21 November 2011

Policy news from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

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

November 10: Senate Judiciary Committee votes in favor of repealing DOMA. Webcast of the meeting available here.

Introduced on November 10: S. 1848: A bill to promote transparency, accountability, and reform within the United Nations system, and for other purposes. More on S. 1848 here.

Introduced on November 16: S. 1878: A bill to assist low-income individuals in obtaining recommended dental care. More on S. 1878 here.

Signed by the President on November 18: H.R. 2112: Science Appropriations Act, 2012. For details on appropriations for federal departments and related science agencies click here.

Psychology and Social Issues in the News

John Pryor to deliver Distinguished Professor Lecture
Member John Pryor is chosen to delivery lecture at Illinois State University on Scientific Studies and Social Stigma.

Why Girls Don’t Want STEM Careers
The blog, Peer Reviewed By My Neurons, discusses the work of SPSSI member Amanda Deikman et al on interest in communual goals and STEM careers.

Are We Born Racist?
Member Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton offers some thoughts on the bystander effect and racism around the issue of Penn State football coach Paterno in his blog in Psychology Today.

1st Migration & Development Plan launched in PHL Returning migrant workers to benefit from ILO partnership with local governments, multi-stakeholders
The Philippines has launced its first-ever Migration and Development Strategic Plan writes the International Labour Organization.

Intelligence: It’s all in your head
The blog, Psych Your Mind, reviews a study by member Carol Dweck et al on the incremental nature of intelligence.

The Making of President Barack Obama
St Francis College News reports on a SPSSI co-sponsored discussion panel that brought together Dinesh Sharma, Fred Siegel & Maya Soetoro-Ng to discuss the early life and formation of Barack Obama.

The road to fraud starts with a single step
Former SPSSI and SPSP President, Jenny Crocker, looks at what lessons we can learn from the Deitrik Stapel fraud in Nature news.

One-Third of Turkish Academy Resigns in Protest of Government Takeover
Science covers news of a dramtic demonstration of scientists in response to increasing government intrusion in Turkey.

Aid organizations tap into social-science expertise
Erika Check Hayden, writing in Nature news, finds that public health initiatives can be improved with input from social science studies.

Take a Note From an Anonymous Law Firm: Don't Look For Discrimination if You Don't Intend to Do Anything About It
The research of members Biernat, Glick and Rudman is discussed in this article on gender bias in workplace promotion in the blog, Litigation Post-script.

Further Resources

Find out what other organizations are doing on these issues

LGBT Issues
>> The Center for American Progress
>> The Williams Institute
>> The Human Rights Council

Immigration Issues
>> Immigration Policy Institute
>> Immigration Policy Center
>> Center for American Progress

SPSSI fact sheets and policy statements
>> Immigration and Minorities
>> Fact sheet on Lesbian and Gay Parenting
>>Other Issues