Janet Givens’ Blog: And So It Goes

10 Aug 2016

Sasha’s Back

Alpha mom is away at summer camp this week, so it’s me, Sasha, back again to cover for her. And I’ve been given carte blanche — literally. I can write about anything I want. She was planning to write about summer … Read More

3 Aug 2016

Blame it on the Oxytocin

This is a post on what is called “The Backfire Effect.” Essentially, it holds that: Confronting a belief with facts to the contrary only strengthens the initial belief. I was discouraged when I sat down to write this post. How could it be, … Read More

27 Jul 2016

The International Day of Friendship

The world is filled with too much hatred, too much fighting and too much mistrust of others. So reads the opening line from a website called Holiday Insights. They were writing about The International Day of Friendship, July 30, calling it “an … Read More

20 Jul 2016

All Politics Is Local

All politics is local. I thought of this aphorism today as I watched the opening scenes of the Republican National Convention out of Cleveland. Don’t worry; that’s the last I’ll mention the RNC. At least for today. Instead, this blog … Read More

13 Jul 2016

What’s Your Bias?

We’re taking a long, slow look at bias — that set of unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that inform our behavior without our being aware — this week. And, given the news we’re surrounded with, it’s timely. My first … Read More

6 Jul 2016

I’m Prejudiced. Are You?

Let’s start here, with a 20-question quiz from understandingprejudice.org to test your understanding of prejudice and discrimination. Just to give you an idea, here’s Question 21 (optional): Imagine you’re having a private, late-night conversation with a new acquaintance about why there are so … Read More

29 Jun 2016