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Department of Psychology (page 4)


April 26, 2021

In the Media: Stacey Wood Discusses Philanthropic Scams in the New York Times

Stacey Wood, Molly Mason Jones Chair in Psychology and professor of psychology, discussed philanthropic scams in the New York Times.

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April 19, 2021

In the Media: Michael Spezio Discusses the Empathy Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Lifewire

In Lifewire, Associate Professor of Psychology Michael Spezio discussed the empathy potential—or lack thereof—of artificial intelligence (AI) programs designed to enhance customer service.

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April 14, 2021

In the Media: Stacey Wood Discusses Pandemic Scams with BBC Radio

BBC Radio discussed the increased frequency of and risk factors for online scams during the COVID-19 pandemic with Stacey Wood, Molly Mason Jones Chair in Psychology and professor of psychology. The interview also aired on NPR.

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April 12, 2021

Michael Spezio Reviews New Book on Artificial Intelligence in Science Magazine

Associate Professor of Psychology Michael Spezio reviewed* Atlas of AI, a new book on the power, politics, and consequences of artificial intelligence, for Science magazine. “By taking power and materiality seriously and leaving aside questions of what intelligence is, Crawford maps answers to how AI is made and how we are trapped by its making,” Spezio writes.

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April 2, 2021

In the Media: Los Angeles Times Discusses Scam Victims’ Complex Emotional Reactions with Stacey Wood

The Los Angeles Times discussed the range of complex emotions people may feel after falling victim to fraud with Stacey Wood, Molly Mason Jones Chair in Psychology and professor of psychology.

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February 8, 2021

In the Media: Stacey Wood Discusses COVID-19 Vaccination Cards, Social Media and Identity Theft in New York Times

In the New York Times, Stacey Wood, Molly Mason Jones Chair in Psychology and professor of psychology, discussed how posting a photo of one’s COVID-19 vaccination card to social media increases the risk of identity theft and other scams. “The typical consumer would not think scammers must have curated information about my life and used it to target me,” she said.

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September 23, 2020

In the Media: Stacey Wood Discusses Consumer Fraud and COVID-19 in the New York Times

Stacey Wood, professor of psychology and Molly Mason Jones Chair in Psychology, discussed the increase in coronavirus-related consumer fraud with the New York Times. “Disruption and fast-moving events create good conditions to target consumers,” she told the Times.

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June 12, 2020

In the Media: Stacey Wood Explains the Psychological Techniques Behind Coronavirus Scams to AARP

Molly Mason Jones Chair in Psychology and Professor of Psychology Stacey Wood explained some of the psychological techniques behind coronavirus scams to AARP. One of these tactics involves pressuring people to act quickly, which can exacerbate pandemic-related anxieties about employment and supply scarcity.

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June 1, 2020

In the Media: Jennifer Groscup Explores Why People Consent to Government Searches on Academic Minute Podcast

Associate Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Department of Psychology Jennifer Groscup discussed the psychology behind consenting to be searched by police on the Academic Minute podcast, published on Inside Higher Ed. “Research indicates that the vast majority of people—over 90 percent—consent to be searched when the police ask, regardless of whether they know something illegal will be found or not,” Groscup said.

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April 17, 2020

In the Media: New York Times Discusses the Increase in Coronavirus Scams with Stacey Wood

In the New York Times, Professor of Psychology and Molly Mason Jones Chair in Psychology Stacey Wood explained why coronavirus-related scams, such as false vaccines and phishing emails that masquerade as important information from the government, have proliferated during the pandemic. She told the Times that heightened boredom, isolation, and fear may increase credulity among people who are seeking reassurance.

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