The Power of Places

Voting, and especially publicly proclaiming "I voted" (through stickers, status updates, etc.) is very much motivated and reinforced by social belonging and social cooperation. Stressful events create intense feelings of bonding and acts of social cooperation in people. Thus, could voter turnout be more robust than initial predictions were suggesting, as a result of Sandy?

Environment

Can We Change Ourselves Simply by Changing Location?

Amy Hale Ph.D. on February 8, 2012

Typically, we think of ourselves as separate from the environment that surrounds us: as Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." But a different viewpoint suggests that our self-concept and state of mind is influenced by where we are at any given moment.

Typically, we think of ourselves as separate from the environment that surrounds us: as Shakespeare wrote, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." But a different viewpoint suggests that our self-concept and state of mind is influenced by where we are at any given moment.