Hi

Dan Slater wrote a recent article on evolutionary psychology and dating 
behavior.  See

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/opinion/sunday/darwin-was-wrong-about-dating.html

It takes (in my view) an extremely simplistic perspective on the area and the 
comments reveal just how poorly many people think about psychological research 
(or social science research more generally).  Many comments reflect as 
simplistic a perspective as the author, noting (quite rightly) possible 
limitations of the described research (e.g., being based on Western 
participants) and theories as described (e.g., evolution accounts for 
everything). One certainly does not expect lay readers to be knowledgeable 
about areas of research, but it is disturbing that many assume the researchers 
have never thought of and addressed these problems.  Buss and Schmitt (who are 
cited), for example, have studied many different cultures.  

So you end up with a vicious circle: negative attitudes toward psychological 
research + poorly written article on an area = even more negative attitudes 
toward psych research.

Is it really true then that there is "no such thing as bad publicity?"

Take care
Jim


James M. Clark
Professor & Chair of Psychology
[email protected]
Room 4L41A
204-786-9757
204-774-4134 Fax
Dept of Psychology, U of Winnipeg
515 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB
R3B 0R4  CANADA



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