Society Archives

The State of the World Today: How Did We Get Here?

Do you feel like the world is changing so fast that you can’t keep up with new developments? How does one even keep up with such an exponential pace of change? Today, the world is accelerating at a pace never seen before, which results in many people feeling destabilized or lost. In these ever-changing times, the best thing we can do to feel more stable is to take a moment to reflect and reorient ourselves. In this article, we’ll discuss the state of the world today, how today’s conditions arose, and what we can do to keep up with the

The Hive Mentality in Politics: A Force for Good or Bad?

How does the hive mentality manifest in politics? Is it beneficial or detrimental? A hive mentality is one of group interest rather than self-interest. Just as bees work together for the benefit of the hive, we can do the same when we flip the hive switch and move from self-interest to group interest. Jonathan Haidt, in his book The Righteous Mind, discusses what this looks like in the context of politics. Read more to learn about the hive mentality in politics, including its pros and cons.

The Impact of India’s Economic Collapse on Annawadi

How did India’s economic collapse in 2008 affect the residents of Annawadi, according to the book Behind the Beautiful Forevers? What did the residents do to survive? India’s economic collapse heavily affected sectors like construction and hospitality which resulted in fewer jobs for Annawadi’s residents. Hungry residents started eating rats and frogs, while some like Sunil survived by stealing. Read on to learn more about the devastating impact of India’s economic collapse on Annawadi’s residents.

How to Ask for What You Want: Ask and Receive

Does fear of rejection prevent you from getting what you want? How do you ask for what you want in an unobtrusive yet bold and assertive way? Sometimes, all it takes to get what you want is asking for it. But it’s easy to hold yourself back—maybe you’re afraid of rejection, so you decide it’s better not to ask than to face a “no.” Here are some tips on how to ask for what you want to increase your chances of actually getting it.

Group Cooperation: Why Do We Form Groups?

Why do humans have a tendency toward group cooperation? Is it always a good thing? People are groupish. We love to gather with others, and we often thrive on group cooperation. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that group cooperation and morality go hand in hand. While groupishness can lead to negative tribal thinking, it also can help us rise above detrimental self-interest. Read more to learn about the evolution and implications of group cooperation.

Why Annawadi Residents Tried to Marry into Money

Why were the residents of Annawadi trying to marry into money in the book Behind the Beautiful Forevers? What strategies did they use to find wealthy suitors? The residents of Annawadi wanted to marry into money so they could attain economic security and climb the social ladder. Residents like Manju tried to improve their appearance and build their social networks in hopes of expanding their marriage prospects. Read more to discover how Annawadi’s residents like Manju tried to marry into money.

Globalization and Climate Change: There Is No Planet B

What is the connection between globalization and climate change? Will the Earth be able to withstand the effects of accelerating globalization? As a result of the accelerations in technology and globalization, climate change is also accelerating at a pace greater than anything seen before in human history. For the most part, the planet has been good at maintaining equilibrium. Today, however, changes are happening so fast and so globally that we’re approaching the limit of the planet’s ability to buffer the climate. In this article, we’ll discuss the effects of globalization and its implications for the planet Earth.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Police Brutality in India

How Beautiful Forevers Exposes Police Brutality in India

How is police brutality in India relevant to the book Behind the Beautiful Forever? Is the use of excessive force by the police prohibited under Indian law? In the book, Abdul and his father were victims of police brutality. Abdul was arrested after a neighbor accused him of attempted murder, and he was tortured by the police who knew he was innocent. Police brutality in India is prevalent, despite its prohibition by the country’s Civil Rights Act. Read on to learn more about how Abdul in Behind the Beautiful Forevers became a victim of police brutality in India.

Economics Basics: What Are Negative Externalities?

What are negative externalities? What do governments do in an attempt to control them? Negative externalities are costs incurred by non-involved parties as a result of an economic transaction. To prevent negative externalities, governments may impose externality charges. This article takes a look at negative economic externalities and how governments determine how to levy them on the consumer.

The Charlottesville “Unite the Right” Rally

What happened during the 2017 Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally? How did this rally mark a cultural shift? In 2017, the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally marked a cultural shift because it was the largest public gathering of white supremacists in decades. Many believe this was partly inspired by the election of Donald Trump and was a prelude to the 2021 Capitol attack. Continue reading to learn what happened before, during, and after the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally, and what it means for the resurgence of racial bias.