Bias Against Older Adults in Young Children and Their Parents

Parents are an important source of social learning for their children. However, little is known about whether they play a role in shaping ageist attitudes in children. We investigated how parents’ biases against older adults would relate to those of their children and how preferences would differ depending on the child’s age. Participants were 56 parent-child dyads with the children’s age ranging from four to eight years (parents mean age = 36.95, SD = 5.49). Children were divided into three age groups, preschool (n = 18), early school-aged (n = 18), and middle school-aged (n = 20). Children and parents completed a picture rating task, which included the evaluation of 28 images of younger and older adults faces. Children used a smiley-face rating scale on a touch-screen computer, and parents used a sliding preference scale for their ratings. It was found that both, children (t(55) = 5.47, p < .001, d = 0.73) and their parents (t(55) = 2.05, p = 0.045, d = 0.27), gave significantly more positive ratings to younger than to older adults, which is consistent with an underlying bias for younger adults. Contrary to our expectations, this preference in children held across age groups and was not associated with parental preferences. Nevertheless, it has been shown that ageist preferences can already be detected in childhood. Further longitudinal research is needed to track the development of ageism from childhood on, and efforts to combat ageism should be addressed not only to adults, but to children as well.

Emojis and assertive environmental messages in social media campaigns

PurposeThe authors aim to examine how emojis interact with assertiveness in social media posts to encourage social media engagement and cooperation in environmental campaigns.Design/methodology/approachTwo experiments were used to test three hypotheses.FindingsStudy 1 shows that when assertive Twitter messages include the smiley-face emoji, study participants indicate stronger social media engagement and behavioral intentions to recycle used jeans. In Study 2, participants indicate stronger social media engagement and behavioral intentions to sign a petition for reducing plastic pollution when (non) assertive Facebook messages (do not) include emojis.Originality/valueThe current research advances our understanding about how emojis interact with assertive and nonassertive message tonality in environmental social media campaigns. This research also provides new insights showing that positive emotion is the psychological mechanism underlying matching effects of emoji and message assertiveness.

Muddy Waters: Critiquing the Historical Criminology Method in the Investigation of the Smiley Face Murders Theory

As an emerging trans-disciplinary field, the operational use of historical criminology is a largely under-studied area. Examination of the use of archival research in studying cases connected to Gannon and Gilbertson’s Smiley Face murders theory indicates that there is clear potential for historical criminology to be used to revisit closed or cold investigations to determine if the official findings of the case are consistent with the evidence. In the case of the Smiley Face murders theory, taking a historical criminology approach has failed to prove the hypothesis of researchers; nevertheless, use of historical research methods has had some success in forcing a re-evaluation of several cases, and should be considered an important tool in future investigations of this nature.

Happy Or Not? Roots of Student Satisfaction in Class Sessions

Businesses and organizations are turning to fast feedback devices that measure consumer satisfaction. These standalone devices often have four or five different smiley-face buttons that can quickly gauge consumer sentiment. These devices are becoming popular due to the short time commitment needed to provide feedback.This instructor has piloted the use of a smiley-face survey tool that is used at the end of each class session. Initial results suggest the role of the instructor may play a lesser role in student happiness for a given class. External factors, such as outside event or incoming GPA, appear to have a larger effect on class satisfaction. Data from classes and sample email exchanges will be presented. This type of fast feedback system has many potential benefits and low startup costs.