Be Daring and Cause Trouble

Like many others, the COVID-19 pandemic forced me to seriously consider the meaning and impact of my workof our work.Despite the clear and direct relevance of social psychology to everything surrounding the numerous global-level upheavals we have seen over the last decade, we have been relatively timid, hesitant, and, as a consequence, largely ignored.Why did we bring so little to the table when our insights were so desperately needed?It occurred to me that the field of social psychology, as a whole, had grown timid, overly cautious, and complacent.This is, undoubtedly, a side-effect of the replication crisis in social psychology and calls for tentativeness when applying our work to the public sphere.Of course, the replication crisis brought about a much-needed reckoning in our field, including a press for caution when communicating our work to the public.Yet, this does not mean that we should not do daring research.It also does not mean that we should not try to do work that can have a real and tangible impact on how people in society think, feel, and behave in daily life.We should not be afraid to think big, swing for the fences, and honestly communicate our work to the public.We must not confuse the necessity of rigor with the paralysis of perfectionism.It is not only acceptable but essential that we engage in daring research-research that challenges existing paradigms and provokes meaningful dialogue, even if it means facing the possibility of being proven wrong.If we shy away from this mission, we leave a vacuum that can and will be filled by those less qualified and/or driven by dubious intentions.Therefore, as the new Editor-in-Chief of Social Psychology, I am setting a clear and ambitious agenda: this journal will serve as a battleground for ideas that ignite change and spark good trouble.I urge you to bring forward your most audacious work, to boldly propose theories that might rattle the foundations of our field, and to investigate those things that affect our daily lives.Let us not only participate in but lead the conversations that shape the future of social psychology and its role in society.Let's stir the pot, not just cautiously watch it simmer.