Famous Cognitive Psychology Experiments that Failed to Replicate By Marco Giancotti, August 21, 2025 Cover image by Rebecca Freeman, Unsplash --- Overview In the 2010s, psychology faced a replication crisis where many well-known experiments failed to reproduce their original results. This list summarizes famous cognitive psychology studies that did not successfully replicate and should be considered false or questionable as of now. This is a reference guide, not comprehensive. Most psychology findings still hold, but these prominent cases highlight issues in experimental reliability. --- Key Failed Replications Ego Depletion Effect Claim: Willpower acts like a battery that depletes with exertion. Original: Baumeister et al. (1998) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: Hagger et al. (2016) involving 63 labs Power Posing Effect Claim: Expansive body postures increase testosterone, decrease cortisol, boost feelings of power, and risk-taking. Original: Carney, Cuddy, & Yap (2010) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: Ranehill et al. (2015) Social Priming: Elderly Words Effect Claim: Exposure to elderly-related words slows down people’s walking speed. Original: Bargh, Chen, & Burrows (1996) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: Doyen et al. (2012) – effect likely from experimenters, not subjects Money Priming Effect Claim: Thinking about money makes people more selfish and support free-market values. Original: Vohs, Mead, & Goode (2006) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: Rohrer, Pashler, & Harris (2015) ESP Precognition Effect Claim: People can predict future events beyond normal inferential ability. Original: Bem (2011) Status: Did not replicate Replication studies: Galak et al. (2012), Ritchie, Wiseman, & French (2012) Cleanliness and Morality Effect Claim: Thinking about cleanliness makes people more morally lax. Original: Schnall, Benton, & Harvey (2008) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: Johnson, Cheung, & Donnellan (2014) Glucose and Ego Depletion Effect Claim: Glucose replenishes willpower after depletion. Original: Gailliot & Baumeister (2007) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: Lange & Eggert (2014) Hunger and Risk-Taking Effect Claim: Scent of cookies makes people take more food-related risks. Original: Ditto et al. (2006) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: Festjens, Bruyneel, & Dewitte (2018) Psychological Distance & Construal Level Theory Claim: Psychological distance affects whether we think abstractly or concretely. Original: Trope & Liberman (2010) Status: Serious credibility issues Current: Under vetting by 73 labs worldwide Ovulation & Mate Preferences Effect Claim: Women are more attracted to attractive men during high-fertility phases. Original: Gildersleeve, Haselton, & Fales (2014) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: Stern, Gerlach, & Penke (2020) Marshmallow Test & Long-Term Success Effect Claim: Children’s delay of gratification predicts later life success. Original: Shoda, Mischel, & Peake (1990) Status: Did not replicate significantly Replication study: Watts, Duncan, & Quan (2018) Stereotype Threat (Women’s Math Performance) Claim: Negative stereotypes about women’s math ability disrupt performance. Original: Spencer, Steele, & Quinn (1999) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: Flore & Wicherts (2015) Smile to Feel Better Effect Claim: Facial expressions affect emotional experiences; smiling increases positive feelings. Original: Strack, Martin, & Stepper (1988) Status: Did not replicate Replication study: