Unsafe Science

Unsafe Science explores the intersection of social science and skepticism, examining controversial topics, censorship, the role of political ideologies in academic fields, and the impact of these factors on scientific integrity and social attitudes. It critically assesses trends towards authoritarianism in academia, the influence of tribalism, and the challenges facing academic freedom and meritocracy.

Censorship and Free Speech Political Ideologies in Academia Academic Freedom Social Psychology Meritocracy in Science Gender and Racial Dynamics Authoritarianism Evolutionary Psychology Ethical Considerations in Research Diversity and Inclusion in Academia

The hottest Substack posts of Unsafe Science

And their main takeaways

The Censorious Society for Personality and Social Psychology

76 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🔬 Science Social Psychology Academic standards Censorship
  1. At the Society for Personality and Social Psychology conference, a poster was removed for discussing Muslim support for terrorism, sparking censorship accusations.
  2. The removal of the poster led to debates on the justification for retraction, with criticisms on lack of scientific grounds and biases.
  3. While there were complaints about the removed poster, another poster lacking scientific content faced no consequences, raising questions about inconsistent standards.

Microaggressions: A Chapter from The Mean Girl Handbook

122 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Gender Psychology Communication Society Education
  1. Microaggressions are everyday verbal or nonverbal behaviors that can communicate negative messages to marginalized groups.
  2. Microaggression training sessions focus on self-reflection and awareness of subtle behaviors in workplace interactions.
  3. Women are more likely to engage in relational aggression, which involves gossiping and social exclusion.
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We Brought Down the House

134 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Free speech Corruption Antisemitism
  1. Reported on how foreign funding impacts political corruption in American institutions of higher education
  2. Highlighted how speech intolerance and antisemitism are associated with funding from foreign regimes in universities
  3. Influence from external actors on university campuses led to a lack of accountability in protecting free speech and academic freedom

Free Speech, Hate Speech, and Conduct

27 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Hate Speech
  1. Where should the line between protected and unprotected speech on campus ought to be? There's a need to distinguish between speech used to discuss ideas and that which could incite harm.
  2. At American universities, the 'speech turning to conduct' standard is crucial. This hinges on determining when certain speech evolves into behavior that violates codes of conduct.
  3. Policies on speech restrictions at universities need to be clear, consistent, and applicable to all groups. Ambiguity and inconsistency can lead to confusion and potential biases.

Scientists Censoring Science

97 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🔬 Science Censorship Academic Freedom Peer Review Research Ethics
  1. Censorship isn't just government-based, but also exists in various forms like corporate agreements and book bans.
  2. Rejection in science for not meeting standards isn't censorship - it's a common part of the scientific process.
  3. There is a rising trend of scientists facing punishment for their speech, leading to self-censorship and threats to academic freedom.

If Diverse Scholars Produce Better Research, Judging Research on its Merits Will Enhance Diversity

106 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23
🚌 Education Research Diversity Equity Conferences Politics
  1. Judging research based on its merits is more important than evaluating diversity of authors for enhancing research quality.
  2. Including diversity and equity criteria in research evaluation may lead to controversial subjective judgments.
  3. Scientific societies like SREE can face challenges when balancing scientific goals with political ideologies.

Does Psychological Science Need Science or Bullshit?

97 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
🔬 Science Psychology
  1. The paper discusses the use of empty verbiage and fuzzy buzzwords in scientific writing.
  2. The author points out the importance of empirical evidence over references to support claims in psychological science.
  3. Assertions in research papers should be substantiated with empirical studies and avoid vague, unsupported claims.

The Current State of Social Psychology

171 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🔬 Science Psychology Research Social Culture Activism
  1. Social psychology sheds light on human nature and behaviors through research by prominent figures.
  2. The current state of social psychology is threatened by close-minded social activism that hinders open debate and research.
  3. There is a concern that the discipline may become irrelevant if trends towards censorship and ideological control continue.

Who Agrees with Hitler?

223 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Political Ideology Academia Activism Partisanship
  1. The study found that people were more likely to agree with negative statements when they were about white people compared to other racial groups.
  2. Political affiliation influenced the level of agreement with negative statements, with liberals showing higher agreement with anti-white sentiments.
  3. The research highlighted how tribalism and prejudice can influence attitudes towards different demographic groups.

Some Sex Differences are More Problematic than Others

125 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🔬 Science Gender Studies Social Psychology
  1. Efforts to address sex disparities in occupational representation focus more on male-dominated jobs, while issues in female-dominated jobs receive less attention.
  2. Participants, especially women, view male-dominated jobs as more problematic due to perceived sexism/discrimination, regardless of job status or pay.
  3. Perceptions of the causes of gender gaps influence how problematic they are perceived to be, with attributions to sexism/discrimination making the gaps more concerning.

The Anti-American Psychological Association

134 implied HN points • 14 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Psychology Critical Theory Social justice Civil Rights
  1. The APA has shifted towards Critical Social Justice, moving away from traditional social justice principles.
  2. Critical Theory aims to dismantle western society through attacking societal components like education, media, and religion.
  3. Psychological practice should focus on individual dignity and value, rejecting radical political ideologies that deny universal humanity.

Left-Wing Authoritarians are Averse to Masculine Looking Men

137 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🔬 Science Evolutionary Psychology Behavioral Science Personality Traits Research Studies
  1. Left-wing authoritarians are averse to masculine-looking men.
  2. Masculinized men can be perceived as threatening by left-wing authoritarians due to their physical advantages in conflict.
  3. Evolutionary history influences how people make judgments about others based on appearance, impacting social interactions and group dynamics.