Science Of Small Talk

Media

Untattoo You

Sam Sommers on December 10, 2010

Several people have forwarded to me the story of the criminal defendant in Florida whose attorney successfully petitioned the court to pay for a cosmetologist to help him cover up his swastika tattoos with makeup before trial each morning...

Several people have forwarded to me the story of the criminal defendant in Florida whose attorney successfully petitioned the court to pay for a cosmetologist to help him cover up his swastika tattoos with makeup before trial each morning...

Parenting

War on Christmas

Sam Sommers on November 23, 2010

Ours is an era fraught with urgent social problems.  That's why it's such a relief to find out that at least one of the truly pressing crises of our time is on the road to resolution. According to recent reports, the "War on Christmas" may be in its final throes, and contrary to the fears of many, Christmas is winning...

Ours is an era fraught with urgent social problems.  That's why it's such a relief to find out that at least one of the truly pressing crises of our time is on the road to resolution. According to recent reports, the "War on Christmas" may be in its final throes, and contrary to the fears of many, Christmas is winning...

Law and Crime

More than Meets the Eye, Part III

Sam Sommers on November 1, 2010

In the first two parts of this post, I began recounting my recent experiences as an expert witness. My testimony focused on the general limitations of eyewitness memory, but the photo array that police presented to the victims was problematic in its own right. The image of the defendant seemed to leap right off the page..

In the first two parts of this post, I began recounting my recent experiences as an expert witness. My testimony focused on the general limitations of eyewitness memory, but the photo array that police presented to the victims was problematic in its own right. The image of the defendant seemed to leap right off the page..

Law and Crime

More than Meets the Eye, Part II

Sam Sommers on October 19, 2010

In my previous post, I began to recount my recent experiences testifying as an eyewitness memory expert. The victims in the case had described their assailant as a 20-something-year-old Black man, 6'5" tall, with missing or broken teeth. The defendant, however, was 18 years-old, 5'10", and not the slightest bit dentally challenged...

In my previous post, I began to recount my recent experiences testifying as an eyewitness memory expert. The victims in the case had described their assailant as a 20-something-year-old Black man, 6'5" tall, with missing or broken teeth. The defendant, however, was 18 years-old, 5'10", and not the slightest bit dentally challenged...

Law and Crime

More than Meets the Eye, Part I

Sam Sommers on October 10, 2010

Earlier this month, I got to change up the ole' routine for a day. Instead of a morning lecture, an afternoon seminar, and some writing in my office sandwiched in between, I woke up and dressed like a grown-up for once, got in the car, and drove to a Superior Courthouse in another part of the state to testify as an expert witness...

Earlier this month, I got to change up the ole' routine for a day. Instead of a morning lecture, an afternoon seminar, and some writing in my office sandwiched in between, I woke up and dressed like a grown-up for once, got in the car, and drove to a Superior Courthouse in another part of the state to testify as an expert witness...

Parenting

Out of Thin Air, Part II

Sam Sommers on September 19, 2010

In Part I of this post, I wrote about the power of stereotypes to shape human performance even when they aren't discussed aloud. Simply suspecting that others are making evaluations based on preconceived notions about "people like you" has an impact. Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as stereotype threat, and it explains why being asked to record their race on a demographic form was enough to lead Black (but not White) Stanford students to underperform on a subsequent SAT test...

In Part I of this post, I wrote about the power of stereotypes to shape human performance even when they aren't discussed aloud. Simply suspecting that others are making evaluations based on preconceived notions about "people like you" has an impact. Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as stereotype threat, and it explains why being asked to record their race on a demographic form was enough to lead Black (but not White) Stanford students to underperform on a subsequent SAT test...

Parenting

Out of Thin Air, Part I

Sam Sommers on September 13, 2010

It's back to school time on college campuses everywhere, which means you can spot the freshmen coming from a mile away. For some students, the challenge of this transition is even more daunting because the distracting whispers of anxiety and self-doubt are even louder...

It's back to school time on college campuses everywhere, which means you can spot the freshmen coming from a mile away. For some students, the challenge of this transition is even more daunting because the distracting whispers of anxiety and self-doubt are even louder...

Depression

Back to School Psychology

Sam Sommers on August 29, 2010

It's that time of year again. Teachers are updating lesson plans; parents are getting the ole' car pool warmed up. So when it comes to starting your own back-to-school shopping, don't forget perhaps the most important item on the list: the right frame of mind...

