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Why Diversity Should Matter to Psychological Science
At a special event exploring the urgent need for more racial and ethnic diversity in psychological science, APS Fellow Robert M. Sellers analyzed some of the reasons the field is dominated by Western, educated, industrialized, rich, Democrat (WEIRD) individuals. He noted that 60% of US studies and 80% of international studies are conducted on college students and that the vast majority of college students are white — conditions that mean minorities remain underrepresented both in studies and in academia itself.
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The Use and Misuse of Science in the Justice System
The psychological factors that play into the criminal justice system, from police interrogations to jury verdicts and sentencing decisions, were highlighted in a cross-cutting theme program at the APS Annual Convention in New York City. The session included a look at myths and facts about psychopathic traits in children, flawed methods used to understand human lie detection, and false confessions that often trump factual evidence. Among the cross-disciplinary group of speakers were APS Fellow Saul Kassin, (Williams College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice) and forensic psychologist John Edens (Texas A&M University).
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How to Combat Inequality in the LGBT Community
Although mainstream support for LGBT individuals has been steadily growing, workplace discrimination — both explicit and implicit — still poses many challenges. APS Board Member Mikki Hebl (Rice University) argues that one effective way to combat inequality is for allies and LGBT individuals alike to stand up and be counted in society: “Ironically, one of the reasons to come out is to reduce discrimination.” Hebl has also found that antidiscrimination laws play an important role in changing people's attitudes and behavior, ultimately reducing interpersonal discrimination.
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At the Intersection of Self-Control and Emotion
In an invited talk at the 2015 APS Annual Convention in New York City, APS Fellow Michael Inzlicht posed a question that he acknowledged runs counter to some commonly held psychological theories: Is self-control an emotion? “Emotions are often seen as the enemy of self-control … I think often they get a bad reputation in psychology,” he said, referencing the dual-processing model that often pits “hot” emotions against “cold” self-discipline. He suggested that, although this model has been useful, it might sometimes be a simplification or even a mischaracterization, and that instead conflict, emotion, and self-control are linked in complex ways that should further be explored.
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Impossible Knowledge: Are You an Expert?
I grew up with a habitual overclaimer. He wildly exaggerated his expertise, at times claiming knowledge of things he couldn’t possibly know—people, events, ideas that simply do not exist. Being unfamiliar with overclaiming, I just called him a liar. I couldn’t have known the word overclaimer, nor the concept. The word didn’t exist, and is only used today in the world of psychological science. Even so, we’re all familiar with these people who feel the need to overestimate what they know about the world. What underlies such assertions of impossible knowledge?
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Storing Information In Other People’s Heads
NPR: To function effectively in the world, you need to acquire a whole lot of information. You need to know exactly which medicine is appropriate for each ailment. You need to know how to fix your car and your router and your irrigation system. You need to know the date of every major holiday and how it is observed. Right? Of course not. That would be crazy. We don't keep all the information we could possibly need in our own heads, just as we don't make all our own clothes and manufacture our own doorknobs. We rely on a division of labor.
