The Divine Conspiracy Blog

Jim Manzi: What Social Science Does—and Doesn’t—Know.

Over many decades, social science has groped toward the goal of applying the experimental method to evaluate its theories for social improvement. Recent developments have made this much more practical, and the experimental revolution is finally reaching social science. The most fundamental lesson that emerges from such experimentation to date is that our scientific ignorance of the human condition remains profound. Despite confidently asserted empirical analysis, persuasive rhetoric, and claims to expertise, very few social-program interventions can be shown in controlled experiments to create real improvement in outcomes of interest.

More here.

David B. Hart reviews Absence of Mind by Marilynne Robinson.

Is Maslow’s theory correct?

Maslow believed that human development occurs in five stages; at each stage we concentrate on mastering a different set of needs. The stages are physiological needs, safety needs, belonging needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization. The evidence Maslow presented for his theory consisted of personal observations and interviews of people he judged to be “self-actualized.” His theory was evaluated by a number of researchers who began sympathetic to his viewpoint. The near-consensus view among researchers was that his theory is mostly invalid. Needs do not group into Maslow’s categories and there is no hierarchy of needs common to the species. If there were, we would all have the same values.

Read more here.

CT interviews James Dobson about his new book, Bringing Up Girls.

Religion, Science, and the Humanities: An Interview with Barbara Herrnstein Smith.

Barbara Herrnstein Smith is a distinguished literary scholar at both Brown and Duke, who, since her undergraduate days, has had a special interest in the uses and misuses of scientific psychology. Her latest book, which stems from her 2006 Terry Lectures at Yale University, is Natural Reflections: Human Cognition at the Nexus of Science and Religion (Yale, 2010). It explores the ways in which contemporary cognitive science and evolutionary psychology are being called upon to, once and for all, explain religion.

Check out the interview here.

Spirituality and Well-Being: An Overview by K. Krishna Mohan.

The last two decades have provided evidence from a wide range of disciplines, that human potential for psychological growth and well-being is more than what had been previously estimated. Though spirituality is as much a part of human experience as any other normal form of thought and behaviour, until recently it has not been given due importance by researchers in psychology. This same opinion is echoed by researchers and therapists who report that the spiritual dimension of human experience has not been given the attention that it deserves in mental health (Adams, 1995; Canda, 1995; Ganje-Fling & McCarthy, 1996; Hall, 1995; Kane, Cheston & Green, 1993; King, Speck & Thomas, 1995; Lindgren & Coursy, 1995; Pargament, 1996; Sargent, 1989; Sinclair, 1993; Vesti & Kastrup, 1995; Weaver, Koeing & Ocherg, 1996; Wulff, 1996). Mental health professionals, in fact, have often viewed spiritual content as pathological (Larson et al., 1993; Post, 1992; Weaver et al., 1996).

Both religion and spirituality are universal and widespread phenomena, in that they are integral to numerous cultures, and influence people of all ages, socio-economic status, and educational levels. They continue to live because of, among other things, social influences and need satisfaction. Every aspect of life, particularly in the East, is more or less imbued with religious sentiments or perceived as part of religious life. It is estimated that 94% of the American population believe in God, 88% believe God loves them, 81% believe we will be called before God on Judgement Day, 71% believe in life after death. More people have confidence in organised religion than in any other social institution (Gallup & Castelli, 1989).

The aim of this paper is to show the close relationship between spirituality and well-being by presenting research based evidence that spirituality or a spiritual way of life has a bearing on well-being. In addition, it will show that ideas or concepts drawn from spirituality can be effectively applied to counselling and psychotherapy. But before presenting an overall view of the relationship between spiritual outlook and psychological well-being it will be appropriate first to define the basic concepts.

Read the rest here.

The Nation on God, Science and Philanthropy. See here.

The Importance of Hating Your Ex.

When you break up with someone, or someone breaks up with you, it’s expected—mandatory, really—that your friends tell you what a jerk your ex is. How you’re better off without him/her. How you deserve more and they thought so all along but weren’t saying anything just to be polite. The idea is that you need to view the now-severed relationship in an unflattering light in order to “move on” and “heal” and stop being such a downer.

It’s supposed to make you feel better.

And, according to an article in Cognition and Emotion, your friends are right. Not necessarily about your ex being a jerk, but about the importance of thinking less of the person you were formerly with.

Read the rest here.

The best advice? Don’t give any.

The worst part of dispensing advice is that NO ONE actually follows through with it. When most people ask a question, they already have an answer in mind-which is usually, the answer they would like to hear.

Living Single by Bella DePaulo. See here.