Our Society Today

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What do card tricks have to do with Psychology? - April 2nd, 2009

Our Society Today, Psychology

Take a look at the video, by Professor David and while you watch think: what has Psychology got to do with this?

Then scroll down to find out what you are really seeing.

Here the colour changing card trick shows an odd event called change blindness. Research from the 1970s looked at why people can not see changes in flim or two rapidly shown photos. So I wanted to know why we can not spot the different when the images are moving!

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Turn on the TV and you’ll hear it. Pop on your favourite radio station and its there too. In fact it’s everywhere you look. The banks have collapsed. The UK is in recession. Those at the top wanted too much money at the expense of the UK population. But is this view accurate?

It seems quite fitting that given all of the talk around economics, some research has come to light that looks at how individual behaviour affects society.

If you have studied politics or travelled a lot, you might have seen that different countries have different forms of social government - some are capitalist, others are socialist, while others follow Maoism. Yet it seems that researchers from Portugal and Belgium have discovered that democracy appears to in fact be the best path for sustainable societies.

Their research shows while sometimes people are selfish and make decisions that only benefit them, more often that not they play it safe. They make decisions which benefit everyone, gambling on the fact that they too will reap the rewards. And it seems the more able a person is to adapt and cooperate to the benefit of all, the more successful they will be in society. Co-operators, it appears, invade and thrive in populations.

So where does this leave us in the ‘banking crisis’? Has selfish behaviour collapsed the system? This research seems to suggest this. Maybe we can put this theory to the test and see what new structures emerge - will it be the same, or will the banks ‘play it safe’ and make decisions which benefit us all?

Pointless arguing over who was going to get the better looking Barbie doll, building a protection fort in my back garden and planning to ‘run away from home’ for no apparent reason. These are some of the bizarre and fond memories I can think of experiencing with my siblings. Like many people, I have found that I love to talk about the silly moments I’ve had with my brother and sister while growing up - which helped make me into the person I am today.

With research from the Open University exploring the ways in which ‘siblings are important for children and young people’s social and emotional sense of self in relation to others’ it is important to remember the value of our brothers and sisters.

Last year as part of the ESRC’s Festival of Social Science, 800 people from all ages and backgrounds filled in postcards about their sisters and brothers. It’s surprisingly fascinating to hear other people’s memories of their sisters and brothers - seeing how you can relate to them and discovering other people’s viewpoints of sibling relationships. From the huge success of this, a virtual event being held by; Timescapes Siblings project, London South Bank University is due to take place as part of this year’s festival. From the 6th of March you will be able to go online at the BBC Memoryshare website to hear the memories of others and to share your own.

And it doesn’t stop there, beyond the festival; take part in a weekend of free family activities, celebrating sisters and brothers on 4 - 5 April 2009 at the V&A Museum of Childhood, London.

The Festival of Social Science, 6-15 March 2009

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2009, The Centre for economic learning and Social Evolution in collaboration with University College London are holding an event entitled; ‘Discover Economics’.

This event is predominantly aimed at Mathematics and Economics Students, years 10 - 13. If you have a passion for this highly useful subject and woud like to learn more about it - outside of the classroom than this event will be for you.

This hands on event will compromise of a morning and an afternoon session using actual experiments in the labratory for experimental economics followed by a presentation and discussion focussed around them. things we do in everyday life. It will be of particular interest to those who whant to study economics of maths at university, whilst giving those students who are unsure a better understanding of it and perhaps lead them to consider further studay in the subject.

World class experts from UCL will give short and inspiring talks about developments in the social sciences. Moreover, students will learn something about their own and others’ behaviour as they will be shown the data generated at the end.

The event aims to create an understanding of how economics can help find effective strategies for the sciences. Moreover, students will learn something about their own and others’ behaviour as they will be shown the date generated in the experiments at the end.

Discover Economics: London, Wednesday 11 March 2008, 10:00am - 12:00 and 1:00pm - 3:00pm)

Knife and gun crime is in the news almost every day but has it really increased? - If so why?

