I have decided to try a new weekly segment of interesting news stories that either write about sociology for a mass audience, are written by a sociologist, or make reference to sociologists who are doing interesting research. So here it goes...in the news this week:
1. Happiness is...a virus?
Researchers at Harvard and UC San Diego find that if people in your social network are happy, you are more likely to be happy as well. This works particularly well through friends and neighbors, but less so through family members. This research was also profiled on the Today Show last week.
2. Automakers, Unions, and Competition
This was written by a sociologist at Wesleyan. Cutler argues that the failure of unions to organize companies at the manufacturing plants of foreign vehicles has contributed to the current crisis. Certainly, unionization could be a positive step for workers in the U.S. But I am uncomfortable with the blame for these crises being placed on workers, when their pay comprises a relatively small fraction of the total budget.
3. Religion, Religion, Religion
First, sociologist Wendy Cadge tells us that some people pray for parking spaces (Say it like Amy & Seth--Really? Really!) Then, Mark Chavez sings (or maybe writes) the praises (heh--get it?) of the mega-church. Finally, Dashefsky shows that interfaith Christian-Jewish married partners were more observant of Jewish religious traditions than non-interfaith couples. Go figure.
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Hey, if praying could help us get a parking spot in Philly, I think we would. Or if you were a New Yorker-- do you know how much people pay for parking spots in Manhattan?!?
Unmentioned in the article on happiness was that "people in your social network" is very strictly defined as your parents, children, and one "closest friend". So given that, its really not very exciting to find that people with very happy best friends tend to be happy. Social homophily, anyone??
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