Psychology in Action

Author: Patrick Rock

  • Schoolyard Picks: How People Evaluate Friend Potential in Others

    We all use a variety of clues to figure out whether a person we’re interacting with is going to like us. After all, being rejected hurts, and we typically would rather not pursue a friendship with someone who might reject us. To determine whether we’re likely to be rejected by a potential friend, we might…

  • Is Racism Really Cool? What we Know about Who Makes Cross-Ethnic Friends

    From the time kids are in preschool, they tend to make and keep more friends of their own ethnicity than of others. In many schools, children form entirely separate peer groups, with European-American (white), African-American, Latino and Asian-American children sitting at separate tables in the cafeteria, participating in different clubs, and attending different social events.…

  • How little does it take to make someone racist?

    Suppose I told you today that, from now on, you would be identified in your work place or school as being on the Blue Team. Then I listed a group of peers you didn’t know well as also being on your team. Another group would be the Red Team. A few weeks go by, during…

  • Who can help reduce suicide among lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents?

    A recent string of suicides by adolescent lesbian, gay and bisexual teens has focused attention on what teachers, parents and peers of these teens can do to help. Psychological research has identified a variety of factors which make a difference for these teens, from supportive school environments to accepting reactions by friends.