My views on this topic are that; these sorts of crimes haven’t increased as much as people would think. I think the reason people may think they have increased is because it is in the news a lot more.

I think that; yes, it has risen but the crimes have been around for years - however before now, the media wern’t so inclined to let us hear about it!

In the place where I live, I can honestly say that I don’t know anyone with a gun but I am aware that guns are becoming more available in many places than they were 10 years ago. -I think although gun crime is a problem, it isn’t as big a problem as knife crime. I know people that carry knives, although none of them have ever used it or felt the need to use it. I think the main reasons that people carry knives are that kids feel safer knowing that if they get into any trouble then they have a knife for protection. Another reason linked into the protection factor is that other people carry knives and so people feel safer knowing they have one too and they also think that it’s okay to carry them as everyone else does anyway.

Although I know people that carry knives, I don’t think many of them would use the weapon to stab someone. If I had a knife I know I would never stab someone even if I did pull it out on someone.

I think one of the main reasons for the increase in knife/gun crime is the availability of the weapons. I have been offered a knife for a few quid on many occasions but have politely declined as I have never felt the need to carry a knife, but other people probably would not decline and so that adds another person to the already huge amount of teens carrying knives. Guns are also readily available if you know the right people.

Another reason for an increase in knife and gun crime can be put down to rap music and gang culture. Rap stars always talk about how many times they have been shot or how many times they have had a knife pulled on them and I think that people are influenced by these people, and so will go out, buy a gun or knife and possibly try and kill someone with this weapon. I don’t think we can blame it all on rap music as I think this influence is only that a few people, as millions, listen to rap music but not all of these are knife wielding, gun slinging mad men! But a good example of the rap music talking about guns and shooting people can be shown here in 50 Cent’s song ‘Many Men’

Every night I talk to god, but he don’t say nothing back

I know he protecting me, but I still stay with my gat

In my nightmares, n***** keep pulling techs on me

Psych says some b**** done, put a hex on me

The feds didn’t know much, when Pac got shot

I got a kite from the pens that told me, Tuck got knocked

I ain’t gonna spell it out for you motherf****** all the time

Are you illiterate n****? You can’t read between the lines

In the bible it says, what goes around, comes around

Hommo shot me three weeks later he got shot down

Now it’s clear that I’m here, for a real reason

‘Cause he got hit like I got hit, but he ain’t f****** breathing

50 Cent ‘Many Men’

The words highlighted in bold are examples of where he discusses and talks about guns and people getting shot. As you can see there is more than one occasion when he refers to guns and this could have a negative influence on the youth of today.

• I don’t think it has increased as much as people think, it’s just in the news more. http://knifecrime.blogspot.com/2006/11/rio-ferdinand-backs-anti-kinfe-drive.html
• Gun crime in some places may have increased but I don’t know anyone with a gun so I don’t think it is as bad as knife crime as I know numerous people that have had a knife at one point or another.
• Kids feel safer knowing they have protection
• I think of the people carrying knives, many of them would not use them
• People only carry knives because other people do so its safer to have one than not http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3244709.stm
• I think a reason for an increase in knife/gun crime is availability. Numerous people have offered me a knife for a few quid but I have declined. Others may not decline and so will have purchased a knife and will carry it around with them
• I think one reason for knife/gun crime increase can be put down to rap music. Rap stars always talk about how many times they have been shot which is nothing to be proud of but may encourage younger people to get a gun.

“…I know we’re just kids but we live in this world too. And if we don’t say anything about it, who will?” (Girl, aged 10) Out of the mouths of babes, the saying goes. So why does society not listen to those most at risk of and affected by the rising level of violence among Britains young?

When a crime is commited, do we look suspiciously at the young, affluent mother of three? Or our elderly neighbour? Or the youngster in a ‘hoodie’ on a bike? Does the fact that crimes are commited by young peole mean that society should categorise them all as stereotypical ‘ASBO’ recipients? Undeniably, there is strong evidence to suggest that being male and young is the strongest predictor of violence, however, not all young men are predisposed to commit violent acts.

