Publications

Peer-reviewed work.

  1. 2025
    Cover of Pastoral Psychology

    Christians Have More Self-Compassion Than Atheists—But Also More Grandiose (Not Fragile) Narcissism

    Magee, M. W. (2025). Pastoral Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-025-01239-x

    Schematic: Christians higher than atheists on self-compassion and grandiose narcissism; no difference on fragile narcissism or shame.Self-comp.GrandioseFragileShameChristiansAtheists
    Schematic — direction of effects, not to scale.

    In plain EnglishReligious people were kinder to themselves than atheists were—and also thought more highly of themselves. The two went together, not against each other. The more hidden, fragile forms of insecurity looked the same in both groups.

    Study summary

    A large-sample comparison of self-identified Christians and atheists on self-compassion and two faces of narcissism. Christians scored higher on both self-compassion and grandiose narcissism, with no group difference on fragile narcissism or shame.

    DOI PDF
  2. 2023
    Cover of portal: Libraries and the Academy

    Embedded librarians and scaffolding for remote learning.

    Miyaoka, M., Toolsidass, R., & Magee, M. (2023). portal: Libraries and the Academy, 23(1), 169–195. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2023.0010

    Schematic: library literacy scores rose from the start to the end of the semester.Start of termEnd of termLibrary literacy
    Schematic — direction of effects, not to scale.

    In plain EnglishPut a librarian inside the course rather than across campus, and first-year students' library skills climbed over the semester—whether the class met online or in person, and whoever taught it.

    Study summary

    Pretest–posttest evaluation of an embedded-librarian model SJNY Brooklyn rolled out during COVID-19. The 15-item FYE Library Literacy Scale rose significantly across the semester (N = 118), independent of course modality, gender, or instructor.

    DOI PDF
  3. 2021
    Cover of Collabra: Psychology

    A multi-site collaborative study of the hostile priming effect.

    McCarthy, R., … Magee, M. W., … (2021). Collabra: Psychology, 7(1), 18738. https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.18738

    Schematic: 29 lab estimates scattered around zero; pooled hostile-priming effect not different from zero.0 · pooled effect ≈ zero29 labs
    Schematic — direction of effects, not to scale.

    In plain EnglishTwenty-nine labs tried to reproduce a famous 1979 result: that reading hostile words makes you judge a stranger as hostile. Across 4,700 people, the effect was indistinguishable from zero.

    Study summary

    A pre-registered, 54-author, multi-site replication of the Srull & Wyer (1979) hostile priming effect. One of the largest and most rigorously methodological tests of the effect to date.

    DOI PDF
  4. 2012
    Cover of Ideology, Psychology, and Law

    Interpersonal foundations of ideological thinking.

    Hardin, C. D., Cheung, R. M., Magee, M. W., Noel, S., & Yoshimura, K. (2012). In J. Hanson (Ed.), Ideology, psychology, and law. Oxford University Press.

    Schematic: beliefs shared with others become ideological conviction.YouOtherssharedrealityideological conviction
    Schematic — direction of effects, not to scale.

    In plain EnglishIdeology feels like a private conviction. This chapter argues it is mostly a relationship: beliefs harden into ideology when they are shared with people who matter to us, and soften when that sharing breaks.

    Study summary

    A theoretical chapter applying shared-reality theory to the interpersonal grounding of ideology. Argues that what looks like fixed ideological commitment is partly the product of the social relationships in which beliefs are shared and reaffirmed.

    PDF (pre-print)
  5. 2010
    Cover of Social Cognition

    In defense of religion: Shared reality moderates the unconscious threat of evolution.

    Magee, M. W., & Hardin, C. D. (2010). Social Cognition, 28(3), 379–400.

    Schematic: an evolution prime lowered religiosity only when religious experience was unshared with a parent.controlevolution primesharedunsharedReligiosity
    Schematic — direction of effects, not to scale.

    In plain EnglishA subtle reminder of evolution nudged people away from religion—but only if their faith was not shared with their father, or if they were insecurely attached. Shared belief acted as a shield.

    Study summary

    Two experiments showing that exposure to evolution-related words reduced religiosity and anti-atheist prejudice—but only among participants whose religious experience felt unshared with their fathers (Study 1) or who were insecurely attached (Study 2). A shared-reality account of when religious belief is and isn't socially buffered.

    DOI PDF