Science Of Small Talk

Bias

Social Change Via Graphic Design

Sam Sommers on May 29, 2013

Little changes can make a big difference. This is the principle underlying many a tweak to public policy or organizational procedure designed to nudge people to alter their behavior.

Little changes can make a big difference. This is the principle underlying many a tweak to public policy or organizational procedure designed to nudge people to alter their behavior.

Guilt

Why Do the Boston Marathon Bombings Make Me Feel Guilty?

Sam Sommers on April 22, 2013

Today marks the one-week anniversary of the start of a heartwrenchingly sad series of events here in Boston. Each in our own way, those of us who live in and around the city have bounced from sadness to fear to anger and back again. And as the one-week marks hits today, I’ve also found myself confronting a more surprising emotion: guilt.

Today marks the one-week anniversary of the start of a heartwrenchingly sad series of events here in Boston. Each in our own way, those of us who live in and around the city have bounced from sadness to fear to anger and back again. And as the one-week marks hits today, I’ve also found myself confronting a more surprising emotion: guilt.

Friends

Point. Click. Save this Woman's Life - Update

Sam Sommers on April 12, 2013

Nalini Ambady is an award-winning psychologist. And she desperately needs your assistance. You can help save her life by simply watching and re-posting this video.

Nalini Ambady is an award-winning psychologist. And she desperately needs your assistance. You can help save her life by simply watching and re-posting this video.

Empathy

Point. Click. Save this Woman's Life.

Sam Sommers on March 31, 2013

Nalini Ambady is an award-winning psychologist. She also needs your help, desperately and quickly. And all it takes you for you to provide it is a couple of simple clicks of your mouse.

Nalini Ambady is an award-winning psychologist. She also needs your help, desperately and quickly. And all it takes you for you to provide it is a couple of simple clicks of your mouse.

Attention

Mass Emails and Mass Apathy

Sam Sommers on February 28, 2013

I’m not a bad person, I swear. I’m just busy, like most people. And like most people, give me an easy way out of adding to my to-do list, and I’ll take it...

I’m not a bad person, I swear. I’m just busy, like most people. And like most people, give me an easy way out of adding to my to-do list, and I’ll take it...

Cognition

Highlight this Blog Post at Your Own Risk

Sam Sommers on January 30, 2013

"How did you study?" It’s question I often find myself asking college students during office hours when they come by to talk about a disappointing exam score or ask for suggestions for improving future performance. In thinking about this question, it's worth considering what psychological science has to say on the matter...

"How did you study?" It’s question I often find myself asking college students during office hours when they come by to talk about a disappointing exam score or ask for suggestions for improving future performance. In thinking about this question, it's worth considering what psychological science has to say on the matter...

Environment

On Newtown and the End of the World

Sam Sommers on December 20, 2012

It seemed like this would be a great week to write about the psychology of the end of the world, but that was before the horrific elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut last Friday. And then it dawned on me. Perhaps the two stories have more in common than first meets the eye, at least when it comes to the insights they offer regarding human nature.

It seemed like this would be a great week to write about the psychology of the end of the world, but that was before the horrific elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut last Friday. And then it dawned on me. Perhaps the two stories have more in common than first meets the eye, at least when it comes to the insights they offer regarding human nature.

Beauty

What a Pretty Face Can’t Tell You

Sam Sommers on November 21, 2012

Just what, exactly, can we learn from a pretty face? Because despite warnings to the contrary, when we meet others we spend an awful lot of time judging books by their covers. Encounter someone attractive, and it’s hard for us to look away. But it’s even more difficult to refrain from drawing bigger-picture conclusions about what type of person we think we're dealing with.

Just what, exactly, can we learn from a pretty face? Because despite warnings to the contrary, when we meet others we spend an awful lot of time judging books by their covers. Encounter someone attractive, and it’s hard for us to look away. But it’s even more difficult to refrain from drawing bigger-picture conclusions about what type of person we think we're dealing with.

Conscientiousness

To Regift or Not to Regift, That Is the Question

Sam Sommers on October 18, 2012

It was more than 15 years ago that an episode of Seinfeld popularized the phrase "regifting," used to describe the taboo of turning an unwanted present into a gift for someone else. Now, almost two decades later, there's also published psychological research on the perceptions and emotions underlying the controversial act of the regift...

