Latest news with #PsychologicalScience
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Study Explores Factors Behind Minority Voter Support For Donald Trump
A new study published in Psychological Science suggests that support for "strong", rule-breaking political leaders is not exclusively linked to right-wing ideology. The research indicates that ethnic minorities, regardless of their political affiliation, may be more inclined to favour such leaders compared to White individuals who identify as left-leaning. This tendency appears to be connected to lower levels of generalised trust, with groups exhibiting less trust in others showing greater support for authoritative leadership styles. The findings published in Psychological Science challenge traditional assumptions about the factors influencing political preferences for dominant figures like former President Donald Trump. While support for strong leaders has often been associated with conservative viewpoints, the study suggests that ethnicity and levels of trust play significant roles. Prior research in political psychology has largely focused on the impact of personality traits and ideological values on leadership preferences. This research has generally concluded that individuals on the political right are more likely to desire leaders who are assertive, unwavering, and willing to disregard rules to achieve their aims. However, these earlier studies primarily relied on data from White populations. As minority populations grow, it is increasingly important to understand how ethnic background influences leadership preferences. Recent trends, such as increasing support for Donald Trump among Latino and Black voters, indicate that existing explanations may be incomplete. "I was born in the Netherlands to parents of Indian origin and spent much of my formative years in Japan and in Texas. As an adult, I have been at institutions of higher learning in different regions of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands," said study author Krishnan Nair, a postdoctoral research associate with the Illinois Strategic Organisations Initiative at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "The experiences I have had interacting with people from varying ethnic, religious, political, and linguistic backgrounds have fuelled my interest in better understanding differences in attitudes and values between different groups. This project is a reflection of that." The researchers hypothesised that generalised trust - a broad belief in the reliability of others - could help explain why certain groups are attracted to strong leaders. They proposed that groups with lower levels of trust would be more likely to support leaders who promise control, order, and punishment of wrongdoers, even if it means compromising democratic norms.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
New Study Reveals Why Trump Is So Popular Among Minority Voters
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new study could shed light on one reason President Donald Trump may have gained ground with minority voters, who previously supported Democrats, in the 2024 presidential race. Why It Matters Trump's 2024 victory was in part due to his relative strength among Latino, Black and Asian and Pacific Islander voters who have drifted away from Democrats. The question about why these voters shifted rightward has perplexed some on the left, who are seeking to win them back in the 2026 midterms and beyond. The new study, published this month in Psychological Science, offers one explanation about this phenomenon. What to Know Ethnic minorities were closer in their attitudes about "strong leaders" to right-leaning white Americans compared to left-leaning white Americans, according to the study. Trump has in the past been compared to a "strong leader," defined by the study as leaders who are "tough, ironfisted, and viewed by supporters as dedicated to the pursuit of their goals." The study focused on minorities both in the U.S. and Europe—not on Trump specifically, though Krishnan Nair, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who is an author of the study, told Newsweek it could have implications on his electoral strength with some voting groups. A woman holds a sign that reads "Latinos for Trump" at the Orange County Fair and Event Center, April 28, 2016, in Costa Mesa, California. A woman holds a sign that reads "Latinos for Trump" at the Orange County Fair and Event Center, April 28, 2016, in Costa Mesa, California. DAVID MCNEW/AFP via Getty Images The study found that levels of "generalized trust," which is the level of trust a person has in others living around them, is a key factor in shaping leadership preferences. It noted that while there have been decades worth of studies on support for strong leaders among the right, those studies have mostly been made up of white participants. "Minorities across ethnic and political backgrounds are generally closer to right-wing Whites than to left-wing Whites in their preference for strong leaders," Nair said. "That's important because Trump being this prototypical strong leader, we also see a minority shift toward Trump even as Trump's rhetoric is viewed by a lot of people as being