Why We’re Afraid of Heights
Source: Psychology Today
It makes sense to feel nervous when standing on a cliff, but why do we fear heights even when there’s no chance of falling?
People
The best friendships never die
Source: CNN
A journalist reflects on the evolving bonds of a friendship formed on the basketball court.
American Indian Boarding Schools Haunt Many
Source: National Public Radio
As the United States government took over the West, a concerted effort to “kill the Indian” through education developed. Hear the stories of Native Americans forcibly separated from their culture.
The Fertility and Futility of Hatred
Source: Psychology Today
Cultural anthropologist Janice Harper argues that expressing hatred is self-destructive.
Malcolm Gladwell got us wrong: Our research was key to the 10,000-hour rule, but here’s what got oversimplified
Source: Salon
Psychologist Anders Ericsson and his colleague explain how Malcolm Gladwell misunderstood Ericcson’s research when proposing that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become successful in any given field.
Refugee shacks – survivors of 1906 quake and fire
Source: SFGATE
After the 1906 earthquake and fire that destroyed a large portion of San Francisco, refugee camps of very small houses were built. They were later moved to different parts of the city and some still exist today. Click through the photos at the top of the article to see some of them.
Celebrate Our Mother Tongues
Source: Education Week
Educator and former U.S. Foreign Service officer Chris Livaccari discusses how Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” inspired him to examine his own family’s use of language.
Not From Venus, Not From Mars: What We Believe About Gender and Why It’s Often Wrong
Source: The New York Times
In this review of Testosterone Rex by Cordelia Fine, criitc Annie Murphy Paul explains how the author flips how we think about gender on its head.
How African Immigrants Are Creating a New Identity for Themselves in Houston
Source: The Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Do immigrants from African countries take on a shared cultural identity in American communities? This article takes a look at the case of Houston, Texas.
Teaching Teenagers to Cope With Social Stress
Source: The New York Times
Psychology Professor David S. Yeager has a simple message that can help teens manage their stress and anxiety: People can change. Read to find out how keeping this idea in mind can be useful when navigating the transition into high school.