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Science Of Small Talk

The science of social behavior, one interaction at a time

by Sam Sommers

Sam Sommers, Ph.D., is a social psychologist at Tufts University. See full bio

September 22, 2008

''I don't think we're supposed to be talking about this...''

Q: “I haven’t seen the new guy at the office yet. Do you know what he looks like?”

A: “Oh, he’s about my height, broad-shouldered, mid-30’s, dresses really well, always smiling... also he’s... (voice lowered to a whisper) Black...”

There is a growing trend in America today, especially among White Americans, to embrace the idea of literal colorblindness when it comes to race relations... Read More

September 14, 2008

More on Gender, Kids, and Parenthood

Last month I posted an entry regarding children and gender stereotypes from the perspective of the father of two young daughters. Several people emailed to share their own stories and observations. Some asked whether I thought such concerns about gender stereotypes also applied to males. My answer? An absolute and unqualified yes. And all these questions actually got me thinking even more about the one domain in my own life when I feel that I am often viewed negatively (or at least skeptically) because of my gender: parenting. Read More

September 3, 2008

When Justice is Less than Blind

The nation's eyes have turned to Louisiana once again as the gulf coast starts the recovery from yet another natural disaster. I was originally supposed to travel to New Orleans this week to play a role, albeit minor, in addressing a different, troubling development in the region, one that predates the devastation of Hurricane Katrina three years ago. I was scheduled to testify as an expert in a post-trial hearing regarding racial bias in the legal system, yet another problem with which Louisiana appears all too familiar. Read More

August 30, 2008

Some Advice for New Graduate Students

This past week I participated in a panel discussion as part of a training workshop for new graduate TAs. I was asked to speak briefly about how to juggle the many responsibilities of a new graduate student, specifically those of research, teaching, and classwork. So while it'll be a bit of a departure from this blog's typical focus, I thought I'd share some of these thoughts I prepared for the workshop for any interested readers who are also beginning (or thinking of beginning) graduate study. So there's good news and bad news when it comes to balancing the responsibilities of grad school... Read More

August 25, 2008

The Root of All Evil

Today I actually saw the root of all evil with my very own eyes. I was with my wife and daughters at the local playground. The girls were off playing in the sand together, entertaining themselves and affording us a rare peaceful moment on the park bench. This quiet was interrupted, however, by the rumbling sounds of a 6-year-old peeling around the corner while driving (that's right, driving) a motorized four-wheeler. A battery-operated, ride-on car that kids can drive at the park instead of getting any semblance of physical exercise? Corporations and parents of America, you can't be serious? Read More

August 16, 2008

The Greatest Ever? Not So Fast...

U.S. Swimmer Michael Phelps just won his 8th gold medal of the Beijing Olympics tonight, the 14th gold of his career. These are feats that have never been accomplished before, and it’s hard to argue with the conclusion that his is the greatest Olympic performance of all time. Some in the sporting world (and beyond) are also calling Phelps the greatest athlete of all time. But not so fast—a number of psychological considerations suggest that the pundits (and public) are likely getting a bit carried away... Read More

August 11, 2008

What Makes Someone 'Black?'

Throughout the presidential campaign, race keeps bubbling to the surface as a topic of discussion. Perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising given that the Democratic nominee is the son of a White, American-born mother and a Black, Kenyan-born father. But why, then, is Barack Obama always referred to as “the first Black major party nominee for President?” Why do we never hear him called the first biracial nominee? Read More

July 30, 2008

Gender Stereotypes and the Fast Food Drive-Thru

“Do you want to Supersize that combo?” “Would you like fries with that?” “Don’t you know that eating this will shave a month off your life expectancy?” These are the questions I expect to hear at the drive-thru window of a fast food restaurant—not “Boy or girl?” Read More

July 21, 2008

All Stereotypes Are True? Since When?

Humans see the world in terms of categories. We group a chair, a table, a couch together under the category "furniture," which helps when we're confronted with unfamiliar objects. We have a similar tendency to categorize other humans. But whereas furniture doesn’t mind being stereotyped, people often do. Read More

July 16, 2008

Obama and the Racial Divide

Yesterday’s New York Times ran an article titled “Poll Shows Racial Division on Obama’s Candidacy.” The story included several examples of divergence between White and Black Americans’ perceptions of the presidential campaign; for example, more than 80% of Black respondents reported a positive impression of Barack Obama, compared to closer to 30% of Whites. Some of the most interesting findings, however, have nothing to do with presidential politics, but rather speak to the persistent divide in how Americans think about race, a divide that too frequently is only discussed by behavioral researchers. Read More

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