Tom Jacobs

Tom Jacobs is a senior staff writer at Pacific Standard, where he specializes in social science, culture, and learning. He is a veteran journalist and former staff writer for the Los Angeles Daily News and the Santa Barbara News-Press. Through interviews, reviews, and essays, he has tracked and analyzed trends in the arts and sciences, with an emphasis on psychology, the role of culture, and the cultivation of creativity. A native of Chicago, Jacobs earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Northwestern University.
Can Live Theater Help Spur Climate Action?
This year's Ojai Playwrights Conference tackled the existential threat of climate change.
Ideology Can Skew Our Views on the Healthiness of Food
New research finds that marketing messages that are inconsistent with our values can lead us to view a food product as less healthy.
Commuting Past Fast Food Restaurants Is Linked to Obesity, According to New Research
A new study suggests that passing the Golden Arches on your way to or from work can be destructive to your diet.
Domestic Disputes Are More Likely to Turn Deadly in Cities Where Guns Are Easy to Obtain
New research finds a link between intimate-partner homicides and the per-capita number of gun dealers in an urban county.
Using Gender-Neutral Pronouns May Reduce Sexism
Swedes can now use a gender-neutral pronoun to refer to a man or woman. New research finds that doing so seems to reduce sexist attitudes and assumptions.
Abusive Behavior May Be Contagious Among Police
New research on the Chicago Police Department finds that working with fellow cops who have been accused of excess force increases the odds that an officer will face similar charges later on.
How Gender Stereotypes Affect Pro-Environment Behavior
New research finds certain green behaviors are linked with masculine and feminine stereotypes.
Senior Citizens Have a Binge-Drinking Problem, According to a New Study
New research finds that a growing number of seniors are drinking too much, too often.
One-Quarter of Americans Believe Donald Trump Is a Tool of the Devil, According to a New Study
The results suggest that our nation's polarization is spiritual as well as political.
Adhering to Cultural Norms Can Help Immigrants Elicit Acceptance, Study Finds
New research finds Germans are less likely to help a hijab-wearing Muslim woman, but this bias fades if she demonstrates agreement with the national consensus that littering is bad.
Burned-Out Doctors Are More Likely to Be Biased Against Black Patients
A new study of non-black hospital residents finds those experiencing symptoms of burnout show higher levels of racial bias.
More Trees Mean Better Health Outcomes, According to New Research
New Australian research finds that, when a neighborhood's green space leads to better health outcomes, it's the canopy of trees that provides most of the benefits.
How Art Can Inspire Viewers Toward Climate Action
New research finds that art with an activist bent can engage and inspire—if it offers hope.
Research Finds That Having a Gun in Your Home Can Make Your Household Less Safe
A new study finds that residents of states with higher levels of gun ownership are more likely to be shot to death by a family member or intimate partner.
New Research Suggests Fear of Disease Is at the Root of Racism
Americans who live in states with higher rates of infectious diseases are more likely to hold racist views.
In Study, People in Police Uniforms More Likely to Shoot Unarmed Targets
Putting on a uniform impacts some people's mindset and behavior in problematic ways.
Americans Now Believe Women Are as Competent as Men—but Not as Ambitious
A new study shows that some gender stereotypes have shifted significantly over the decades, while others remain stubbornly in place.
In the #MeToo Era, Women Experience Less Self-Blame When Facing Sexual Harassment
New research suggests the nature of workplace harassment, and the way women respond to it, are both changing.
Fear of Being Branded Racist Increases Police Support for Excessive Force
New research finds the stereotype of a racist cop decreases officers' sense of moral authority, which may make them more likely to resort to coercive tactics.
New Research Debunks the Myth That Mexican Immigrants Can't Assimilate
A new study finds that immigrants from our neighbor to the south are learning English and regularly interacting with non-Mexicans at higher rates than in previous decades.
Biracial Americans Are Facing Unique Stereotypes, a New Study Finds
New research suggests that whites tend to view biracial Americans as attractive misfits.
Trump Supporters Are More Likely to Vote Than Trump Opponents
A new analysis suggests that Democrats should be worried about turnout in 2020.
Union Membership Boosts Political Knowledge
For less-educated Americans, belonging to a labor union is a good way of increasing one's understanding of the world of politics.