It's that time of year again. Teachers are updating lesson plans; parents are getting the ole' car pool warmed up. So when it comes to starting your own back-to-school shopping, don't forget perhaps the most important item on the list: the right frame of mind...

Parenting

Psychology and the Prop 8 Ruling

Sam Sommers on August 5, 2010

Last night I decided to stay up late and do a bit of bedtime reading. 136-pages of it, to be exact.

Of course, I'm talking about yesterday's ruling by a U.S. District Court that California's ban on same-sex marriage–Proposition 8–is unconstitutional. OK, so maybe you wouldn't print off the pdf to bring to the beach, but for the most part, the decision is a pretty fascinating read. As you turn the pages, it becomes easy to forget you're reading a legal document and start thinking you're looking through a psychology course syllabus...

Last night I decided to stay up late and do a bit of bedtime reading. 136-pages of it, to be exact.

Of course, I'm talking about yesterday's ruling by a U.S. District Court that California's ban on same-sex marriage–Proposition 8–is unconstitutional. OK, so maybe you wouldn't print off the pdf to bring to the beach, but for the most part, the decision is a pretty fascinating read. As you turn the pages, it becomes easy to forget you're reading a legal document and start thinking you're looking through a psychology course syllabus...

Addiction

Every Little Bit Counts

Sam Sommers on July 27, 2010

On a regular basis, we see or hear about the negative behaviors of others and think, "what is wrong with this person?" We tell ourselves, "I would never do that," firmly convinced in the veracity of our assessment. But we're too quick to jump to such conclusions about personality, to assume that the behavior of others reflects some sort of stable predisposition. We often overlook the impact of daily situations on human nature–in particular, the power of small increments.

On a regular basis, we see or hear about the negative behaviors of others and think, "what is wrong with this person?" We tell ourselves, "I would never do that," firmly convinced in the veracity of our assessment. But we're too quick to jump to such conclusions about personality, to assume that the behavior of others reflects some sort of stable predisposition. We often overlook the impact of daily situations on human nature–in particular, the power of small increments.

Anger

Is LeBron Really LeLeaving?

Sam Sommers on July 8, 2010

Have a gut feeling about where LeBron James is headed? Of course you do. Just like credit cards, Twitter accounts, and... ahem... belly buttons, everybody's got one these days.

Have a gut feeling about where LeBron James is headed? Of course you do. Just like credit cards, Twitter accounts, and... ahem... belly buttons, everybody's got one these days.

Parenting

Fatherly Love

Sam Sommers on June 17, 2010

Garish ties. Gadgets. Golfing accoutrement. Soap-on-a-rope. That's right, this Sunday is Father's Day, a holiday known as much for its litany of lousy gifts as for its underlying heartfelt sentiment. So why not try something different this year?

Garish ties. Gadgets. Golfing accoutrement. Soap-on-a-rope. That's right, this Sunday is Father's Day, a holiday known as much for its litany of lousy gifts as for its underlying heartfelt sentiment. So why not try something different this year?

Personality

Mars and Venus at the Video Arcade

Sam Sommers on June 10, 2010

We like easy answers. W're particularly fond of turning to biology to explain human nature. Take apparent gender differences in how we think and act: Fields like math and science are male-dominated? Well, men must have more natural aptitude for this type of thinking, at least at the high end of the talent distribution. School-aged girls outperform boys on reading and writing? Probably similar processes at play, just in reverse–the female brain must be better suited for such tasks. But don't these Mars and Venus intuitions make for *too* easy an answer?

We like easy answers. W're particularly fond of turning to biology to explain human nature. Take apparent gender differences in how we think and act: Fields like math and science are male-dominated? Well, men must have more natural aptitude for this type of thinking, at least at the high end of the talent distribution. School-aged girls outperform boys on reading and writing? Probably similar processes at play, just in reverse–the female brain must be better suited for such tasks. But don't these Mars and Venus intuitions make for *too* easy an answer?

Personality

Don't Stop Believin'

Sam Sommers on May 19, 2010

Yesterday was a rough one for serial liars. First, the story out of Boston that a 23-year-old has been charged with larceny and identity fraud after years of forging transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other academic paperwork. As a result of the alleged scheme, he not only managed to gain acceptance to Harvard, but had also earned more than $45,000 in awards and scholarships. Next, the even bigger Richard Blumenthal Vietnam story took center stage... 