racially insensitive or offensive." Minorities may have lower levels of generalized trust if they are recent immigrants from countries with lower generalized trust or due to their social standing in the U.S, he said. Nair explained how this could translate to support for strong leadership. "Imagine yourself in a group and you don't trust others in the group, to cooperate, you think others might be likely to exploit you," he said. "In this situation, there's this idea that having a strong leader who punishes those who are rule breakers or don't cooperate or might exploit you, that reduces that kind of behavior and creates more cooperation or harmony." New data analysis released this week from Catalist showed how Democrats last ground among different racial groups in recent years. In 2024, 85 percent of Black voters supported former Vice President Kamala Harris—down from 89 percent who backed former President Joe Biden in 2020 and 93 percent who backed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016. Meanwhile, 54 percent of Latino voters supported Harris—down from 63 percent who supported Biden in 2020 and 70 percent who backed Clinton in 2016. Sixty-one percent of Asian American and Pacific Islander voters backed Harris, compared to 65 percent who voted for Biden in 2020 and 70 percent who voted for Clinton in 2016, according to Catalist. What People Are Saying Nair told Newsweek: "I think this perception of your leader as being someone who's tough, strong and dominant, that could potentially play role in increasing support among minority voters, potentially. But that's something you need a lot more research on." William Frey of the Brookings Institution wrote in a December 2024 report: "This year's very real shift among Latino or Hispanic voters is only a bit sharper than the one observed in the Bush-Kerry election of 2004, after which more Latino or Hispanic voters returned to the Democratic fold. Indeed, the shift away from 2020 and earlier elections among more vulnerable members of these minority groups could very well be a blip that was part of a nationwide reaction to the high price of groceries, housing, and other necessities that accompanied a once-in-a-century pandemic, which led to similar rightward political shifts in other developed countries." What Happens Next It will be closely watched whether Democrats can win back voters who shifted toward Republicans in upcoming elections, including early tests for the parties in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races later this year. It's yet to be seen whether this is part of a longer-term trend.
Fast Company
5 days ago
- General
- Fast Company
5 unexpected benefits of procrastination
Ordinarily, we think of procrastination as something to avoid or correct, but in reality, it can have some legitimate benefits. From giving us time to reflect and collect new information to creating urgency for the work, procrastination comes with some surprising advantages. We're wise to consider how we can perform our best. With so much to do and so little time, reconsidering our efficiency is smart. Our most ingrained habits may not actually be the best strategies for our success. Rethinking procrastination may be one of the most unexpected ways to reset our work habits, and one of the most effective. Rethinking why we procrastinate If you procrastinate, you're in good company. Almost everyone procrastinates sometimes, and about. According to research reported by the American Psychological Association, 20% of people are chronic procrastinators. Procrastination can occur for many reasons. We may not have the skills necessary to tackle a responsibility, or we may avoid a task that we expect to be unpleasant. We may feel uncertain or anxious about how to complete a task, or we may feel frustrated that it's something we have to deal with. Essentially, we sometimes use procrastination to regulate moods or emotions. In addition, procrastination is partly genetic. This discovery was based on twin studies published in Psychological Science. But like many genetic traits, there is also an environmental component. You may be predisposed to procrastinate because of your genes, but you also have significant choice and control over your behavior. One of the most important elements of procrastination is whether you hit your deadlines. If you procrastinate but ultimately complete your tasks on time, you can experience some positive effects of procrastination. But if you procrastinate and ultimately miss important due dates (like, say, not filing your taxes by April 15), then you're likely undermining your own success. Constructive procrastination doesn't have to be an oxymoron. Here's how to find the sweet spot for reaping its rewards. Constructive procrastination If you're still able to get things done but you just work through them at your own speed, you're in a position to gain some terrific benefits from procrastination. Here are the best advantages: 1. Procrastination gives you time to reflect If you dive into a project immediately, you may not have taken the time to ponder the problem, explore the solution, or determine how you want to present your work. It's beneficial to take the time you need to examine something from all angles, consider your own perspectives, and reflect deeply on an issue so you can deal with it appropriately. So, hone your ideas and sharpen your thinking, and then dig in. 2. It gives you time to clear your decks Another benefit of procrastination is clearing your mind for the big thing that you need to get done. If you're procrastinating by doomscrolling or bingeing your favorite show, you won't get the benefits. But if you're getting small but otherwise legitimate tasks done, you can gain advantage from this approach. Get little things out of the way, including sending that quick email or starting that load of laundry. Doing so can give you more energy and allow you to dedicate greater focus to the bigger thing that will take more effort. 