Asylum Seekers Do Not Harm a Host Country's Economy
New economic research refutes a spurious argument made by anti-immigrant activists.
Tom Jacobs
Tom Jacobs is the senior staff writer of 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.
Conservatives Are More Likely to Feel Their Lives Have Meaning
Social conservatives in particular report experiencing a strong sense of purpose.
How Hillary Clinton's Loss Hurt Women in the Workplace
In the wake of her defeat, women were viewed as less likely to get promoted, according to new research.
Workplace Suitors' Unwanted Advances Can Have Harmful Consequences
Being the unwanted object of affection can cause great personal discomfort, and even impact careers.
Trump, Kim, and the War of Images
This week provided vivid examples of how visual imagery can make a president look statesmanlike, foolish, or both.
Conservatives and Liberals Have Differing Mental Images of God
Americans' divergent conceptions of the supreme being's face reflect our egocentrism, and reveal our emotional needs.
Biracial People Play a Uniquely Positive Role Helping Americans Grapple With Race
New research finds whites are more open to discussing race-related issues after exposure to a mixed-race individual.
News on Scary Subjects Gets More Negative as It Spreads
New research finds reintroducing objective facts into the conversation doesn't mitigate this effect.
Tribalism and the $20 Bill
New research finds debates over what historical figures should be on our currency break down along partisan and racial lines.
Yes, Mueller Can Indict Trump
Legal scholar Eric Posner argues the president fears the legal process—which is exactly why he is trying to discredit it.
Football Team Losses Can Affect Prison Sentences
New research finds juvenile court judges in Louisiana give out harsher sentences—especially to black defendants—following an unexpected loss by LSU.
Fear of Coming Minority Status Drives White Opposition to Welfare
New research shows whites are less supportive of government benefits if they believe the recipients will primarily be people of color.
More Evidence That Abortion Does Not Cause Depression
A common talking point among anti-abortion activists is debunked.
Political Polarization Shortened Thanksgiving Dinners
New research finds that, after Trump's election, holiday gatherings with relatives who voted for the other party were often abbreviated.
Fighting Obesity With Better-Designed Menus
New research finds calorie counts can be effective—if the figures are properly placed.
Roseanne Doesn't Have Trump's Teflon
Her top-rated show was suddenly canceled after her racist tweet. A historian evaluates the deeper meaning of the decision.
Another Reason to Not Call People 'Animals'
New research suggests those who internalize the insult are more likely to act in unethical ways.
The Link Between Creativity and Emotional Intelligence
New research finds the ability to recognize and manage feelings is beneficial to the creative process.
How Music Can Fight Prejudice
New research from Portugal finds youngsters feel more positively toward members of an ethnic minority if they have learned songs from their culture.
Is Trump Sabotaging the GOP's Future?
A new analysis suggests the president is shrinking the Republican Party.
Elite Chess Players Live Longer Lives
Grandmasters take their time getting to the ultimate endgame.
Social Pressure Can Change Minds, Even on Divisive Issues
New research uses Joe Paterno to make a point.
When Is Violence Acceptable?
New research argues the answer depends in part on the color of your collar.
Making Music Builds a More Efficient Brain
There's new evidence that the brains of musicians and bilinguals require less effort to perform cognitive tasks.
Dementia Is More Prevalent Among the Poor
Wealthy people's brains are less likely to atrophy, according to new research.
Facebook May Be Creating a Less-Informed Electorate
A new study finds the more people rely on their Facebook feed for news, the less politically knowledgeable they are.
Poverty May Be Bad for the Brain
Research finds evidence that brains age faster among people of lower socioeconomic status.
Traumatic Childhoods Produce More Painful Adulthoods
New research finds a link between adolescent adversity and later-in-life pain.
Ethnic Hostility Can Be Contagious
New research shows adolescents mimic their peers' cruel behavior—especially when it harms members of a disliked minority.
Air Pollution Linked to Delinquent Behavior
Underprivileged kids growing up in congested cities must overcome many handicaps; this study suggests one of them is the very air they breathe.
How Gender Bias Subtly Influences Supreme Court Decisions
New research suggests male justices are more receptive to appeals that line up with gender stereotypes.
Trump Just Gave Iran's Beleaguered Leaders a Gift
An expert in U.S.-Iran relations argues the U.S. pullout from the nuclear agreement gives Iran's government a convenient scapegoat.
To Build More Compassionate Men, Emphasize Their Role as Dads
New research finds men reminded of the notion of fatherhood express less-hostile political views.
The LGB Community Is Working Hard to Save the World
New research finds that gay men and lesbian women are disproportionately represented in the anti-war and environmental movements.
On Climate Change, a Disconnect Between Attitudes and Behavior
A new study finds climate change skeptics are more likely to behave in eco-friendly ways than those who are highly concerned about the issue.
The Positive Impact of Mindfulness Training Is Felt Six Years Later
Learning how to stay focused in the present has beneficial long-term results.
Republicans Vote for Candidates Who Look Republican
New research finds Democrats aren't similarly swayed by facial stereotypes, which could give the party an advantage.
Is the Christian Right Driving Americans Away from Religion?
New research finds that, when evangelical organizations raise their profile by sponsoring a high-profile political campaign, a backlash ensues.
Ideology Isn't Really About Issues
New research finds our attachment to political labels is based more on social identity than policy positions.
Uncovering the Literal Roots of Your Ideology
New research suggests our ancestors' agricultural practices may have shaped our beliefs and assumptions.
For Artists, Traumatic Childhoods Can Lead to More Intense Creative Experiences
Performing can be a way of letting go of one's sense of self.
Research Finds That Racism, Sexism, and Status Fears Drove Trump Voters
Two new studies suggest Trump broadened the Republican Party's appeal by tapping into deep-seated anxieties and prejudices.
Julia Bullock Is Fighting for Social Justice One Song at a Time
Bullock, a biracial soprano, sings Schubert and Fauré but also Billie Holiday and Nina Simone—and she's blazing trails.
Residents of Racially Diverse Neighborhoods Are More Likely to Help Others
This reflects the fact they are more prone to identify with all of humanity.
Revisiting the Marshmallow Test
New research finds kids' ability to delay gratification is influenced by the norms of their peer group.
Viewing Your Nation's Flag Inhibits Tax Evasion
A familiar image that reminds us of our identity as a citizen can inspire us to pay our taxes.
Legal Pot Is Linked to Less Crime
A new study suggests it also decreases other types of drug use, including binge drinking.
What Makes a Book a Best Seller?
New research reports the most popular tomes tend to be thrillers, mysteries, and memoirs.
Study With Women, Get Better Grades
Male and female students in an introductory biology class performed better when there were more women in their study group.
More Evidence That Racism and Sexism Were Key to Trump's Victory
A new analysis finds attitudes about gender and race were far better predictors of support for Trump than personal economic woes.