California's Aggressive Pro-Vaccination Policies Have Made a Big Difference
A new study finds that the percentage of kindergartners in the state without up-to-date vaccinations dropped from nearly 10 percent in 2013 to under 5 percent in 2017.
Asian Americans Are Viewed as More American If They Are Gay
New research finds that an Asian American who presents as gay signals that he or she is fully invested in American culture.
Viewing Pornography Increases Unethical Behavior, According to New Research
It's possible that watching people perform sex acts can lead us to dehumanize others.
Taking a Music Course Could Help Students Boost Grades in Other Subjects
Research on 112,000 Canadian students finds that high schoolers who took more music courses did better in math, science, and English.
How Camera Framing Can Change Voters' Perceptions in Primary Debates
Timely new research reveals that, in televised debates, producers give some candidates a more favorable visual treatment than others—and in 2016, the big winner was Donald Trump.
Black Women Are More Likely Than White Women to Report Sexual Harassment
New research suggests that men tend to aim their sexual harassment at women they perceive as less powerful.
Hiring Discrimination Is Greater in France and Sweden Than in the U.S.
But even in "low-discrimination countries," white applicants still fare better in job interviews, according to new research.
Working Even a Few Hours a Week Boosts Mental and Emotional Health
An innovative new study suggests that the benefits of employment should be shared widely, even in a future where jobs are scarce.
New Research Links Affirmative Action Bans With Increased Smoking Among Minority Teens
A new study finds increased rates of cigarette use among 11th- and 12th-graders in states that passed laws against affirmative action.
It's Not 'Despair' That's Killing Working-Class Americans; It's Hard Work and Poverty
New research casts doubt on the trendy diagnosis of "hopelessness."
Cultivating Kindness Through Meditation Can Slow the Aging Process, According to New Research
Kindness is its own good—but it can also bring health benefits.
Millennials Are No More Tolerant—or Broke—Than Earlier Generations
A big new report debunks a number of generational clichés about Millennials—but emphasizes the economic struggles they still face.
Bitcoin's Carbon Footprint Is Massive, According to a New Study
Creating the cryptocurrency requires an enormous amount of energy.
Black Sheriffs Are Less Likely to Pursue Low-Level Arrests Against People of Color
New research finds that black sheriffs have different priorities from their white counterparts.
No, Having an Abortion Is Not Harmful to a Woman's Health
Women who sought but did not receive an abortion were in worse health five years later than peers who did get one, a new study finds.
Men With Highly Masculine Faces and Voices Are Less Likely to Care About the Environment
Those rugged looks may be attractive, but a new study links them to anti-environmental attitudes.
Computers in the Classroom May Do More Harm Than Good—If They're Overused
New research finds that computers are most effective as teaching tools when used sparingly, and to teach kids at certain ages specific subjects.
How Russian Trolls Helped Elect Donald Trump
A new analysis of Russia-generated tweets from 2016 reveals a two-pronged attack.
Fear-Based Climate Appeals Can Be Counterproductive
New research suggests that environmental groups can persuade more people by focusing on a positive attitude toward climate action.
A Fear of 'White Extinction' Is Provoking Racial Bias Among American Whites
New research finds those fears in turn provoke racial bias and support for conservative policy positions.
Pornography Enthusiasts Are Less Misogynistic Than the Average American Man
New research finds that attendees at an adult expo are more likely to respect working mothers.
Talking About White Privilege Can Reduce Liberals' Sympathy for Poor White People
New research finds that social liberals who read about the phenomenon are subsequently less forgiving toward poor whites.
Calling Addiction a Disease Can Sometimes Hamper Recovery
New research finds that an empowering message, emphasizing a person's potential to manage addictions, is much more helpful.
One Reason Why White People in Southern States Still Have a Higher Rate of Bias Against Black Americans
New research finds that white Americans are more likely to hold unconscious biases against black Americans if their home region was once heavily dependent on slavery.
Having a Sense of Purpose Helps You Live Longer
New research shows lower mortality rates for people who feel their life has meaning.
How to Get People to Recycle: Show Them the Results
Giving consumers an idea of what a can or glass might be transformed into makes them far more likely to recycle it.
Women Perform Better on Tests When Rooms Are Warmer
For female students, higher room temperatures mean higher scores.