One person might befriend another because of a shared love of basket weaving. Or, a friendship may instead blossom because that new friend has divergent interests, and can teach the other new hobbies. These opposing factors—seeking similarities and differences in … Continue reading
Journal Club
Highlighting recently published papers selected by Academy members
Category Archives: Social Sciences
Journal Club: Model helps explain how social networks form
Categories: Applied Mathematics | Computer sciences | Journal Club | Social Sciences
Tagged computational model, connections, finance, mathematical model, social network, society
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Journal Club: Study dissects stereotypes, looking to understand their roots and ways to break them down
A stereotype, put simply, is a belief about a group. But for psychology professor Andrei Cimpian of New York University, that definition doesn’t have sufficient nuance. To understand what a stereotype truly is, he says, we need to understand its … Continue reading
Categories: Journal Club | Psychological and Cognitive Sciences | Social Sciences
Tagged cognitive structure, stereotype
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Journal Club: Influence of Peers on Gender Identity Development
Middle school or junior high school is an intense time for many kids. There are many social pressures and plenty of confusion about how to navigate them. Friends exert a strong influence on their peers, including in matters of gender … Continue reading
Categories: Journal Club | Psychological and Cognitive Sciences | Social Sciences
Tagged friends, gender identity, gender roles
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Short fuse, short telomeres
Men who live a high-stress life—with few social resources, low levels of optimism, and above-average levels of hostility—show signs of the stress in their cells. The ends of their chromosomes, so-called telomeres which wear down naturally as a person ages, … Continue reading
Categories: Medical Sciences | Social Sciences
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Babies conceived in May often born early
Most scientists would bristle at the suggestion that birth signs can affect a baby’s life. But mounting evidence indicates that the month of conception, at least, can play a role in infant well being. A new study, “Within-mother analysis of … Continue reading