Yesterday was a rough one for serial liars. First, the story out of Boston that a 23-year-old has been charged with larceny and identity fraud after years of forging transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other academic paperwork. As a result of the alleged scheme, he not only managed to gain acceptance to Harvard, but had also earned more than $45,000 in awards and scholarships. Next, the even bigger Richard Blumenthal Vietnam story took center stage... 

We have no water in Boston. Well, that's not exactly true–since Saturday afternoon, we have had no *drinking* water thanks to a rupture in the pipe that connects a major water treatment plant with the city and 29 of its most populous suburbs...

Fear

The Political Incorrectness of Political Correctness

Sam Sommers on April 27, 2010

It's now cool to be politically incorrect.

There are few better or easier ways these days to establish one's iconoclastic street cred than bashing political correctness. Pundits, columnists, and even public officials now voice anti-PC sentiment to achieve their anti-establishment bona fides. "Politically correct" has become a pejorative term and opposing it has become a badge of honor...

It's now cool to be politically incorrect.

There are few better or easier ways these days to establish one's iconoclastic street cred than bashing political correctness. Pundits, columnists, and even public officials now voice anti-PC sentiment to achieve their anti-establishment bona fides. "Politically correct" has become a pejorative term and opposing it has become a badge of honor...

Law and Crime

Really, Really, High-Stakes Testing

Sam Sommers on April 9, 2010

In college I spent a semester as a TA assisting a student who was blind. One of my responsibilities was to administer his exams, asking him multiple-choice questions aloud and recording his responses. I spent a lot of time with this student, and I grew to like the guy. So I'll admit that it pained me when, on occasion, he clearly hadn't studied enough for the test I was reading him. It was tempting to throw him a bone once in a while. No, nothing obvious like circling the right response instead of the wrong one he had chosen. But in the midst of the awkward silences that would fill the air as he pondered which guess to go with, I'd often mentally catalog the subtle ways I could conceivably guide his answers...

In college I spent a semester as a TA assisting a student who was blind. One of my responsibilities was to administer his exams, asking him multiple-choice questions aloud and recording his responses. I spent a lot of time with this student, and I grew to like the guy. So I'll admit that it pained me when, on occasion, he clearly hadn't studied enough for the test I was reading him. It was tempting to throw him a bone once in a while. No, nothing obvious like circling the right response instead of the wrong one he had chosen. But in the midst of the awkward silences that would fill the air as he pondered which guess to go with, I'd often mentally catalog the subtle ways I could conceivably guide his answers...

Bias

The Not-So Great Debate

Sam Sommers on March 25, 2010

If you had told me a few years ago that a U.S. policy debate would spark an emotionally-laden, visceral, violent-threat-producing controversy that would dominate political news for more than a year, my first three guesses at the issue at its core would never have included health care. Abortion? Sure. Foreign policy? Absolutely. But health care? Really?

If you had told me a few years ago that a U.S. policy debate would spark an emotionally-laden, visceral, violent-threat-producing controversy that would dominate political news for more than a year, my first three guesses at the issue at its core would never have included health care. Abortion? Sure. Foreign policy? Absolutely. But health care? Really?

Intelligence

Just as I Expected

Sam Sommers on March 5, 2010

The experts approached the teachers at the Oak School with an offer that seemed too good to be true: our new diagnostic test will identify the hidden gems in each of your classrooms. The name of their diagnostic test was no less impressive than the results it promised: "The Harvard Test of Inflected Acquisition." And it seemed to work wonders...

The experts approached the teachers at the Oak School with an offer that seemed too good to be true: our new diagnostic test will identify the hidden gems in each of your classrooms. The name of their diagnostic test was no less impressive than the results it promised: "The Harvard Test of Inflected Acquisition." And it seemed to work wonders...

Personality

Shoot First, Ask Questions Later

Sam Sommers on February 15, 2010

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of the bottom-of-the-TV-crawl with breaking news of a mass shooting on a college campus. Quick–what's your first thought? Lonely male student frustrated by perceived social slights? Perhaps a revenge killing based on unrequited romantic interest? Neither of these knee-jerk reactions to the recent campus shooting in Alabama were accurate, of course...

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch a glimpse of the bottom-of-the-TV-crawl with breaking news of a mass shooting on a college campus. Quick–what's your first thought? Lonely male student frustrated by perceived social slights? Perhaps a revenge killing based on unrequited romantic interest? Neither of these knee-jerk reactions to the recent campus shooting in Alabama were accurate, of course...