, empathy, and well-being?

The Work and Play Lab uses methods from social psychology and cognitive science to understand the mental effort we use to reach our goals and how we spend our leisure time. Our recent research explores the effort paradox, empathy avoidance, and AI's surprising compassion (work) as well as how social media increases boredom and polarization, and the real effects of chronic cannabis use (play). We're committed to open and transparent science, publicly posting data and materials, preregistering studies, and running replications.

Work/Play
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About Michael


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About Michael


Michael Inzlicht is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, where he is also cross-appointed as a Professor in the Rotman School of Management and a Research Lead at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology & Society. Recognized as among the top 1% of most-cited psychologists in the world for four consecutive years (2022-2025), Michael is passionate about open science and making psychology accessible through podcasts and public engagement.

Learn more about Michael →
CV (PDF) →
 
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Publications


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Publications


Recent Publications

Featured
Inform and do no harm: Nocebo education reduces false self-diagnosis caused by mental health awareness [PDF]

Sandra, D.A., Segal, Z.V., Majoo, S., Sistanis, A., Burke, M., & Inzlicht, M. (in press). Psychological Medicine.

Effort norms encourage more exertion but not less [PDF]

Zohar, E., & Inzlicht, M. (in press). Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

Meaning and attention intertwined: Experimental and experience-sampling findings [PDF]

Tam, K.Y.Y., van Tilburg, W.A.P., Chan, C.S., & Inzlicht, M. (in press). Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

See All Publications ➞
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News


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News


Featured News

News for Front
How ADHD awareness could lead to a false self-diagnosis
How ADHD awareness could lead to a false self-diagnosis

A new study has warned that without intervention, ADHD education could cause many young people to wrongly diagnose themselves

Growing awareness and education around ADHD may be leading to false self-diagnoses among young people, a new study has claimed. Researchers from the University of Toronto say that while education is crucial, it may also trigger a mistaken belief that common issues that young adults face, like tiredness and irritability, are the symptoms of ADHD.  The study’s lead author, Dasha Sandra, said young people should not be discouraged from seeking help, but believes mental health education needs to be refined to include more context around the symptoms. 

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Doing it the hard way
Doing it the hard way

Learning to play a musical instrument is hard. So is trying to run a marathon, writing a term paper, and caring for a sick child. These things involve frustration, pain, and disappointment — yet we do them anyway. In part two of Hidden Brain’s look at the allure of suffering, psychologist Michael Inzlicht explains what we get from doing things that are difficult, and why the things we think will make us happy often do not.

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Staying focused in a world full of distractions
Staying focused in a world full of distractions

Can I Have Your Attention, Please? A U of T Scarborough psychology professor explores why we’re more distracted than ever – and proposes a path to deeper engagement and lasting satisfaction.

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Contact


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Contact


Michael Inzlicht

Department of Psychology
University of Toronto Scarborough
1265 Military Trail
Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
Canada

Email: michael.inzlicht@utoronto.ca