Skepticism Rather Than Cynicism

Cynicism can be mistaken for intelligence, but research summarized here by our partner platform, Behavioral Scientist, advocates that instead of embracing cynicism, adopting a "hopeful skeptic" mindset—balancing curiosity with faith in humanity—can lead to a more accurate and fulfilling outlook on life.

Increasing Access to Methadone to Treat Opioid Addiction

Methadone is one of the promising approaches to treating opioid addiction, but as covered by NPR, many patients are still not benefiting, due to slow adoption by clinics and varying state regulations. Advocates are pushing for further changes, including legislation to allow methadone prescriptions outside of specialized clinics.

Combating Misinformation Disasters

The vast uncertainty that accompanies disasters like Hurricanes Milton and Helene creates an opening for a flood of misinformation. According to this article in Scientific American, understanding people’s need to fill uncertainty gaps with information is a start to combating misinformation.

CALL FOR PAPERS – Understanding and Countering Disinformation and Propaganda

This special issue of Behavioral Science & Policy (BSP) aims to enhance both scholarly understanding of and policy measures to counteract disinformation and propaganda. Disinformation refers to the intentional and strategic dissemination of false information, while propaganda encompasses the dissemination of half-truths, false, or misleading information in the service of persuading the public of a particular viewpoint or (political) agenda. Specifically, the special issue seeks to foster a dialogue on the origins of disinformation and propaganda, people’s susceptibility to them, their spread dynamics, effects on public opinion, and behavioral interventions to counteract them.

It is imperative that submitted papers not only advance a scientifically grounded understanding of issues related to disinformation or propaganda but also offer concrete practical implications for mitigating their effects or addressing their consequences. Interested authors are encouraged to submit their abstracts by December 2, 2024. Full papers will be requested for selected abstracts following the initial review.

Click here to learn more and to submit:
Call for Papers - Disinformation Spotlight

missed the opportunity to attend bspa 2020? watch online now!

On May 28 & 29th, BSPA hosted its first ever *virtual* conference. Featuring Dan Ariely, David Brooks from the NYT, Shankar Vedantam from NPR, sessions on COVID-19, the state of behavioral science at the city and federal level, latest publications, and many more exciting sessions, we encourage you to sign up for access to a compelling two days.

New Issue of BSP – Spotlight on Diversity in the Workplace

Our most recent issue features five new articles that propose new insights into how “business and society can address matters relating to well-being, empowerment and equity.” The last of these is particularly timely: three articles in a Spotlight on Diversity in the Workplace take on questions of how to design effective practices to reduce workplace inequality, how to develop and deliver effective anti-bias training, and how to manage teams in ways that make the most of their diversity.