Evidence-based Ways to Change Someone’s Mind

portrait of an african couple standingThe nation is gripped in a presidential election unlike any other in history, with deep divides down political lines, an economy in peril and an enduring global pandemic.

On top of that, political information and misinformation abounds online. Because anyone can post anything on the internet, many people in both political parties base their opinions and judgement on false information. [Read more…]

How Systemic Racism Is Embedded in Property Taxes

Christian Hinkle/Adobe Stock

For some Americans, understanding systematic racism is a top priority. Sociology scholars explain that racism does not simply entail harboring ill feelings toward people of different races, but also the structural ways the American cultural and political system have disadvantaged Black people for centuries. [Read more…]

How Racism Affects Health

Paolese/Adobe StockRace is at the forefront of our national consciousness this week as many mourn the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, and protests and riots have erupted across the country. [Read more…]

The Science of Panic Buying and How to Stop It

Simone/Adobe StockSince the COVID-19 virus has spread through the United States, you’ve no doubt found your local stores sold out of essential items, such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer and many food products. [Read more…]

The Evidence on Alcoholics Anonymous

More than 15 million Americans have an alcohol-use disorder, and overuse of alcohol leads to nearly 90,000 deaths each year in the United States, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. [Read more…]

How Do Smartphones Impact Youth Mental Health?

Brian/Adobe StockMore than 80 percent of teenagers now have smartphones in the U.S. In fact, half of all U.S. youth get their own personal phone by age 11 – up nearly 20 percentage points from four years ago, according to a national survey.

[Read more…]

The Myth of the Holiday Blues

For many people, the holiday season inspires feelings of joy, gratitude and charity. For others, the added duties of shopping, cooking, wrapping and hosting lead to feelings of stress, anxiety and loneliness. (In, all likelihood, most people experience both happiness and increased stress levels in November and December.) [Read more…]

Philanthropy Is Good For You

You may have heard the buzz this week about Giving Tuesday, a nationwide movement to encourage Americans to donate to charities the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Or maybe you came across an iconic bell ringer standing next to a bucket to collect donations at your local shopping center. [Read more…]

The Health Risks of Vaping

Since their debut in 2004, electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes have steadily grown in popularity. Approximately 9 million U.S. adults regularly use e-cigarettes, and that includes a growing number of teenagers. In 2015, one in six high school students reported using an e-cigarette in the past month. [Read more…]

What Can We Do About Youth Homelessness?

Somewhere between 1 and 1.7 million youth under the age of 18 are homeless in the United States, with often destructive consequences.  Young people who experience homelessness are at high risk for a variety of physical and mental health problems, violence and early death. [Read more…]

The Complex Links Between Social Media and Mental Health

Over the past decade, social media platforms have completely transformed how billions of people interact with each other.  Of the 7.7 billion people on the earth, approximately 3.3 billion have at least one social media account. The average person spends nearly two hours a day on social media apps or web sites. [Read more…]

The Ripple Effects of Mass Incarceration

Approximately 2.3 million people are imprisoned in the United States in state and federal prisons, juvenile correctional facilities, local jails and psychiatric facilities.

While that number may seem staggering, what’s more surprising is the ripple effect of imprisonment. A study published this month found that 45 percent of all Americans have had an immediate family member spend time in jail or prison. That number jumps to 64 percent if extended family is included. [Read more…]

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