What may be more interesting - and factual - about the so-called "pact," with high school girls supposedly trying to get pregnant in Gloucester is that it may not be what it seems at all. It may be yet another case of spiraling teen pregnancy rates, caused mostly by adolescents in a poor city making poor, uninformed choices. Although the principal stands by his story - though he seems to be having trouble remembering where he heard about it - many of the girls themselves and other officials deny that there was any pact. There is a lot of confusion about what's really true.
Here's a recent Boston Globe story, summing up a bit of the controversy about whether or not there was a "pact." http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/06/27/gloucester_principal_de fends_pregnancy_comments/ But what I think is most interesting is that this story, which quickly took a life of its own, may very well be in the same genre as those where people go on talk shows and television shows to discuss their bizarre life stories, with little or no embarrassment (or dignity). Could it be that old social psych. principle of BIRGing? (Basking in Reflected Glory, if they still use that term.) To a lot of people, being "in" on news that gets people's attention may be motivation enough. Of course, we may never know the real truth about whether or not there was a "pact." (As the principal notes, he can't even recall that he used the term "pact" to reporters.) We can only hope that it's opened some important discussions in the homes of teenagers. Beth Benoit Granite State College New Hampshire -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 10:47 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re: [tips] social psych question Maybe folks can reply both on and off-list. Curious minds want to know...These are good questions. Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- Original message ---- >Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 16:50:26 -0700 >From: "Naomi Schatz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [tips] social psych question >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > > Have you all heard about the case in Gloucester, > Mass where a bunch of girls all got pregnant > "together" > (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1815845,00.html)? > Well, I am wondering if anyone knows the > psychological precept that would explain this type > of behavior? > > I guess I'd also be curious as to what the > psychological concept is behind the "This is Sparta" > Facebook "movement" for the AP exam. Thoughts? > > Please respond off-list, as I am un-subscribing for > summer! > > Happy 4th everyone, Naomi > > Naomi Schatz, Ph.D. > AP Psychology > The Harker School > San Jose, CA 95129 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 408-345-9240 > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
