News

This year’s edition of the American Family Survey – an annual snapshot of the American family – gave further support to the consistent conclusion that strong families support strong individuals, who in turn support strong neighborhoods and societies, in a virtuous circle. But the COVID-19 crisis has accentuated differences.

While correlations can leave room for speculation as to cause and effect, a new study relates excessive screen time – especially of the more frivolous variety – with lower levels of perceived well-being during COVID-19-related confinement. Charo Sádaba was part of the research team.

As governments take a wide range of measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, a new tool aims to track and compare policy responses around the world, rigorously and consistently. One of the lead researchers discusses what has been learned.

Dr. Mark Griffiths explains responsible gambling tools – how small interventions can influence problematic user behavior for the good.

This year’s Reuter’s Digital News Report – the sixth – is especially revealing, as it contains data from both before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemia. The 2020 report points out the dichotomy between the public’s expressed preference for unbiased, accurate journalism, and its increasing dependence on non-professional sources of information.

STI author and UVA Sociology Professor Brad Wilcox sheds a light on one of the unfortunate ways that elites perpetuate their advantages in an interview about marriage in America with Jonah Goldberg. Wilcox talks about why marriage matters for kids, why it’s in trouble among working-class and poor Americans, and why it’s getting stronger among more educated and affluent Americans.

Stephen Green poured decades of experience into his latest book, The Human Odyssey: East, West, and the Search for Universal Values. In this exclusive interview with STI, he distills its essence.

Peer pressure comes in many guises. A new report reveals that many UK university academics do not feel free to share certain opinions or to investigate certain issues.

A new collection of essays furthers study into the multifaceted realities of the contemporary home. Co-editor Antonio Argandoña shares some thoughts on the work in this overview.

In her HLD lecture, Professor Ruth Fine explained that "memory has a place in forgiveness. For only if we remember, then we have the ability to learn, forgive, and rebuild common ground from our past."

The first of the 2020 Holy Land Dialogues explores forgiveness from a philosophical angle. The following is an edited and abridged version of Professor Mariano Crespo's contribution.

In support of its mission to foster understanding, the Social Trends Institute collaborates with the Saxum Foundation to offer the Holy Land Dialogues (HLD) lecture series. HLD is a biennial invitation to the Holy Land that aims to immerse pilgrims from all walks of life in the ancient history and current reality of this small area of the world that is so uniquely rich in cultural heritage. STI invites scholars and public intellectuals to address the pilgrims with keynote speeches that center each year on a particular theme. Daniel Johnson, who has moderated all three editions, has written the following retrospective for STI: