Behavioural Sciences
Measuring shared knowledge with group false memory
Research has shown that when we make decisions, we are influenced by biases relating to the way we structure knowledge in our brains. If these biases are shared by others, they can be exaggerated. This often results in false memories, which is the recall or recognition of phenomena that did not occur. Yoshiko Arima and colleagues at Kyoto University of Advanced Science investigated […]
Homelessness in Western Society: The Dark Side of The Moon
Homelessness is becoming a relevant phenomenon in western nations despite improvements across economic and healthcare indices over the last decades. Dr Fabrizia Faustinella, Associate Professor at Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, has crafted a compelling documentary on homelessness exploring both its causes and consequences and giving a voice to those living on the streets. The documentary, entitled […]
The role of social capital in the health development of children
Social capital refers to networks and ties, which deliver support, information and trust for the members. Being part of such a network is your social capital, which in turn can improve health and wellbeing. Andreas Klocke and Sven Stadtmüller from Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences investigated the impact of social capital on the health of children in their developmental process. Researchers […]
Gender inequality: occupational devaluation and pay gaps
The comparative research of long-term trends of gender inequality largely neglects structural mechanisms. As more women reach positions of power, structural elements will become more significant. Despite the growing body of literature in this area, the long-term effect of the changing gender composition of occupations on their relative pay has been largely neglected. Hadas Mandel, an Associate Professor in the […]
The dawn of memory modulation and self-prescribed forgetting – a moral dilemma
Human memory is an incredible feat of the brain, storing all of our fondest memories, and all of our greatest heartaches, nightmares and frankly memories we would maybe rather do without. What was once considered an idea bound to science fiction may be a possibility, at least theoretically. Advances in Neuroscience and Psychology have allowed the idea of physically and […]
Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) provides positive outcomes for those in lower socioeconomic environments
The western world today demands a great deal from its inhabitants, both physically and mentally. The prevalence of mental health problems is high, and none more so than those in low socioeconomic status, with financial hardship recognised as a root cause for life stress and anxiety. Although trained in both eastern and western based mindfulness techniques, Karma Jiga applies the […]
A fascination with violence: appetitive aggression in males and females
Exposure to violence during childhood or at later stages of life can result in severe trauma, mental health issues, and in some instances, appetitive aggression, an acquired fascination by or pleasure in violence. Under the leadership of Prof Dr Thomas Elbert, Dr Danie Meyer-Parlapanis and her co-author Dr Mareike Augsburger, from the University of Konstanz in Germany and the University […]
How to promote gender equity in the green economy
The realities of climate change have prompted many nations to strive for greener industries. This includes the development of new technologies which are less carbon-intensive, and the overhaul of sectors such as energy and transportation where women are traditionally poorly represented in the workforce. As the green economy develops, thousands of jobs will be created, but it is unlikely that […]
Globalisation through a post-colonialist lens: understanding our past is key to our present
Professor Diana Brydon is a leading research scholar, working at the intersections of globalisation and post-colonial cultural studies. Through her work, we can see how processes of globalisation have changed many aspects of our daily lives. She frames her study of concepts such as autonomy, community and democracy with the understanding that the history of colonialism is still entangled in […]
Emerging forms of metropolitan governance in Latin America
As Latin America’s middle classes have expanded considerably in the last few years, so have their aspirations for improved living standards, especially in metropolitan areas. Since 2007, Dr Raúl Acosta García of the University of Konstanz has been investigating the efforts of grassroots activists in Guadalajara, Mexico. During this time, he has witnessed a wave of activism through which people […]