by Matthew Chase In the world of social psychology, a discipline that seeks to bridge the gap between psychology and sociology, the bystander effect has remained an influential area of study. The phenomenon refers to the effect that during a critical situation (e.g., a criminal act, medical emergency), an individual is less inclined to intervene … Continue reading Theoretically Speaking – Bystander Effect
By Matthew Chase The future remains an uncertain space. While not so much a big revelation for most, it certainly has carried an undeniable palpable anxiety. We don't know with 100% accuracy what will happen next, whether it is 500 years from now or 5 minutes. The year 2017 has marked a particular shade of … Continue reading Sociology of the Futures: A Brief History
By Rosa Conrad Thousands of people crowded streets throughout the United Stated and in cities worldwide such as Berlin, Mexico City, London, Paris, Nairobi, Sydney, Cape Town, and Toronto to support the Women’s March in Washington. A small village in Nova Scotia whose town’s population of 65 had 15 residents turn out for their local … Continue reading Women Making History: One March, One Voice
by Matthew Chase In the wake of the highly charged 2016 presidential elections, the U.S. public discourse has become increasingly fixated on the issues of misinformation in the mass media and particularly news media. "Fake news" has been the keyword of 2017 as we come to grapple with the election results and understand how we … Continue reading Fake News and the Sociological Imagination
Following from our list of top 7 blog posts of 2016, we wanted to give a proper reflection as well to the powerfully and eloquently written pieces of Poetic Justices published this year. The year may come to an end, but the need for social poetry, art, and creative expression will continue so long as … Continue reading Top 7 Poetic Justices of 2016
2016 has been a tumultuous year of emotion in the United States and across the world. There have been highs and lows, victories and frustrations, progress and oppression, and everything in between. Despite the undeniable anxiety and uncertainty to come with 2017, we must remember to stand strong together in the face of injustice. The … Continue reading Top 7 Blog Posts of 2016
by Matthew Chase Standing Rock has not only been the latest site of struggle against the infringement of rights and environmental exploitation, but we can also glean invaluable insights into the transformative natures of power and protest. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, there was a significant confrontation between the protesters and the police when the protesters … Continue reading Confronting the Black Snake at Standing Rock
by Lillian Nahar As a Black woman, “Make America Great Again” terrifies me. When America was supposedly great, referencing romanticized imagery of the ‘40s and ‘50s, Black bodies hung from the magnolia trees like strange fruit. Blacks back then went to separate schools, used separate drinking fountains, and ate at the back of the restaurant … Continue reading A Campaign Built on Fear and Hatred
by Matthew Chase In the true spirit of Halloween, the sensationalized hysteria around the recent "creepy clown" sightings happening across the United States have been reaching new heights. News coverage on this nationwide phenomenon emerged back in late August, in Greenville County, Southern Carolina. The local sheriff's department had received reports from residents at an … Continue reading Clown Hysteria in the Cycle of Moral Panic
by Matthew Chase For many black individuals and families, retracing their ancestry is an opportunity afforded to a few. Before the end of the Civil War, blacks were still considered the enslaved property of their owners, and their humanity and very identities were mistreated as such. Slaves were even denied having their names on official … Continue reading Rediscovering the Past, Rebuilding a Heritage