3. It creates a sense of urgency One of the most common beliefs about procrastination is that by putting off a project, we create a healthy sense of urgency, which in turn helps us perform better. And this may be true. The Eisenhower Matrix was developed based on President Dwight D. Eisenhower's approach to prioritization. Essentially, it identifies tasks that are important, urgent, both, or neither. According to research published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, we're best at taking action and giving our full attention to tasks that are both urgent and important. Embrace procrastination to transition tasks from being simply important to both important and urgent, and thereby establish a sense of positive pressure to make decisions, execute, and get things done. 4. Procrastination lets you obtain input Another benefit of procrastination is the opportunity to obtain additional information and input. By creating more time, you can ask for ideas and expertise from others. You can also do more of your own research to help ensure you have all the necessary information before you tackle your project. For example, perhaps you have to recommend tactics for your team to get things done more successfully. By taking more time, you can read a few articles on time management or learn more about the best practices for project management. You can also meet with a leader whose team is known for regularly accomplishing ambitious goals and ask them what they do to ensure their success. All of these can help you deliver a better set of suggestions for your team. Take time to seek, learn, and expand your thinking in order to contribute to the quality of your final outcome. 5. It gives you space to get inspired If you must accomplish a project and you just can't get excited about it, sometimes it helps to turn away from it and look for inspiration in other places. Putting something on the back burner and going for a walk or spending time in nature, for example, can do wonders for your energy and inspire new ideas. Research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that going for a walk outside helped people to create not only a greater number of ideas but also more unexpected ideas. Take the time to get inspired in whatever way works best for you. Get outside, listen to music, spend time with a child, or spend time on something else you enjoy in order to get inspired for the big thing you must accomplish. Procrastinating well There are positive benefits to procrastinating, but also some caveats to be aware of. First, you still have to get the task done. Procrastinating beyond the deadline or failing to deliver results doesn't have positive benefits. So procrastinate a bit, but don't let it get out of hand. You will benefit most when you accept your own processes and style. If you're too judgmental with yourself, you can detract from your effectiveness, because the negativity and pressure you impose may cause you to put off the work even more. But if you can appreciate your strengths at the same time you're always seeking to improve, you'll reap the greatest rewards. Think in concrete terms. Research published in Psychological Science found that when people think in abstract or general terms about what they have to do, they're less likely to get things done expeditiously. But when they can think about their tasks in concrete terms and be specific about what they have to get done, they're much more successful in accomplishing results. It's important to be as optimistic as you can. Fascinatingly, when people are more optimistic about the future they are less likely to procrastinate and more likely to get things done, according to research published in Scientific Reports. You don't need to be Pollyanna or demonstrate toxic positivity
International Business Times
6 days ago
- Business
- International Business Times
Who Is Francesca Gino? Harvard University Fires Star Professor for Fabricating Research Used in Studies on 'Dishonesty'
