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Perspectives on Psychological Science is a publication of the Association for Psychological Science.
Editor
Barbara A. Spellman
University of Virginia
School of Law
Associate Editors
David A. Sbarra
University of Arizona
Bethany A. Teachman
University of Virginia
Special Associate Editors
Alex O. Holcombe
University of Sydney
Alison Ledgerwood
University of California, Davis
Kristina R. Olson
University of Washington
Daniel J. Simons
University of Illinois
Advisory Editors
John T. Cacioppo
University of Chicago
Robert W. Levenson
University of California, Berkeley
Elizabeth F. Loftus
University of California, Irvine
Walter Mischel
Columbia University
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Perspectives on Psychological Science
Volume 10, Number 6
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The links below take you to the journal via the APS website. If not already logged in, you will be redirected to log-in using your last name (Garcia) and Member ID (81665).
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Special Section: Council of Psychological Science Advisers
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In this Special Section -- overseen and introduced by Bethany Teachman, Michael Norton, and Barbara Spellman -- psychological scientists were asked to detail how research in their fields might inform public policy. Authors of these articles were asked to imagine that they were members of a fictional Council of Psychological Science Advisers, with the opportunity to write memos to the President detailing psychological-science-based solutions to societal problems. The memos included in this Special Section address a wide range of domestic and global challenges.
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Alexander J. Rothman, Peter M. Gollwitzer, Adam M. Grant, David T. Neal, Paschal Sheeran, and Wendy Wood
Many countries -- including the United States -- have goals for improving the health of their populace; however, behavioral change can be difficult. People may lack the motivation to change, fail to turn health-related goals into healthy actions, or be thwarted by the tug of old habits. Evidence-based policies can help address these health challenges, moving people from old, unhealthy habits to new, healthy ones.
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Traci Mann, A. Janet Tomiyama, and Andrew Ward
Policies and practices based on misconceptions about obesity may be limiting obesity-reduction efforts. Research shows that restrictive diets and the stigmatization of obesity don't work to help people lose weight and maintain weight loss. Environmental changes may be a better way of altering behavior, and a new conceptualization of health that is based on more than just weight is necessary.
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Laurence Steinberg
Efforts to reduce adolescents' risky decision making have generally focused on classroom-based education about behaviors such as using drugs or having unsafe sex. However, risk taking is a product of neurobiological immaturity, and interventions focused on changing adolescents' behavior have been shown to be minimally effective. A more effective method to protect teens may be to reduce the environmental risks teens are exposed to.
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Michael Ross and Emily Schryer
The memory decline often experienced by older adults can be improved through individual actions such as exercising or engaging in brain-training activities; however, for many older adults, these actions do not provide enough support. Research-based policies that encourage the creation and adoption of cues and reminders that can help outsource older adults' burden of recall may be a better way to aid our aging population.
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Aneeta Rattan, Krishna Savani, Dolly Chugh, and Carol S. Dweck
U.S. students are falling behind their peers worldwide, but according to the authors, changing U.S. students' academic mindsets might help improve their academic outcomes. Interventions that promote growth mindsets (the idea that intelligence can develop over time) and belonging mindsets (feelings of being valued members of academic settings) may enhance students' growth and overall academic achievement.
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Erin A. Maloney, Benjamin A. Converse, Chloe R. Gibbs, Susan C. Levine, and Sian L. Beilock
Caregivers are children's first teachers, helping them learn basic skills before entering into formal schooling, but many children -- especially those from low-socioeconomic-status (SES) households -- enter school already behind their peers. Policies and practices that increase the level of interaction and feedback parents receive can help them to be more effective and motivated educators, setting their children up for lifelong academic success.
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Christopher M. Barnes and Christopher L. Drake
American adults and children tend to have poor sleep habits, leading to a host of negative behavioral and psychological problems. This sleep crisis may have been brought on, in part, because people's schedules are not consistent with healthy sleep patterns. Using research on circadian rhythms to inform policies on school start times and shift-work schedules, eliminating daylight saving time, and increasing education about factors influencing sleep may help stem this growing health issue.
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Shahar Ayal, Francesca Gino, Rachel Barkan, and Dan Ariely
Dishonest behavior is a worldwide problem, from small-scale shoplifting to large-scale bribery and corruption. Current research creates a three-principle framework that can be implemented into policies that aim to reduce dishonesty. This framework encourages the use of subtle cues that make morality salient, restrict anonymity, and strengthen the connection people make between their own behavior and their perception of their moral self.
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Adam D. Galinsky, Andrew R. Todd, Astrid C. Homan, Katherine W. Phillips, Evan P. Apfelbaum, Stacey J. Sasaki, Jennifer A. Richeson, Jennifer B. Olayon, and
William W. Maddux
Diversity has many benefits, including enhanced creativity, decision making, and economic growth. Despite these benefits, diversity-promotion policies are often met with resistance. Employing fair and transparent hiring and evaluation practices, instituting education programs promoting multiculturalism, and developing executive orders and tax benefits may promote diversity in a way that is welcome to everyone.
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Hal E. Hershfield, Abigail B. Sussman, Rourke L. O'Brien, and Christopher J. Bryan
Why do people have so many problems managing their credit card debt? Research-based policies that highlight the recurring nature of spending habits, modify suggested payment amounts appearing on credit card statements, and promote the importance of debt reduction in relation to savings can help encourage people to be more responsible about their debt.
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Mandeep K. Dhami, David R. Mandel, Barbara A. Mellers, and Philip E. Tetlock
Although the intelligence community has somewhat standard procedures for the collection, processing, and dissemination of intelligence, these practices are often not based on science. Findings from forecasting research indicate that the intelligence community should implement a monitoring system to determine forecasters' level of accuracy, use findings from research on forecasting accuracy to improve forecasters' skill level, and change the way uncertainty in predictions is communicated.
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Sander van der Linden, Edward Maibach, and Anthony Leiserowitz
Despite mounting evidence as to the negative effects of climate change, people seem to address the issue with a lack of urgency. This may be because the impacts of climate change are often framed as occurring in the distant future and affecting others rather than oneself. Policies and outreach highlighting people's experiences with climate change and modify group social norms to promote action may help spur pro-environmental behavior.
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Cass R. Sunstein
In his former role as Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Sunstein has seen the role behavioral science has played in a variety of different regulatory and policy reforms. He notes that the essays included in this Special Section can be split into two groups: those that offer actionable advice and those that provide less actionable, but still valuable, suggestions. In pointing out where each essay falls, he highlights the benefits -- and potential difficulties -- in translating research into implementable policy plans.
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David Halpern
In 2010, the United Kingdom formed a new Behavioural Insights Team, led by David Halpern. The goal of this team was to bring the nuances of human behavior into political policy. Halpern describes the many successes the team has had and how many of the suggestions in this Special Section can contribute to future policy efforts, and he encourages scientists to continue to push for even greater levels of inclusion in the policymaking process.
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Perspectives on Psychological Science is a publication of the Association for Psychological Science. Please contact APS by email or by telephone at +1 202.293.9300 with questions or comments. Visit APS on the Web
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