It was more than 15 years ago that an episode of Seinfeld popularized the phrase "regifting," used to describe the taboo of turning an unwanted present into a gift for someone else. Now, almost two decades later, there's also published psychological research on the perceptions and emotions underlying the controversial act of the regift...

Sex

Sex, Drugs, and Raising Kids

Sam Sommers on September 20, 2012

Anything in moderation, the saying goes. But does this wisdom apply to the decisions we make as parents?

Anything in moderation, the saying goes. But does this wisdom apply to the decisions we make as parents?

Wisdom

Just How Independent Are Independent Voters?

Sam Sommers on August 14, 2012

The American electorate is more divided today than ever, cable news pundit wisdom informs us. So who, then, are these Independents who loom ever more important as a target demographic? How have they managed to remain above the fray and maintain objectivity? And just how independent are they, anyway?

The American electorate is more divided today than ever, cable news pundit wisdom informs us. So who, then, are these Independents who loom ever more important as a target demographic? How have they managed to remain above the fray and maintain objectivity? And just how independent are they, anyway?

Race and Ethnicity

What's in a Name?

Sam Sommers on July 13, 2012

Names matter. Whether we admit it or not, whenever we hear one, we draw a wide range of assumptions about the characteristics of the individual person (or item) in question...

Names matter. Whether we admit it or not, whenever we hear one, we draw a wide range of assumptions about the characteristics of the individual person (or item) in question...

Cognition

The LeBron Narrative and the Psychology of Sports Fans

Sam Sommers on June 22, 2012

As sports fans, as in so many other walks of life, we gravitate toward the simple narrative in thinking about other people. I can't help but think of this as I watch LeBron James put the finishing touches on his first NBA title this evening...

As sports fans, as in so many other walks of life, we gravitate toward the simple narrative in thinking about other people. I can't help but think of this as I watch LeBron James put the finishing touches on his first NBA title this evening...

Cognition

When Good People Behave Badly

Sam Sommers on June 6, 2012

Our default way of thinking about unethical behavior is to blame it on a handful of bad apples. But the real story behind fraud and other problematic behaviors is far more complex, not to mention rooted in many fairly "normal" psychological processes...

Our default way of thinking about unethical behavior is to blame it on a handful of bad apples. But the real story behind fraud and other problematic behaviors is far more complex, not to mention rooted in many fairly "normal" psychological processes...

Self-Esteem

The Native American Mascot: Tribute or Stereotype?

Sam Sommers on May 25, 2012

What does research tell us about the Native American mascot debate?

What does research tell us about the Native American mascot debate?

Sex

Sex Objects in a World Turned Upside-Down

Sam Sommers on April 26, 2012

Just how often do people objectify women? According to recent research, we're so used to treating women as sex objects that we can do it even when standing on our heads.

Just how often do people objectify women? According to recent research, we're so used to treating women as sex objects that we can do it even when standing on our heads.

Race and Ethnicity

Is the Man Who Killed Trayvon Martin a Racist? Who Cares?

Sam Sommers on March 25, 2012

The story of the tragic death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin continues to unfold. A great deal of attention is being devoted to debating whether George Zimmerman–the neighborhood watch captain who shot and killed the African-American 17-year-old–is a racist. But does the answer to this question really matter?

The story of the tragic death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin continues to unfold. A great deal of attention is being devoted to debating whether George Zimmerman–the neighborhood watch captain who shot and killed the African-American 17-year-old–is a racist. But does the answer to this question really matter?

Career

Getting the Most Out of Life, One Chocolate at a Time

Sam Sommers on March 15, 2012

One of the many reasons why studying human nature makes for such an intriguing pastime (or career, for that matter) is the frequency with which there's divergence between the factors that we *think* influence our decisions and those that actually shape how we see the world around us...

One of the many reasons why studying human nature makes for such an intriguing pastime (or career, for that matter) is the frequency with which there's divergence between the factors that we *think* influence our decisions and those that actually shape how we see the world around us...

Little things make a big difference in social interaction. Data indicate, for example, that smiling is contagious.

Mating

Looking for Love in all the Web Places

Sam Sommers on February 13, 2012

With Valentine's Day upon us, there are some interesting conclusions to note from soon-to-be-published research regarding that most 21st Century of romantic developments: the dating website.

With Valentine's Day upon us, there are some interesting conclusions to note from soon-to-be-published research regarding that most 21st Century of romantic developments: the dating website.