Sunday, September 5, 2010   |  Return To Homepage

Erik Hayden

Former Miller-McCune Fellow Erik Hayden recently graduated from Pepperdine University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Religion. He regularly contributes for a variety of publications including the Ventura County Star and the alt-weekly, VCReporter.

Prisoners of the States

A new book, “The Enemy In Our Hands,” looks at how America has treated — and mistreated — prisoners of war through history resonates in the age of terror.

Chinese Audiences Give Two Thumbs Up

Looking for lesson in cross-cultural psychology? Look no further than the different ways Americans and Chinese react to good, bad movies.

Today’s College Students Lacking in Empathy

A new meta-analysis finds that today’s college students have far less empathy than their forebearers.

Larger Schools May Breed Less Parental Involvement

A new analysis finds that parents are less likely to volunteer when their children attend larger schools.

The Anatomy of a Boycott

A look at who boycotts whom in the United States finds that those on the margins are the most likely to participate.

Kids and TV: Maybe It’s Not an Idiot Box

It may seem unlikely, but new research says that increased TV watching alone isn’t likely to harm children’s thinking or schooling.

Is Political Talk Getting Smarter?

An analysis of 27 presidential debates finds a decline in the amount of abstract thought present during discussions of economics.

Study: Touch on the Shoulder, Bet on the Market

Can some forms of physical contact make you more likely to exhibit risk-taking behavior? So maybe the meltdown is mom’s fault.

Underage Drinkers and the Fake ID

New research investigates how underage college students obtain false identification to gain access to alcohol.

A Super-Sized ‘Last Supper’

Researchers examining depictions of the most iconic meal of all time find portion sizes dramatically increased over the last millennium.

Define a ‘Great’ City

A University of Louisville researcher data-crunches and theorizes about the ‘greatest’ American cities.

Quality Doesn’t Ensure Success for ‘Best New Magazines’

High quality doesn’t ensure longevity in the tumultuous print magazine industry.

On Facebook, You Are Who You Know

Even if you do have a mostly private Facebook profile, others can glean vital information about you — just by looking at your friend list.

Smile to Live Longer?

Don’t laugh: New research on baseball players suggests that the wider your smile, the longer you may live.

Hollywood’s Sigh of Relief

Globally, moviegoers’ tastes are becoming increasingly homogeneous, which is a very good sign for Hollywood.

Ballot Initiatives: Making The Grade?

Two organizations release state-by-state report cards in order to clarify what has become the Wild West of grassroots politics: citizen-led ballot initiatives.

How Negative Campaigning Can Fall Flat

Mudslinging may get results for campaigns, but new research suggests that these negatively tailored messages should not be delivered in person.

A Fatter Phobia

Overweight is the new normal in America. So why do we still share an immediate, negative reaction toward the obese?

Give Me Something to Believe in

Adolescents are aware of the serious consequences of climate change. So why don’t they do anything about it?

The Wal-Mart Catechism

A new book on the discount chain’s down-home early days doesn’t tell us much about its status as the world’s largest — and most controversial — retailer.

A Long March Out of the Closet

With the general public overwhelming in support of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, why is it still politically contentious to overturn the policy?

Tree by Tree: Reforesting Haiti

Reforesting efforts in Haiti may not provide immediate relief, but could create a renewable and sustainable supply of food and fuel for desperate villages.

The Art of Predicting Box-Office Gold

Predicting a blockbuster movie’s financial returns is more often based on gut instinct than scientific modeling — unless you develop data-crunching super software.

Just Pack a Tent

Despite the good intentions of the U.S. Forest Service setting aside “protected areas” isn’t enough- housing growth in an near these areas can effectively diminish these forests and severely hamper the natural ecosystems.

Equipping Women Journalists In Kenya

Cristi Hegranes, a Miller-McCune Wonking Class Hero, expands the Global Press Institute to Kenya, where women will become the eyes and ears of the developing nation.

(Wheel) Running Addictions Away

Here’s a thought for the New Year: Binge-drinking mice could help pave the way for exercise-oriented alcohol addiction treatments for humans.

