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developed by JhackAbout Skeptikai
Skeptikai defends science and exposes pseudoscience. Living in Japan also allows for an interesting opportunity to discuss fascinating stories that go unnoticed elsewhere. Psychological phenomena and intriguing cases from around the globe are also regularly highlighted.
Should You Let Your Kid Date in Middle/High School? Science Gives a Surprising AnswerYoung love can show you things about yourself you've never known. It can bring you to…
In Japan, Strangers are More Likely than Family to Give CPR for Cardiac ArrestWhen it comes to Japanese people giving CPR to someone suffering a cardiac arrest, it…
Power and Rape – Part 2: How to Create a Breeding Ground for Sex OffendersAs I mentioned in Part 1, rape is tolerated in the military because the acknowledgment of…
Power and Rape – Part 1: Rape in the Military is a Career Killer… for the VictimIf you ever wanted to know just how bad "blaming the victim" can get, look no further than the…
Does Chewing Gum Help You Concentrate?If you want to be a rocket scientist, you might want to start chewing that stick of gum.…
Possessed by Demons, Animals, and Nonsense"Japan doesn't have that stuff. That's more of a Western thing." Just like I constantly…
SATIRAN – Part 3: “Judicial Theatre,” or Judgment for the 2010 IsraeliIn May 2010, the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" was sent to give humanitarian aid and…
Study: Close Relationships Aren’t Necessarily BetterIt makes sense, doesn't it? The closer you are to someone, the better your relationship…
Are Religious People More Charitable, Generous, and Altruistic than Atheists?According to a Canadian study from 2008, religious people are "more helpful, honest and…
Gender, Age, Socioeconomic, and Cultural Differences in Social Networking Site UsageOnline social networks has become an interesting platform for research, and hundreds if…
Category Archives: Social Psych
The Psychological Science of Storytelling
It hit me about two years ago, sometime after I started this blog. Somewhere between the comedy shows and alarming amount of documentaries I began watching, and the seemingly endless number of people I have met in the last few years, I realized that the social world spins on the axis of stories. It’s hard to believe this fact unless you’re actually in a position where you exploit it. For me, it has become a hard fact of life – if you’re a good storyteller, good things come to you, and people want to be around you. It seems like the most popular people are often the best storytellers, and if you’re a good storyteller, you’re probably good at other things too. But just how do stories have such amazing effects on our lives?
Posted in Culture, Neuroscience, Psychology, Science, Social Psych, TED
Tagged brain, comedy, intelligence, linguistics
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Are Vocal Homophobes Really Just Homosexuals in the Closet?
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. -Dr. Seuss
What is it about homophobes that make them so gay? If this questions sounds controversial to you, then you may need to hear the science behind the answer. New research is showing that there actually is a link between homophobic rhetoric and homosexual tendencies. This article is about the notion that if you’re homophobic, you might just be compensating.
Posted in Culture, Legal Issues, Psychology, Science, Sex and Sexuality, Social Psych
Tagged America, discrimination, homosexuality, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, prostitution
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Should You Let Your Kid Date in Middle/High School? Science Gives a Surprising Answer
Young love can show you things about yourself you’ve never known. It can bring you to happiness and leave you in despair. It can take away the trust you thought you had with others, and make you want to give up on the world. It can teach you what it means to be human, and make you feel more real than ever before. Young love can be all of these things and more, but we never see it coming. The only thing we can really expect is that it will probably change us, for better or worse. Luckily, new research has just looked into some of the effects of dating on academic performance, drug usage, and school drop-out rates, so we know now more than ever before. The results of the research are stunning.
Posted in Culture, Psychology, Science, Sex and Sexuality, Social Psych
Tagged dating, drugs, education, happiness, love, teenagers
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Study: Close Relationships Aren’t Necessarily Better
It makes sense, doesn’t it? The closer you are to someone, the better your relationship is. Intuitively, this makes perfect sense. But new research out of Columbia University suggests that this is not necessarily the case.
Posted in Psychology, Science, Social Psych
Tagged America, Canada, dating, love, marriage
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Are Religious People More Charitable, Generous, and Altruistic than Atheists?
According to a Canadian study from 2008, religious people are “more helpful, honest and generous;” an American study from last year found that “religious states give more to charity than non-religious states.” As I explained in a previous article, the stereotype that religious people are more likely to be Good Samaritans than nonreligious people is highly suspect. In fact, a new study has thrown the idea of religious people being more charitable into question too. This might just be the nail in the coffin for stereotypes about religiosity and altruism.
Posted in Culture, Psychology, Science, Social Psych
Tagged altruism, America, Canada, money, religion
8 Comments
Cooperating Online Gives Students Better Grades
Do you work well alone? Do other people get in your way or distract you from your studies? Are you more productive without the interaction with your peers? If so, you may be in the minority. At least, that’s according to new research from the University of California at San Diego, published last week.
Computer scientist and co-author Manuel Cebrian analyzed 80,000 interactions among 290 students in a “collaborative learning environment for college courses.” As Science Daily reports:
How Many Teenage Daughters Are Meeting Strangers from the Internet Offline?
A new study has just come out which reveals something about the relationship between technology and our social lives. At no time in history have we been so technologically connected to one another. We can get and stay in contact with people at any hour of the day from virtually anywhere on the planet. The reason I’m saying this is because I don’t want you to be too shocked when I tell you the percentage of teenage girls are meeting people offline.
Posted in Culture, Japan, Psychology, Science, Sex and Sexuality, Social Psych, Technology
Tagged dating, internet, parenting
4 Comments
In-Laws Bring A Couple Together… or Tear Them Apart
A new study has shed some light on the influence in-laws can have on a relationship, and what kinds of dynamics are positive and negative. There are many surprising things about this study, but one thing I want to emphasize right from the start is that the study was a 26-year longitudinal study. That is really fantastic. Let’s get to the goods.
The Psychology of Workplace Boredom
Forbes asks if it’s “the new productivity killer;” Cachinko calls it “the silent killer of employee morale;” CNN says it’s “the new stress.” Just what is plaguing so many employees throughout the world? Boredom. “It’s repetitiveness that’s the culprit” says Angelo Kinichi, a management professor at Arizona State University. As we have known for a long time, a lack of variety and monotony leads to boredom (Smith, 1981), but monotony is really in the eye of the beholder (Shackleton, 1981). While boredom may intuitively feel like a relatively trivial subject at first, just think of all the doctors and peacekeepers who deal with saving lives, as well as the productivity that’s at stake for every other job. Boredom is a serious issue.
The Weapon of Comedy – Why Humour Gets the Point Across
The skilled assassin appears before the onlooker’s eyes – everyone knows why he’s here, so they are ready for an onslaught. If one weapon doesn’t work, another might, and the assassin came equipped. In a flash, he’s out of sight – but he appears again with full force, defeating the enemies before they can do anything to stop him. But if you thought this assassin was thirsty for blood, think again. He’s not a master of swords, but a master of words; and the only thing he’s going to be killing is resistance. That’s because, while he’s famous for his skill, he’s known for the word on his business card: Comedian.
Posted in Culture, Psychology, Science, Social Psych, TED
Tagged advertisements, comedians, comedy
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