attitudes

Do Threatening Events Increase Support for Liberal or Conservative Viewpoints? It Depends on the Type of Threat

Businessman grabs head looking at business charts

Although certain threats, such as terrorism, increase support for political conservatism, other kinds of threats nudge people toward liberal viewpoints.

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Perceived Scientific Consensus as a Gateway to Bridging the Climate Change Divide

Helicopter view of North Miami Beach condominiums along the ocean

In the United States, climate change is a highly polarizing topic. How can we reduce this political polarization? In our research on attitudes about climate change, we seem to have discovered an answer. When people are reminded that almost all climate scientists believe in climate change, they become much less skeptical about it.

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attitudes

persuasion

judgment and decision-making

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Local Weather and Climate Influence Public Opinion on Global Warming

Red umbrella in a storm, a person, on a dock, standing silently

Whether you believe global warming is real may depend on where you live and what month it is.

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attitudes

persuasion

culture

judgment and decision-making

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Celebrity Fat Shaming Has Ripple Effects on Women’s Implicit Anti-Fat Attitudes

Washington, DC and Montreal, Quebec - Celebrities, particularly female celebrities, are routinely criticized about their appearance—indeed, celebrity “fat-shaming” is a fairly regular pop-cultural phenomenon. Although we might assume that these comments are trivial and inconsequential, the effects of these messages can extend well beyond the celebrity target and ripple through the population at large.

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Psychology News Roundup: ICYMI April 12, 2019

This week's roundup includes pieces on pay gaps, gratefulness, and why couples seem to look alike. Read on for the latest in social and personality psychology news and research. Recently in the news, written a post, or have selections you'd like us to consider? Email us, use the hashtag #SPSPblog, or tweet us directly @spspnews.

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To Forgive or Not to Forgive? Understanding Self-attitudes After Health Behavior Lapses

Image of checklist with exercise and nutritional goals

Health behavior change is notoriously difficult. If you have ever tried to exercise more often, drink more water, cut back on sweets, or even floss more regularly, you can probably relate to this difficulty firsthand. Some days you get it right and meet your new health-related goals, and on other days you fall short.

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attitudes

health

persuasion

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How to Overcome Unconscious Bias

By Jordan Axt

We all have prejudices we're not even aware of—but they don't have to govern our behavior

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Strength of One’s Mexican Identity Is Linked to Political Ideology

New research suggests a significant relationship between Latino identity and political ideology. The study, led by a Nevada State College (NSC) psychologist, found that U.S. born Mexicans who were less strongly identified with their Mexican heritage were less liberal in their political ideology. Mexican-Americans and more broadly, Latinos, are the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. and an important voting demographic.

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Friendships, Vaccines, and Impressions: Upcoming Studies in SPPS

While many scientists explore what people have in common, several studies publishing online to Social Psychological and Personality Science show us how differences help us understand individuals.

The company you keep: Personality and friendship characteristics, Michael Laakasuo; Anna Rotkirch, Venla Berg, Markus Jokela

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Could There be a Dark Side to a Growth Mindset?

Illustration of two black silhouetted faces looking at each other with the brain highlighted (left brain has a red X through it right brain has a green check mark)

I recently visited a local school in the Bristol area of the UK to talk about an upcoming wellbeing project. As I walked into the head teacher’s office I noticed a poster that detailed a strategy for increasing performance in young students. The centrepiece of that strategy was “Growth Mindset”. At first, I was delighted that brilliant work conducted by an academic in the US (Carol Dweck) had made it all the way across the pond and into this very applied setting. Then, I felt slightly worried.

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