Spent:
Sex, Evolution and Consumer Behavior
By Geoffrey Miller
HB801 .M493 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
It seems that we’re on a Darwin kick here (next week, a book about the Darwin Awards?), but this week’s featured title also deals with evolution in a different context. Besides, with the Black Friday ads already starting to pop up here and there, dropping loads of cash is on everyone’s mind.
Miller, a professor at the University of New Mexico, applies the world of evolutionary psychology to the field of marketing with intriguing results. He seeks to prove that there is a connection between buyer behavior and our biological potential as friends and mates. The author examines the Central Six, the major dimensions of variations for human behavior, and what the purchases we make, from cars to music to video games, reveal about them. If you’d like to learn what compels you to buy those suicidal high heels or the ginormous truck, this book’s for you.
The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature
Monday, November 2, 2009
Young Auditorium, 7 pm
Evolutional psychologist Steven Pinker is one of the world’s leading cognitive scientists. The Times (London) calls him “academia’s rock star,” with his wild hair and controversial ideas. Currently, Pinker is Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Pinker’s research demonstrates that the human mind is not a blank slate at birth, and that some elements of language are also pre-programmed.
Andersen Library has a number of Pinker’s books (including several books with chapters by him). So take a look at HALCAT to see a list of his books.
Pinker’s book, The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature, is available at many other UW Libraries and may be requested through Universal Borrowing.
PsycInfo (EBSCOhost) is a great place to search for articles by Pinker.
The $12 Million Stuffed Shark:
The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art
By Don Thompson
N6490 .T525 2008
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Have you ever wondered how they came up with the price of a work of art? You see it in the news that this painting has gone for a record sum of money, but then you wonder, ‘They paid WHAT?! They must be out of their minds!’ What factors control the demand for art – the creator? the circumstances? the mood of the agent? This week’s featured title can probably provide a few answers for you concerning the mysterious art world.
Thompson, marketing & economics professor at York University, takes you into a world that most people can only dream of experiencing – the contemporary art scene. The author examines the artists that produce the extravagant pieces of art; the agents and auction houses responsible for convincing individuals to pony up the dough for their client’s creative endeavors; and the aforementioned souls forking over the money for the privilege of displaying the art in their personal galleries. It’s a convergence of art, economics and psychology that keeps you entertained with Thompson’s excellent knowledge of the subject matter. Anyone interested in contemporary art, from either the aesthetic or business perspective, should read this book.
I read something recently that claimed North Dakota was ranked first among the 50 states for having the most agreeable people. Huh. I decided this was research I had to find, since I was curious about how Wisconsin fared. You can read it too, and see how the states are ranked for the extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness of their citizens. Wisconsin, by the way, was ranked 5th for agreeableness and 2nd for extraversion.
This research is explained and reported in the article:
Rentfrow, P. J., Gosling, S. D., & Potter, J. (2008). A theory of the emergence, persistence, and expression of geographic variation in psychological characteristics. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(5), 339-369.
Cheating:
Gaining Advantage in Videogames
by Mia Consalvo
GV1469.34 .C67 C66 2007
New Book Island, 2nd floor
When you see the word cheating on a book in an academic library, you probably think of crib sheets, secret signals during exams, or plagiarism. In this case, we’re talking about cheating in the digital environment – videogames.
Consalvo, associate professor of telecommunications at Ohio University, examines the cultural history of cheating in the context of videogames and the birth and expansion of an industry catering to gamers’ willingness to ‘beat the game.’ Her introduction uses a situation which perfectly exemplifies why some people cheat and others don’t: knowing about a gift before opening it. In her opinion, it takes the surprise and excitement away from receiving the present. She goes on to explore how players define cheating and the gaming community’s feelings and reactions to said devious actions. The author contends that the way in which we use videogames reflects ethics in other areas of life, not just the digital world.
This week, I’ve chosen two unrelated titles, just that they had somewhat catchy covers. I know, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover.
Relationship Sabotage:
Unconscious Factors That Destroy Couples, Marriages and Families
William Matta
HM1106 .R45 2006
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Although I was initially drawn to this book by the cover art with the couple standing on a seemingly self-suspended rock, the book raises the interesting topic of break-ups and the factors for their demise. Matta, listed as one of the top therapists according to Psychology Today, contends that the unconscious mind plays a pivotal role in the failure of relationships, memories as far back as childhood that continue to haunt individuals. In his review of book, WP Anderson, emeritus faculty from the University of Missouri-Columbia, indicated the its usefulness both as a self-help text and as a guide for students because of its depiction of real-life client interactions.
Wikinomics:
How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
Don Tapscott & Anthony Williams
HD69 .S8 T37 2006
New Book Island, 2nd floor
How many times have you searched for something on Google and retrieved an article from Wikipedia, probably 8 times out of 10, right? Everyone knows about sites like Wikipedia, Youtube, Flickr, the “Web 2.0,” but Tapscott and Williams delve into the larger idea of “mass collaboration” and its impact on the way businesses interact with consumers. No longer must users rely on private industry for innovation because of open source technologies like Mozilla Firefox and the Linux operating system. This book outlines where companies fit into the scheme and how they can tap into the collaboration of the masses.
It’s that time of the week again… New Stuff Tuesday! This week it’s all about people and our social nature.
Herd:
How to Change Mass Behaviour by Harnessing Our True Nature
Mark Earls
HF5415.123 .E37 2007
New Book Island, 2nd floor
This intriguing book, written by a leading thinker in consumer behavior, covers a whole lot of ground. Although this book centers around the principle of mass behavior and its effects on advertising and marketing, it quickly moves from the idea of the group versus individual mentality to the keys of “herd marketing,” such as interaction, influence, and letting go. What’s great about the book is the use of real-world examples as illustrations, like urinal etiquette to describe unspoken rules about choosing the correct point of relief, if you will. Bet you didn’t see that coming, did you?
This Changes Everything:
The Relational Revolution in Psychology
Christina Robb
HM1106 .R63 2007
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Christina Robb, former Boston Globe reporter & Pultizer Prize winner, delves into relational psychology and the women who causes this fundamental shift in thinking. This pioneering group — Carol Gilligan, Jean Baker Miller & Judith Lewis Herman — asserted that relationships serve ad the foundation for our psychological wellbeing, not the Freudain camp’s Sense of Self. This provides the “missing link between feminist politics and female reality.” (Jennifer Baumgardner). So did it really change everything? Find out for yourself.
