Author: TheConversation

By Timothy D. Lytton, Distinguished University Professor & Professor of Law, Georgia State University The beloved children’s television icon Fred Rogers, who is played by actor Tom Hanks in the film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” entered the world of children’s programming during an era of massive political and cultural upheaval. When Fred Rogers wrote a script that included an electric wheelchair, he had Jeff Erlanger in mind. His producer and director tried to convince him that instead of bringing in Jeff’s family all the way from Madison, Wisconsin, they would be able to find someone locally. But...

By Shanta R. Dube, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, Georgia State University For millions of children in the U.S., poverty, neglect or abuse is a reality of everyday life, though these struggles are often hidden from view. Adult survivors often feel ashamed about and stigmatized for their childhood adversity. This makes it difficult to recognize that these events occur. While it is easier to turn away than to face these issues, we can no longer afford to do so. Stress, mental illness and substance abuse – all health outcomes linked to childhood trauma – occur in the U.S....

By Rohan Kapitany, Lecturer in Psychology, Keele University Warning: this article contains Christmas spoilers. Many of us tell our children about a rotund, bearded man in red, who lives in the icy tundra at the top of the world. He is tasked with judging the moral worth of children everywhere. He has a list. He has checked it twice. And there is no court of appeals. We promise our children that, on a known date and under the cover of darkness, he will sneak into our homes. Here, his judgment will be delivered. In preparation, it is customary to...

By Richard Gunderman, Chancellor’s Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, IUPUI; and David C. Stevens, Resident, Radiology, IUPUI Libraries are increasingly a sanctuary for people who are homeless or mentally ill, putting them on the front lines of providing social services that the institution was never intended for. On any given night, over half a million people in the United States found themselves without a home. While the majority of these people (69%) secured shelter for the night, many shelters do not provide daytime accommodations for their patrons. This leaves many in search of daytime activity and protection...

By Hunt Allcott, Associate Professor of Economics, New York University; Jean-Pierre Dubé, Sigmund E. Edelstone Professor of Marketing, University of Chicago; and Molly Schnell, Assistant Professor of Economics, Northwestern University Research has show that wealthy people tend to eat a lot healthier than poor people, and that has a big impact on individuals and their community. Because poor diets cause obesity, Type II diabetes and other diseases, this nutritional inequality contributes to unequal health outcomes. The richest Americans can expect to live 10-15 years longer than the poorest. Many think that a key cause of nutritional inequality is food...

By Roscoe Scarborough, Assistant Professor of Sociology, College of Coastal Georgia Freddie Gray. Eric Garner. Michael Brown. The deaths of black youth and men at the hands of police have sparked a nationwide conversation on discriminatory policing practices. Media and the public often look to psychological explanations for discriminatory behavior, such as obvious prejudices and implicit biases. However, in my view as a sociologist, policymakers and organizational leaders should focus less on the psychology of public servants and more on institutional culture. From 2012 to 2015, I served as a volunteer firefighter in a busy suburban department to understand...