Since time immemorial, psychologists—and women—have assumed that men avoid talking about problems due to feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable with their emotions, or because of a society that degrades men for appearing “weak.” However, a new study from researchers at the University of Missouri reveals that men simply view discussing problems as a waste of their time.
Modern technology has made great strides in personal communication, but some of the body gestures that are so critical to full understanding are lost in virtual translation. In a typical face-to-face communication, speakers and listeners both engage in certain body gestures that convey meaning and intent, but many technological advances in virtual communication have failed to account for this. According to research published in the PLoS ONE online journal, this limitation severely dampens the ability to communicate virtually.
According to social networking researchers, the old saying “birds of a feather flock together” applies even in the vast realm of cyberspace. This is the topic of the recently published research findings of Dr. Cuihua Shen, an assistant professor at University of Texas Dallas. Her findings have been reported in a recent issue of the First Monday publication. Shen examined the community dynamics of users from SourceForge, a massive internet open source community. Shen conducted social network analyses on these users to determine the social motivations within the communities and the shaping of collaborations within these communities.
The adoption of social networking sites has been nothing less than spectacular. While once Google and other search engines reigned as kings, sites such as Facebook and Twitter attract more attention and more hours each day from nearly a billion users. Visits to Facebook and Twitter are at an all-time high. It has been reported that over 1 billion people are using social media sites, with Facebook in the lead.
The effects certain aspects of culture on children has been a subject of study for a number of years, and the effects of sexualized musical lyrics on adolescents is of particular concern. Researchers from Brigham Young University are examining the growing trend of including distinct explicit sexual lyrics in popular music. The journal, Sexuality & Culture, has published the results online to help educators develop plans to promote appropriate sexual development in today’s youth.
Psychological researchers at the University of Toronto have recently conducted a study about the effects of sexual orientation on impressions. The results of the study indicate that homosexual men may experience differences in likability based on race. Specifically, white heterosexual men are deemed to be more likable, but gay black men seem to have more likability.
Who you know might carry more weight in your hiring than your actual work knowledge and experience. Work experience in the field should result in meeting helpful social contacts, and these individuals might eventually give a helping hand in entering the workforce. Unfortunately for women, a North Carolina State University study found that women do not receive the benefits of work contacts made through experience. For one reason or another, only men enjoy the benefits of social connections.
Every January, a highly advertised event occurs in the U.S.: a new season of the hit reality TV series “American Idol” begins. On the show, hundreds of teens and young adults compete for a chance to sing before a national audience and possibly earn a record deal. Since its inception, the show has become the highest rated in the history of television, with more votes cast for the performers per season than for the nation’s president. Cue the lights, camera and—psychologists say—the skewed lesson on human values.
Voters might like to think that they cannot be swayed by the influence of media endorsements, but Brian Knight and Chun Fang Chiang, researchers at Brown University, recently published a study in The Review of Economic Studies which states that media endorsements do have a significant effect of the decisions of voters.
Despite the ease of access to the internet and social networks, a recent University of California, Berkeley, study has found that most web content is produced by the world wide web’s more affluent users. According to Jen Schradie, the author of the study and a researcher at the university’s Berkeley Center for New Media, most web content is still produced by individuals with higher income and higher levels of education.
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