Looking in the Cultural Mirror

Evolutionary Psychology

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on February 23, 2017

Sapiens provides insights into human behavior by tracing the history of our species from its emergence amidst other pre-humans through its journey to the present day.

Sapiens provides insights into human behavior by tracing the history of our species from its emergence amidst other pre-humans through its journey to the present day.

Race and Ethnicity

You Can Be Fired for Wearing Dreadlocks

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on October 1, 2016

A federal court and court of appeals held that an Alabama company had the right to rescind its offer of employment to an African American woman who insisted on wearing dreadlocks.

A federal court and court of appeals held that an Alabama company had the right to rescind its offer of employment to an African American woman who insisted on wearing dreadlocks.

Guilt and shame are two rather different negative emotions, which are often confused. In both cases, people feel bad about themselves—but that is where the similarity ends.

Politics

George Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language” at 70

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on August 16, 2016

Seventy years ago, between Animal Farm and 1984, George Orwell published his famous essay, Politics and the English Language—a work that has relevance for our upcoming election.

Seventy years ago, between Animal Farm and 1984, George Orwell published his famous essay, Politics and the English Language—a work that has relevance for our upcoming election.

Resilience

Understanding Airport Screening’s 95% Failure Rate

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on July 5, 2016

The TSA’s airport screening failure rate in detecting fake explosives and weapons is 95%. Given the magnitude of the task, we should be surprised that it isn’t even higher.

The TSA’s airport screening failure rate in detecting fake explosives and weapons is 95%. Given the magnitude of the task, we should be surprised that it isn’t even higher.

Personality

Is Fascism Coming to America?

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on June 7, 2016

What is fascism and to whom does it appeal? How can we evaluate claims that fascism is on the rise in the United States and Europe?

What is fascism and to whom does it appeal? How can we evaluate claims that fascism is on the rise in the United States and Europe?

Diet

How Not to Die

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on May 10, 2016

'How Not to Die' by Michael Greger discusses ways that a whole food plant-based diet can prevent, ameliorate, or reverse the 15 leading causes of death in the United States.

'How Not to Die' by Michael Greger discusses ways that a whole food plant-based diet can prevent, ameliorate, or reverse the 15 leading causes of death in the United States.

Creativity

Is China Creating Brilliant Yet Damaged Future Leaders?

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on April 5, 2016

Extremely young children of the Chinese elite are being sent to boarding school—a massive experiment that could produce a generation of brilliant but crazy leaders.

Extremely young children of the Chinese elite are being sent to boarding school—a massive experiment that could produce a generation of brilliant but crazy leaders.

Ethics and Morality

Is Psychologists’ Code of Ethics Immoral?

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on March 1, 2016

Laws and figuring out how to avoid being sued have displaced to a significant degree psychological knowledge and ethical reasoning in how psychologists are being trained to think.

Laws and figuring out how to avoid being sued have displaced to a significant degree psychological knowledge and ethical reasoning in how psychologists are being trained to think.

Politics

High Profits

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on February 2, 2016

High Profits is an 8-part series about Colorado’s marijuana legalization law. It shows the actual issues that arose, which differed from the ones commonly hypothesized or feared.

High Profits is an 8-part series about Colorado’s marijuana legalization law. It shows the actual issues that arose, which differed from the ones commonly hypothesized or feared.

Bias

The Hidden Message of the University of Missouri Scandal

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on January 19, 2016

Was the University of Missouri scandal, leading to the President's and Chancellor's departure, about racism? Political correctness? Student activism? Or something more important?

Was the University of Missouri scandal, leading to the President's and Chancellor's departure, about racism? Political correctness? Student activism? Or something more important?

Sexual Orientation

In One Person

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on December 8, 2015

In One Person, a novel by John Irving, is written as a memoir of a bisexual man growing up and then living in the American LGBTQ world during the second half of the 20th century.

In One Person, a novel by John Irving, is written as a memoir of a bisexual man growing up and then living in the American LGBTQ world during the second half of the 20th century.

Race and Ethnicity

Redesigning the Dollar

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on November 10, 2015

The recent discussion of putting a woman on the $10 bill to replace Alexander Hamilton (though others have suggested replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 instead) have made this an opportune moment to consider making more extensive changes in our currency.

The recent discussion of putting a woman on the $10 bill to replace Alexander Hamilton (though others have suggested replacing Andrew Jackson on the $20 instead) have made this an opportune moment to consider making more extensive changes in our currency.

Race and Ethnicity

How Much of the World Has Been Governed by a Woman?

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on October 14, 2015

What proportion of the world’s population has been governed by women? It turns out that, even if you exclude queens and empresses, who inherited their power, and limit consideration to the 20th century, or even 1950 to the present, this is not an easy question to answer.

What proportion of the world’s population has been governed by women? It turns out that, even if you exclude queens and empresses, who inherited their power, and limit consideration to the 20th century, or even 1950 to the present, this is not an easy question to answer.

Placebo

Therapy Classics

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on September 8, 2015

This piece acknowledges some of the leading therapy innovators of the last century and their influential books that, sadly, are now gathering dust.

This piece acknowledges some of the leading therapy innovators of the last century and their influential books that, sadly, are now gathering dust.

Race and Ethnicity

The American Discussion of Race Is Ethnocentric

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on August 4, 2015

The American "discussion of race," prevents new insights and limits proposals to a few alternative courses of action. It is as if the only place that exists is the United States today; the only ways of thinking about race are American ways; and there is nothing we can learn from other cultures that could contribute to our understanding.

The American "discussion of race," prevents new insights and limits proposals to a few alternative courses of action. It is as if the only place that exists is the United States today; the only ways of thinking about race are American ways; and there is nothing we can learn from other cultures that could contribute to our understanding.

Race and Ethnicity

What Race Is Rachel Dolezal?

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on July 16, 2015

Rachel Dolezal says she is black, but many others--whites and blacks, liberals and conservatives--disagree. What race is she really? How should we react to her claim?

Rachel Dolezal says she is black, but many others--whites and blacks, liberals and conservatives--disagree. What race is she really? How should we react to her claim?

Race and Ethnicity

Looking in the Cultural Mirror at 100, The Top 10

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on July 15, 2015

Five years ago I began writing pieces for Looking in the Cultural Mirror. While psychology may define itself as the science of behavior, when it comes to people it often seems more like the science of American behavior than of human behavior everywhere. This, my 100th piece, discusses the blog’s background and aims. It offers links to most popular 10.

Five years ago I began writing pieces for Looking in the Cultural Mirror. While psychology may define itself as the science of behavior, when it comes to people it often seems more like the science of American behavior than of human behavior everywhere. This, my 100th piece, discusses the blog’s background and aims. It offers links to most popular 10.

Fear

Should Anonymous Comments Be Banned on Blogs?

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on June 2, 2015

Would banning anonymous comments keep Internet trolls away? What are the arguments for and against a ban?

Would banning anonymous comments keep Internet trolls away? What are the arguments for and against a ban?

Politics

Iran is Very Big

Jefferson M Fish Ph.D. on May 12, 2015

If the attempt to negotiate and ratify a nuclear agreement with Iran fails, an escalation in our confrontation is likely, possibly leading to war. Before contemplating war with Iran, we need to get a sense of the size of the country.

If the attempt to negotiate and ratify a nuclear agreement with Iran fails, an escalation in our confrontation is likely, possibly leading to war. Before contemplating war with Iran, we need to get a sense of the size of the country.