Harvard University has fired a professor after finding out that she had fabricated research used in studies related to dishonesty. Francesca Gino, a star business professor at the Ivy League school, was officially fired from her position last week after Harvard administrators notified the business faculty of their decision, according to GHB. The university launched an investigation into Gino's research back in 2023 after at least three data analysts—Uri Simonsohn, Leif Nelson, and Joe Simmons—shared what they claimed was proof of extensive academic misconduct in at least four studies Gino had co-authored. The three analysts also said that they "believe that many more Gino-authored papers contain fake data." Honestly Dishonest Gino had been a rising star at Harvard, with her behavioral research on cheating, lying, and dishonesty receiving widespread media attention over the past ten years. However, scrutiny over her work began with a 2012 study she co-authored, which claimed that asking people to sign an honesty pledge at the beginning of a form, rather than at the end, led to more truthful answers. That particular study was retracted in 2021 due to apparent data manipulation by another researcher involved in the project, which was based on three separate lab experiments. Several years later, an internal review concluded that Gino had fabricated data to support her findings in at least four of her published studies. According to The Daily Beast, Harvard had not stripped a professor of their tenure in decades and offered no further comment on the matter. When the investigation began in 2023, Gino responded on her personal website, firmly rejecting the accusations made against her. "There is one thing I know for sure: I did not commit academic fraud. I did not manipulate data to produce a particular result," it reads. "I did not falsify data to bolster any result. I did not commit the offense I am accused of. Period." After allegation started to spread, Gino was placed on administrative leave. The journal Psychological Science also withdrew two of her published articles, saying that the decision was based on recommendations from the Research Integrity Office at Harvard Business School (HBS). In both instances, the journal noted that an independent forensic firm hired by HBS had found "discrepancies" between the final published data and earlier versions from Gino's behavioral research. Completely Exposed Separately, Harvard requested the withdrawal of a third study published by Gino in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and according to the Financial Times, the journal's publisher planned to pull the article in its September 2023 edition. The two papers recently withdrawn by Psychological Science included a 2015 study titled "The Moral Virtue of Authenticity: How Inauthenticity Produces Feelings of Immorality and Impurity" and a 2014 study called "Evil Genius? How Dishonesty Can Lead to Greater Creativity." The 2020 paper published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, which is now set to be retracted, was titled "Why Connect? Moral Consequences of Networking with a Promotion or Prevention Focus." The study "Evil Genius" included five separate lab experiments involving human participants, who were given chances to act dishonestly by exaggerating their performance on certain tasks, followed by assessments of their creativity. According to the original abstract, the research claimed that "acting dishonestly leads to greater creativity in subsequent tasks." In August 2023, Gino fired back at the university and filed a $25 million lawsuit, alleging she was the victim of a "smear campaign." The 100-page complaint, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, accused Harvard and the three data analysts of defaming her by spreading false accusations of academic misconduct. "I want to be very clear: I have never, ever falsified data or engaged in research misconduct of any kind," Gino said. In her lawsuit, Gino argued that any irregularities in the spreadsheets could have been caused by research assistants manually transferring data from paper forms—a method that is inherently susceptible to human mistakes. Gino's lawsuit further claimed that Harvard conducted an unjust and biased investigation into the data fraud accusations. She alleged that the university "overlooked evidence that could have cleared her" and introduced a new policy for handling academic misconduct cases that was enforced solely in her situation. Once a prominent figure in behavioral science, Gino had received numerous awards and widespread media attention for her popular research. She was also one of Harvard's highest-paid professors, earning over $1 million a year.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Psychologists Say This Memory Hack Is "Key" to Helping You Remember
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The other day, I had a very important package to mail (not to brag, but my daughter sold another one of her old Webkinz on eBay). I had a million things on my mind, so the night before, I put a yellow sticky note on my computer at home that said, 'Mail package!' As I checked my email the next morning, I saw the note and made a mental plan to drop the package at the post office on my way to work. Then I finished getting dressed, gulped down the rest of my coffee, headed out the door… … and walked straight to the subway on autopilot, leaving the package behind. I'd bet my bottom dollar this happens to you, too: You need to pick up the dry cleaning or send a birthday card to your mom, and you leave yourself a note on your desk or phone, and then it just slips out of your brain like a moth flittering away. But memory experts agree there is a