Author: TheConversation

By Arash Javanbakht, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Wayne State University Yet another community is stricken with grief in the wake of the horrific shooting at Monterey Park, California, on January 21, 2023, that left 11 people dead and 9 more wounded. Families and friends of the victims, as well as those who were injured, are no doubt gripped with grief, anguish and despair. In addition to those who are experiencing direct loss, such events also take a toll on others, including those who witnessed the shooting, first responders, people who were nearby and those who hear about it through...

By Homa Hosseinmardi, Associate Research Scientist in Computational Social Science, University of Pennsylvania The past two election cycles have seen an explosion of attention given to “echo chambers,” or communities where a narrow set of views makes people less likely to challenge their own opinions. Much of this concern has focused on the rise of social media, which has radically transformed the information ecosystem. However, when scientists investigated social media echo chambers, they found surprisingly little evidence of them on a large scale – or at least none on a scale large enough to warrant the growing concerns. And...

By Jordan Taylor, Adjunct Instructor in History, Indiana University Misinformation is often at the root of political extremism. During the 2022 United States midterm election, some of the most radical politicians in the Republican Party were fueled by the unfounded belief that the previous presidential election in 2020 was stolen. Misinformation as motivation for political action is nothing new. As I explain in my new book, Misinformation Nation, during the American Revolution, the self-declared “Patriot” faction that led the colonies through a bloody fight to independence was guided by a profoundly mistaken belief. These Patriots thought that the British...

By Joy Semien, Research Assistant at the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center, Texas A&M University When hurricanes, floods and other kinds of disasters throttle a community, people from all over often rush to give those in need money, bottled water, diapers and all sorts of goods. These donations often land at the doorsteps of local nonprofits that are then tasked with distributing them. But while these groups help their communities recuperate, they have to get back on their feet too and can falter if they don’t get what they need. As an urban planning researcher who focuses on disaster...

By Maki Rooksby, Post-doctoral researcher, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow; Hamish J. McLeod, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Glasgow; and Tadaaki Furuhashi, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Nagoya University It is fairly normal to sometimes feel like you want to hide away from the stresses and pressures of the outside world. In fact, shortlived periods of withdrawal can reduce acute stress responses and can help us overcome illness and exhaustion. Periods of solace and isolation can also help with important phases of development, such as exploring one’s identity during adolescence. But some people do not reemerge...