Society Archives

The Quest for Ideological Purity on College Campuses

How is the “us versus them” mindset causing a quest for ideological purity in colleges? Why is it so important to have diverse viewpoints? In their book, The Coddling of the American Mind, Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff believe that many colleges today are trending towards ideological purity rather than diversity. They state that this way of thinking can lead to persecution of those who are perceived to be dissenters and can lead to intimidation and fear. Keep reading to learn why ideological purity in colleges is dangerous.

Lifting the Veil off Political Decision-Making

Why do politicians adopt policies that seem so bad for citizens? Why is it so easy for politicians to cover up their mistakes? In a popularly elected government, the incentive is to do what is popular and garners votes, even if the consequences are worse than those of doing nothing. Even worse, politicians are spending taxpayer money, not their own, so frivolous spending hurts them little. Here is a quick look at what really drives political decision-making.

The Case for the Biopsychosocial Model for Depression

What is the premise of the biopsychosocial model for depression? How has the biopsychosocial approach affected the chemical imbalance theory of depression? The biopsychosocial model for depression dispels the perception of depression as a brain disease and instead recognizes biology, psychological history, and social factors as the root causes of depression. The biopsychosocial approach has been adopted by most psychiatrists at the expense of the chemical imbalance theory. Read on to learn more about the biopsychosocial model for depression.

The Coddling of the American Mind: Best Quotes

Are you looking for The Coddling of the American Mind quotes from Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff? What do these quotes say about the fragility of today’s youth? In their book, Haidt and Lukianoff discuss the growing fragility amongst young people, specifically college students. The authors believe that colleges are preventing students from encountering controversial topics and stunting their emotional growth. Keep reading for The Coddling of the American Mind quotes with analysis.

Using the N-Word Invokes Oppressive Power Structures

Ever wondered why it’s OK when black people are using the N-word but white people are discouraged from doing so? Why does the word carry a different meaning depending on the skin color of the person saying it? Words carry emotions and they perpetuate social structures. Every word has a history, and the word “nigger” carries a particularly ugly emotional history of dehumanization, disadvantage, exploitation, and oppression. Here is why who’s using the N-word matters.

Social Currency: The Key to Successful Marketing

What is social currency? How can this concept be applied to your marketing strategy? Social currency refers to the influence or value you bring to the people around you. If talking about a product or service improves people’s social currency, it will dramatically improve engagement, word of mouth, and sales. This is because people will want to talk about and share your product if it will make them seem more interesting to others. Keep reading to find out more about social currency and how you can use it in your marketing strategy.

The Chemical Imbalance Theory—Debunked

Is the chemical imbalance theory of depression true? How does the book Lost Connections challenge the theory? Research shows that there is no evidence that having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals can solely lead to depression. The book Lost Connections challenges the chemical imbalance theory by exploring the biopsychosocial model which posits that psychological, social, and biological factors are the main causes of depression. Read more about why the chemical imbalance theory is flawed.

The Coddling of the American Mind: Book Overview

What is The Coddling of the American Mind book about? What are the three “Great Untruths” shared in the book? The Coddling of the American Mind is Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff book about the growing fragility of colleges and young people today. The authors discuss three “untruths” that young people are told that are dangerous for society. Keep reading to learn what The Coddling of the American Mind is about.

How to Read Social Science Books

How should you go about reading social science books? What makes these books different than other types of nonfiction? Social science books are different than other forms of nonfiction because they should not be read as isolated works. When you read social science works, you should read many books on the same topic to get a comprehensive take on the matter. Here’s how Adler and Van Doren suggest reading social science books in How to Read a Book.

How Economies Can Recover From a Recession

What exactly is a recession? How do economic recessions happen? Recessions are periods of time during which an economy’s GDP shrinks. Recessions are generally caused by a shock to the system (e.g.the bursting of the stock market or real estate bubbles, a steep rise in oil prices). Often a combination of causes leads to recession. In this article, we’ll discuss the measures governments take to recover from a recession and make the economy self-sustaining again.