recent research

Cruising Kevin Lewis' excellent blog on recent academic papers and thought I'd share some gems...

• Being open minded has its mental costs.
• The pointless task of pointing out factual errors: it may make people remember those facts more.
• Getting others to help your self-control reduces self-control.
• Consultants might not be a waste of money, after all: We are more creative problem solvers when helping others than when working for ourselves.
• Chimpanzees are game-theorists too.
• Patriots are happier than downer citizens.
• No wonder they spend so much money in Iowa and New Hampshire: Votes in early primary states count 5 times as much.
• Winning elections makes partisans horny.
• Campaign mailings don't get out the vote, but they do persuade.
• Voters who hate negative campaigning most are also the voters most persuaded by it.
• An engaged electorate may mean an angry electorate.
• An economist explains (in equations I don't pretend to understand) why "richer communication" leads to greater misinformation and polarization.
• This paper says something about social media, political participation and political efficacy, but I'm not sure what.
• Our partisan leanings have more to do with (un)certainty of future income than with our income status today.
• Metaphors matter - even though people deny they affect how they think.
• Signing your name activates self-identity.
• Mimicking your opponent's language gives you an edge in negotiation.
• Merely speaking inspires empathy.