Voters are starting to act like hard-core sports fans – with dangerous repercussions for democracy
Michael Devlin, Texas State University and Natalie Brown Devlin, University of Texas at Austin During Donald Trump’s presidency, the American electorate became more divided and partisan, with research suggesting that the ongoing division is less about policy and more about labels like “conservative” and “liberal.” Essentially, voters increasingly see themselves in one of two camps […]
How Trump’s language shifted in the weeks leading up to the Capitol riot – 2 linguists explain
Roger J. Kreuz, University of Memphis and Leah Cathryn Windsor, University of Memphis On Jan. 6, the world witnessed how language can incite violence. One after another, a series of speakers at the “Save America” rally at the Ellipse in Washington redoubled the messages of anger and outrage. This rhetoric culminated with a directive by […]
The US Capitol has been stormed before – when British troops burned Washington in 1814
Matthew Ward, University of Dundee As rioters forced their way into the US Capitol Building on January 6, astounded CNN presenters noted that this was the first time something like this had happened for more than 200 years. And that on the occasion it was the British, an enemy power, which was responsible. This was […]
How to help dogs and cats manage separation anxiety when their humans return to work
Lori M Teller, Texas A&M University When one of my co-workers found out about a tiny, orphaned kitten that needed a home a few months ago, he didn’t hesitate to adopt it. He says his new companion helped make the months of COVID-19 isolation at home much less stressful. He is not alone. Animal shelters […]
How holiday cards help us cope with a not-so-merry year, according to a professor of comedy
Matthew McMahan, Emerson College The first Christmas card was, perhaps predictably, one of good cheer. The concept is commonly credited to Sir Henry Cole, the founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. To spare himself the stress of responding to the all-too-many Christmas letters he received from friends, Cole commissioned an artist to […]
The psychology of fairness: Why some Americans don’t believe the election results
David M. Mayer, University of Michigan The electoral votes have confirmed Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election. The presidential electors gave Biden 306 electoral votes to President Donald Trump’s 232 votes. Biden also recorded a solid lead of over 7 million in the popular vote. Nonetheless, results from a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist […]
Why being stuck at home – and unable to hang out in cafes and bars – drains our creativity
Korydon Smith, University at Buffalo; Kelly Hayes McAlonie, University at Buffalo, and Rebecca Rotundo, University at Buffalo While the pandemic has caused thousands of small businesses to temporarily close or shutter for good, the disappearance of the corner coffee shop means more than lost wages. It also represents a collective loss of creativity. Researchers have […]
As the pandemic rages, the US could use a little bit more ‘samfundssind’
Marie Helweg-Larsen, Dickinson College In recent years, the English-speaking world has found two Danish concepts, “pyt” and “hygge,” useful for dealing with anxiety and stress. Now another Danish word – “samfundssind” – might help countries grapple with the pandemic. In March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged all […]
Trump plan to revive the gallows, electric chair, gas chamber and firing squad recalls a troubled history
Austin Sarat, Amherst College The way the federal government can kill death row prisoners will soon be expanded to ghoulish methods that include hanging, the electric chair, gas chamber and the firing squad. Set to take effect on Christmas Eve, the new regulations authorizing an alternative to lethal injections – the method currently used in […]
How a flu virus shut down the US economy in 1872 – by infecting horses
Ernest Freeberg, University of Tennessee In 1872 the U.S. economy was growing as the young nation industrialized and expanded westward. Then in the autumn, a sudden shock paralyzed social and economic life. It was an energy crisis of sorts, but not a shortage of fossil fuels. Rather, the cause was a virus that spread among […]