Human beings use personal beliefs and experiences to elect presidents, spread misinformation and make choices that help and harm the world. So, how can we use science to make sure humans act in ways that are beneficial to society and the planet? How can we influence and manipulate human behavior? These are the questions Dr. Jordan Belisle, assistant professor of … [Read more...] about What’s behind the psychology of changing behavior?
Early on in his career, public health expert Dr. Kip Thompson focused on fish and aquatic systems. But he switched to human health when he joined the Army Reserves in 2001. He got the job of an Environmental Science and Engineering Officer. A broad role, it covered areas such as industrial hygiene, environmental health, vector control and food service. “After doing all … [Read more...] about Military health: Detecting and controlling disease
If you ask Dr. David Claborn, you’ll learn they have more influence than you think. Disruption of land affects inhabitants’ health Throughout his career, Claborn, director of the Master of Public Health program at Missouri State University, has studied the public health implications of disrupted environments, which are land or populations damaged by disasters. They create … [Read more...] about Going viral: Surveying the risk of transmitting disease
Runway models, social media influencers, pageant queens, celebrities and even Barbie purport these troubling ideals. They are almost unequivocally identified as beautiful, as evidenced by the money we spend and who we choose to idolize. You can also see young girls internalizing these standards as cheerleaders scrutinize their bodies, wear revealing uniforms and undergo … [Read more...] about Changing the look
“Having friends, even one good one, can separate the well-adjusted child from the at-risk youth,” said Dr. Leslie Echols, assistant professor of psychology. When a child reaches adolescence, the brain develops more and starts sorting qualities differently. Youth begin to worry more about status, Echols notes. This brings about a greater likelihood of bullying behavior, and … [Read more...] about Building friendships and battling bullying
Lockenvitz, assistant professor of speech-language pathology, studies the life experiences of those with a persistent lisp. “Something as minor as a childhood scar, acne or body odor can affect your self-confidence. A lisp can, too,” she said. She started her career studying how to transcribe and articulate certain sounds. It was a very black and white, quantitative … [Read more...] about Living with a Lisp