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“Are You There, god? It’s Me, Margaret”: Let’s talk about puberty!
In third grade, my mom handed me a frail copy of Are You There god? It’s Me, Margaret (AYTGIMM), by Judy Blume. The pages were discolored, the binding hanging on by a thread (literally). The state of the book mirrored my feelings after having “the puberty talk” at school, split by males and females, cramped in…
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Addressing the Portrayal of Mental Illness in Film and Television
With accessibility to film and television at an all-time high, this form of media reaches a very large audience. It is easy for us to get caught up in the plot of our favorite movie or TV show, without realizing the lasting effects that these films and shows have on the way we think and…
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Why Diversity in Children’s Media is So Important
The media industry holds great power over the socialization and self-concept of young people. Media can influence viewers in positive ways, but often become problematic when considering the underrepresentation or negative portrayal of certain identities such as gender, race, disability, and socioeconomic status.
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Why Can’t We Quit Fake News?
We know fake news is bad for us and for society, yet the presence of fake news continues to grow. In this post, I discuss three psychological reasons why we continue to fall victim to fake news.
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ASMR: Explaining an Experience
This article is authored by Sydney Simon and Lucy Cui and is a part of the 2018 pre-graduate spotlight week. Fingernails tapping on plastic, the sharp snips of metal scissors cutting hair, droplets of water plopping into a puddle; many consider these sounds satisfying or relaxing. In fact, some individuals experience a physical sensation…
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On Essena O’Neill, #fitspo, and the “real-ness” of social media.
Essena O’Neill, the former teen Instagram model made the decision to quit Instagram after growing disillusioned and unhappy with the staged nature of her social media presence. Before deleting her Instagram account, Essena recaptioned all of her photographs to reflect her true experiences when they were taken and posted.
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Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: The Psychology of Survivor
Watching Survivor also offers opportunities for social comparison and reflection, especially when it comes to morals and ethics.