foolproof plan for remembering these tasks: Create a visual clue — the weirder, the better. In my case, I could have tied a stuffed animal to the front doorknob, where I couldn't miss it on my way out. I would reach for the door and say, 'What the heck is a pink-stuffed puppy doing here?' Then it would surely click in my brain that another stuffed animal was waiting to be mailed to its new owner. Some other examples: If you need to book that flight for your business trip in the morning, put a paper airplane in your coffee mug. Need to pick up allergy medicine at the drugstore? Draw a picture of a giant flower with a nose and tape it to your front door. You promised to call your sister to discuss plans for Thanksgiving? Since your sister's pet name when you were kids was "Stinko," put a bag of onions or garlic on top of your handbag, so when you pick it up in the morning, you think "Stinking Plus Cooking = Call Sister About Turkey Day." Why it works Many of us write reminder notes on our phone or desk, says memory expert Todd Rogers, PhD, a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, but the problem is that these kinds of reminders don't stand out or grab your attention — especially if there are a million other notes littering your desk. The key element to a good memory hack is to make it capture your attention, he says. 'The problem with a sticky note is that it is often in a crowd of other sticky notes, and you don't even detect it.' (In a recent study published in Psychological Science, Rogers showed that most people didn't notice an important message written on a sales counter, but they did notice a picture of an alien, which reminded them to do a task.) Instead, he says, use something that will definitely grab your eye by being out of place — an upside-down teddy bear, a cactus with a ribbon on it, a toy airplane. 'When you see it, you'll think, 'What the hell?'' and as long as you've connected that object with the task that needs to be done in your brain, you will remember it. 'It's a pretty good way of hacking our own memories,' he says. Timing matters, too, says Rogers. In my case, there was too much time between when I saw the reminder and when it would have made the most impact. 'The question is, how do you remember to do something in the moment when you can actually enact the behavior?' he says, pointing out that it doesn't take much to distract the mind into forgetting the very thing you just remembered. 'Something as simple as walking into the kitchen from the living room can make you forget what you were going to do,' he says. So putting a reminder closer to my front door, the point at which I could turn around and grab the package, would have been a good start. Whereas our eyes may glaze over that sticky note or memo on our phone, 'We instantly notice when things are different visually, and then we interpret it cognitively,' says Rogers. 'Visual cues create an anchor to help us remember information, and it facilitates greater recall,' adds clinical psychologist Robert Roopa, of Counseling Services for York Region in Ontario, Canada, who advises patients on improving memory. 'External memory cues such as placing a grocery bag on your desk can be particularly useful when trying to remember to do a task.' 'The more senses that are involved in learning, the better the information gets coded into memory,' explains Elise Caccappolo, PhD, a neuropsychologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. This type of 'multimodal learning' is helpful whether trying to remember to book the babysitter or remember the capital of Minnesota. Gary Small, PhD, chair of psychiatry at Hackensack Meridian Health and author of The Memory Bible, agrees that visual cues are key for remembering things, in fact it's a part of his method for storing facts in your brain. 'We called it look, snap connect,' Small says. 'Look stands for focusing your attention. Snap stands for creating a mental snapshot that leverages your brain natural ability to remember visual information. Connect is a way of linking up those visual images so they have meaning. If you can make something meaningful, it will become memorable.' Create a mental image to remember names: This is a tip I remember from a looong time ago, when a family friend gave my brother and me tickets to a popular children's TV show, Wonderama. That day, memory expert Harry Lorayne appeared as a guest, and in mere minutes, memorized the last names of every one of the 50 or so kids in the studio audience. He advised us to choose one visual feature and tie it to the name. (I assumed he pictured my nose as an ice-cream cone to remember Cohen, but who knows?) Color-code your memories: One memory trick Caccappolo swears by is using different colors to write down different information she needs to retain. "I carry around a pen that you can click and use different colors," she explains. "When I write things down in red or green, it sticks in the part of the brain that processes colors, so then I picture that note in its color, and it's easier to recall." This way the fact is input in two ways, as both an image and a phrase, so it gets stored twice, she adds. You Might Also Like 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper