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As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2009, The ESRC centre for Genomics in Society have organised an event; ‘Will genetics revolutionise psychiatry?’

This insightful and interactive workshop is for young people who wish to learn about the developments in psychiatric genetics and their social implications. Psychiatric disorders can make you feel shamed. In this session, young people will debate the social and ethical implications of the increased knowledge of the genetic causes of psychiatric disorders; will this be a source of understanding or disgracing those with a psychiatric disorder?

Through this workshop you, as a young person will gain a greater understanding of the interaction between science and society, the effect science has on everyday lives and the role social science plays in considering the social, cultural, ethical and political dimensions of biomedical science.

You will engage in a new way with a topic of vital and immediate interest, thinking about its relevance to your own life. Within the session there will be role-playing activities to encourage you to consider different perspectives and having the opportunity to express and discuss your own opinions.

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A part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science week, the Centre: Internation Bibliography of the Social Sciences are holding a blog competiton.

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We hear about them everyday – public figures are never safe from the ever-persistent eyes of the press. Once there is a slight hint of scandal – it is all over the media before you can say ‘bobs-your-uncle’.

The media has grown ever more focused toward those figures in the public eye over considerably more important issue like the Iraq War. The media-obsessed nation has funded this billion-dollar industry with its need for information. A study from the ESRC found that; ’70 per cent’ of participants considered it a duty to keep up with the news – generally through media consumption. This includes both ‘serious news’ and predominantly ‘celebrity culture’.

One of the most famous public figure media frenzies was that of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky after the famous ‘alleged’ affair was exposed  alongside the infamous catchphrase; ‘ I did not have sexual relations with that woman’. To cut a long story short, this ruined Bills squeaky clean image and therefore the faith of many of the American people.

Is this really fair. Any other Tom, Dick and Harry could get away with such an action without a second glance – let alone a million glances all over America! Was it something the public really benefited from knowing? – Did the media really need to focus on such a story like it did or were there far more important issues to be addressed – like war, world poverty and crime.

Other famous scandals you may remember include; Alex Ferguson and the infamous football boot which conveniently flew through the air and managed to manifest itself onto the face of David Beckham. Speaking of the Beckhams, they are living proof that it is not only the public figures themselves who can be affected by the relentless press – sometimes the innocent associates can suffer. In 2003 Victoria and a baby Brooklyn were  under threat of an alleged kidnap plot, which never did manifest, however it left a media frenzy which affected both the glamorous couple AND their child. A survey carried out by ITC in conjunction with the broadcasting standards commission found that 91% of adults felt that the media; ‘should never impinge on the private lives of children’.

It is easy to forget that these people are only human – not immortal like we’re sometimes led to believe. I can appreciate the difficulty in this when we consider Brad Pitt after his  Godlike performance as Achilles in Troy! Should public figures, whether they be an actor, musician, sports star or politician be given the same respect and privacy as the rest of the population, or at least should the exposure they receive in the media be restricted by law?

On the other hand, many public figures know what they arwe getting themselves into when choosing their career path. If they wished for an easy, press -free life - why dont they get an office job? Do these people have a resposibilty to uphold whilst being in the public eye. After all, they know that the career path they have chosen has a down side. I’m sure however that our famous scandal stirrers like Russell Brand and Paris Hilton are laughing all the way to the bank - aren’t they?

Some people in the lime-light may deserve this difficult life that being famous implicates, however, sometimes the media can go too far with their un-quenchable thirst for a juicy story. For example, John Travolta and the tragic death of his 16 year old son. Speculations from the press stated that his son was autistic which Travolta has denied and if that is not bad enough for the grief-stricken actor, a high ranking politician and a paramedic have recently been questioned for the allegations of  blackmailing Travolta with photographs of his son’s dead body!

Do you think the media should be restricted? Or do you feel that these public figures must deal with the negative implications which come with their chosen career path?

Have your say.