Description: It is a simple fact that we live in a culturally diverse world. It is a further fact that with global access to information and with global human movement (either purposeful or refuge seeking driven) we are locally surrounded by such diversity. Think about cultural variability and then read each of the following words… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Social Cognition
Why Is Keeping a Secret Hard on Us?
Description: OK so you are an open and honest individual right? Of course you are. But do you have any secrets from anyone? Come along, be honest! Keeping secrets from other people comes with a toll. The easy thing to say is that it is hard work to keep a secret and that is likely… Read more »
Xenophobia and Social Stigma: A Loss of Control/Balance?
Description: Xenophobia involves an intense dislike and/or fear of people from other countries. What sorts of factors keep people from thinking xenophobic thoughts, expressing xenophobic views or acting in xenophobically hateful or dangerous ways? Well, morality and rationality would, we hope, play something of a limiting role in this but another big factor are the… Read more »
Profile Pictures: Who Should Pick Yours?
Description: OK your new dating site profile is almost ready to go, or your new professional network or social network posting is ready to go and all you have to do is add a profile picture. You have 12 pictures of yourself to choose from. Who should pick the one you post you or a… Read more »
Rorschach Redux
Description: A little while back I posted on an article that was looking at new ways to use the Rorschach “Inkblot” Test. In that post and in the accompanying article the discussion was somewhat skeptical about whether or not the Rorschach “Inkblot” Test has any valid place in current clinical, psychiatric or forensic practice. I… Read more »
Court Practices and Psychological Realities: Match or Mismatch?
Description: Our law courts are places where rational processes test facts and arguments and where justice is consequently applied in a fair and “just” manner. Does that sound right to you? In the face of that description what role, if any, do emotions play in the judicial process? Before you say “none” think about the… Read more »
Young Male Development and Extreme Behavior: Understanding → Prevention
Description: Mass shootings are terrifying both in their consequences and in the challenges they pose when trying to figure out why they happened, if they could have been prevented and what steps may be taken to reduce the likelihood of anything like them happening again. I am not talking here about acts of terrorism planned… Read more »
Moral Flexibility and Other Effects: The Case of International Travel
Description: International travel to exotic places and cultures is a broadening experience right? Certainly my own research on identity development suggests that travel, whether part of gap year before or during post-secondary study or after your university experience or at any point in life can broaden your horizons, help you to see wider possibilities and… Read more »
The Perfect Gift? or Iffy Science
Description: What makes for a perfect present? Cost? Uniqueness? Thoughtfulness? Surprise value? Wouldn’t it be helpful if there was some psychosocial research done on this seasonally vital question? Wait no longer! Before reading the article linked below think a bit about what made some of the best presents you have given or received so great…. Read more »
Agnotology? Why You Should Want to Know What This Is.
Description: Have you heard of agnotology? According to a number of social scientists you should really work on wanting to know what this term is and what its implications are for how we are forming our beliefs and opinions and developing our “expertise”. In the 1960s a tobacco company developed a number of strategies and… Read more »
Books for Success!
