Society Archives

Rupi Kaur on Bad Body Image: “My Body Cries”

How can poetry explain having a bad body image? What did Rupi Kaur’s negative self-image teach her? As she explores the struggle of having a bad body image, Rupi Kaur’s poetry in her book, The Sun and Her Flowers, expresses feelings of depression, envy, and longing. Kaur’s poetry gives intimate details of how women, especially women of color, come to terms with negative body image. Keep reading to learn about Rupi Kaur’s experience of having a bad body image, expressed through poetry.

Why Multigenerational Households Are in Decline

Why is multigenerational living in decline? What are the advantages of living in a multigenerational family? It was once typical for the elderly to live with their children and grandchildren under one roof. This arrangement wasn’t always easy, but it met many of the core needs of the elderly that we neglect today. Moreover, living in a multigenerational household made younger generations more aware of mortality by exposing them to the realities of aging and dying. Here’s why multigenerational living is in decline, according to Atul Gawande.

The Housing Shortage: Causes, Effects, & Outlook

What factors are contributing to the housing shortage? Does it look like prices will go down, or are the high prices here to stay? How is it affecting renters? If you’ve looked into buying or selling a house recently, then you will have noticed the exorbitant prices of homes at the moment. Unlike the 2006 housing crisis, the high costs have a more complicated cause this time. Continue reading to learn what factors are causing the current housing shortage and if the prices will go back down.

What Creates a False Sense of Entitlement?

How does a person create a false sense of entitlement? Why is it harmful to themselves and others? According to psychologist Martin Seligman, unearned self-esteem leads to a false sense of entitlement by making people believe it’s not necessary to work hard for success. Seligman says this is in part due to societal pressure to always maintain high self-esteem. Read on to learn the causes and dangers of a false sense of entitlement, according to Seligman.

Atul Gawande: Being Mortal (Book Overview)

What is Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In his book Being Mortal, surgeon Atul Gawande considers our experience of aging and dying in the 21st century. In his view, the modern approach to these stages of life undermines our ability to live well up to the end—to do better, we need to accept death as a natural part of the human experience and prioritize the well-being of the dying. Below is a brief overview of Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande.

Universal Emotions: Psychology Says They Don’t Exist

What are universal emotions in psychology? Do universal emotions even exist? Which emotions are universal? In her book, How Emotions Are Made, neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett examined past psychological experiments to create a new theory of emotions in psychology. According to Barrett’s findings, universal emotions don’t exist as many psychologists previously believed. Keep reading to find out why Barrett says universal emotions are a myth, according to psychology.

Cultural Differences in Emotions: Do We All “Feel” the Same?

Are there cultural differences in emotions? How does your culture shape your emotions? Are some emotions unique to certain cultures? Lisa Feldman Barrett says emotions don’t necessarily cross borders—cultural differences shape how you experience and express emotions. According to Barrett, universal emotions are mostly a myth because the experiments they’re based on were flawed. Keep reading to learn why there are cultural differences in emotions, according to Barrett’s research.

Is the True Crime Obsession Going Too Far?

Is an obsession with true crime a bad thing? Does true crime exploit tragedies for profit and entertainment purposes? Stories about true crime are everywhere—from television series to documentaries to podcasts. But the consumption of tragedy as entertainment might be crossing some ethical boundaries and affecting audiences psychologically. Let’s look at how true crime is presented in entertainment and social media, and discover the issues that may arise from society’s true crime obsession.

Machiavelli on War Forces: Personal Armies Are the Way to Go

When it comes to building an army for war, what does Machiavelli advise? What’s the secret to finding loyal soldiers? In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli distinguishes three types of armies: hired forces, borrowed forces, and personal forces. He cautions princes to avoid hired forces, to be wary of borrowed forces, and to opt for personal forces when possible. Continue reading for a brief discussion of Machiavelli on war forces.

Why Black People Are Denied the Right to Self-Defense

Do Black Americans have the same right to self-defense as white Americans? What does America’s past have to do with the right to self-defense? The right to self-defense is leniently granted to white people while often being withheld from Black people. These injustices can be attributed to the Black stereotypes that persist from slavery. Specifically, Black people are still perceived as uncivil and dangerous. Here’s why Black people are denied the right to self-defense.