5-9-11

News from the SPSSI Policy Blog

US Foreign Policy after Bin Laden

Policy Events in Washington

Event report: Why Policy Matters, with Wiley-Blackwell

Event report: Overcoming Oil Addiction to Prevent Climate Change

On the Hill: A look at News from the US Congress

May 5: Senate Committee on the Indian Affairs, An oversight hearing to examine stolen identities, focusing on the impact of racist stereotypes on indigenous people. More information and video of hearing can be found here.

Introduced May 2: H.R. 1679: To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive review of the health care services available for female members of the Armed Forces. More on H.R. 1679.

Introduced April 14: S. 821: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships. More on S. 821.

Introduced on May 5: H.R. 1769: To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to implement a drug testing program for applicants for and recipients of assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. More on H.R. 1769.

Introduced on May 5: H.R. 1763: To close the loophole that allowed the 9/11 hijackers to obtain credit cards from United States banks that financed their terrorist activities, to ensure that illegal immigrants cannot obtain credit cards to evade United States immigration laws, and for other purposes. More on H.R. 1763.

Heads Up!

Coming up on May 11: House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement, hearing on legislation regarding the Secure Visas Act. More information can be found here.

Coming up on May 12: Senate Committee on the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, hearings to examine the middle class, focusing on if the American dream is slipping out of reach for American families. More information can be found here.

Psychology and Social Issues in the News

Herb Kelman awarded Cranbrook Peace Award at the Peacemaker Awards ceremony in Detroit. More.

How the Illusion of Being Observed Can Make You a Better Person: A look at the effects being watched, even by a poster, on human behavior, with mention of SPSSI member Robyn Dawes.

When gay men reveal their homosexuality later in an interaction, prejudice toward them is reduced: A look at the effects of when males reveal their sexual orientation, with research conduced by David Buck and SPSSI member Ashby Plant.

Read this before saying "I love you." A new study on the differences between men and women when saying “I love you” with research involving SPSSI member Vladas Griskevicius.

Environmental Footprints May Produce Backlash: Insight into the effects of knowing one’s environmental footprint, with research from SPSSI member Amara Brook.

Extrasensory Pornception: Doubts About A New Paranormal Claim: A look at research on precognition and premonition conducted by SPSSI member Daryl Bem.

What Does Bin Laden's Death Mean to Us and Society? A look at the effects of Osama bin Laden's death, including research from SPSSI members Mike Hogg, Russell Spears, Rim Saab, and Tom Tyler

Further Resources

Find out what other organizations are doing on these issues

LGBTQ Issues
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The Human Rights Campaign

Environmental Issues
Environmental Defense Fund
The Sierra Club

Other Resources
Islamic Society of North America
Muslim Public Affairs Office
Immigration Policy Institute
Immigration Policy Center
National Congress of American Indians
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc.
Center for American Progress