Don’t Tread on Me: I Home-School

As the legion of home-schoolers rapidly grows, sensible government oversight seems to be a reasonable option — or it’ll invite a firestorm of opposition.

Your Next Textbook In Business Theory: The Comic Book?

A little self-awareness, and a lot of illustration, breathes some life into the justifiably maligned segment of entertainment education.

Moral Dilemma of ‘What Have You Done For Me Lately?’

Becoming a captain of industry suggests you’ve probably sailed a bit too closely to the ethical shoals, a new study suggests.

No Uniform Solution

Uniforms make students look sharper, and they create a safer environment, but they can’t they raise a school’s achievement level

Searching for a Feeling

Can compulsively searching, instead of merely surfing, lead to greater cognitive benefits for netizens?

The Industry of Cool?

Blog chatter has helped flat-lining album sales, but does that chatter even matter?

The Edwards Effect?

Life-threatening illnesses can disrupt even the most stable marriages, but new research suggests that men are far more likely to divorce a terminally ill spouse.

Seeing is Perceiving

Is it possible to feel less pain if you look directly at the affected area? Take two drops of Murine and call us in the morning.

May I Refer to My Pharmacopeia During the Test?

Can ADHD stimulants like Adderall be the answer for college students looking to increase academic performance? They think so.

The First, Tentative Steps

Cap-and-trade is by no means a new concept in American environmental efforts. What can other programs teach tomorrow’s carbon traders?

What Matters Most

A new study illuminates the motivations behind religious sacrifice among a very devout population — adolescents.

Problem-Solving (and Award-Winning) Courts

The verdict is in: Center for Court Innovation honored with national nonprofit award.

A Costly Green Machine

A new survey indicates broad interest, but not commitment, in purchasing an electric vehicle.

Paralyzed Mice and M&Ms

A pill or two might be able to prevent future devastating spinal cord injuries from turning into paralysis, suggests new research on mice.

Marvin Mouse vs. the Killer T Cell

A transgenic rodent named for a philanthropic football coach is front and center in the effort to solve the multiple sclerosis whodunit.

U.S. Teens Working Hard at Loafing Around

While adolescents today work less and have more leisure time than previous generations, how do they invest these valuable hours?

Doctored Information

While the purpose of informed consent laws is to educate women considering an abortion, they apparently do little to dissuade them from proceeding.

Climate Change Gridlock

Emission standards will help manage rising temperatures, but the time to act is now.


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If Only Yosemite Was a Video Game

Those who experience nature through the windshield typically donate less toward conservation than those with no exposure to nature.

Gas Mileage Labels Get Sophisticated

The federal government has unveiled updated designs for those informational stickers on new cars. The hope is to nudge buyers into choosing more fuel-efficient models.

California Rejects Ban on Plastic Bags

Lawmakers struck down a bill that would have made California the first state in the union to ban plastic shopping bags.

The Scientist and the Journalist Can Be Friends

Nancy Baron’s new book is an excellent guide for academic researchers on how to effectively communicate with the press, public and policymakers.

Do School Lunches Plump Up Poor Kids?

A program to ensure all American children get at least one good meal a day may lie behind their expanding waistlines. Oddly, a breakfast program does not.

An Emotional Timeline of Sept. 11, 2001

German researchers, analyzing the content of text messages sent on 9/11/01, report that while sadness and anxiety levels remained stable through the day, anger steadily increased.

Liberals Gone Wild

A short digression on the meaning of a word that apparently has no generally agreed-upon political definition.

The Balance of Evil-Doing: Kiri’s Impacts

Having completed his 5,000-mile voyage, Kristian Beadle weighs his trip’s carbon use and examines whether the benefits balance the costs.

Volunteer Work Prolongs Lives of Frail Elderly

New research finds that among the elderly, functional limitations are associated with an increased risk of dying — but only for those who don’t do volunteer work.

Public Schools: An Untapped Recreational Resource

Researchers suggest limiting liability issues to make playgrounds and other recreation areas on school grounds accessible as a cost-effective way to promote public health.