New & Noteworthy
- What does it mean to be “authentic?” In their new article, To Thine Own Self Be True: Identity and Authenticity, Mallory Harrington and Francesca Bernardino explain how our affinity for “true” belonging shapes our attitudes and behaviors, and why ambiguous or unattainable standards of authenticity can particularly harm marginalized communities.
From the Archives
- In the latest MAHA report on children’s health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. insisted on the need to address “vaccine injury.” As Secretary of Health and Human Services, he has spoken about the supposed connection between vaccination status and rising autism diagnoses in children. Our 2019 piece, Autism Across Cultures, reviews research on the causes of autism, providing social context and explanations for recent increases in autism diagnoses.
- As students return to school, many kids and teenagers will return to bullying from their peers. Despite the commonly used phrase “it gets better,” research warns that the consequences of peer aggression during adolescence can extend through adulthood. Read 2023’s Back to School, Back to Bullying from our partner World Suffering to learn more.
Backstage with TSP
- “TSP Tuesdays” is now returning to “TSP Fridays.” We’re sad to see the alliteration go. New board member Sara Kadoura is taking the reins of our weekly roundup, where you’ll continue to get updates from TSP and our partners.
- Anastasia Dulle is also now taking a leadership role on our flagship section, “Discoveries.” Anastasia will manage our publication schedule and join Jake, Doug and Chris on the editors team, streamlining our process to translate new and meaningful social science for the wider public.
More from our Partners & Community Pages
- How the rich turn sludge into money by Doron Shiffer-Sebba illuminates how “bureaucratic practices” protect generational wealth in ultra-wealthy families and introduce business-like relationships into family life.
Council on Contemporary Families
- With big-city immigration raids in the news, William Lopez’s new book, Raiding the Heartland: An American Story of Deportation and Resistance, directs the spotlight toward the effects of raids in a less-covered space: rural America. In this interview with Alicia M. Walker, Lopez details how rural community members cope with the sudden absence of their neighbors and loved ones.
- Stefano Bloch joins Kyle Green in the latest episode of “Give Theory a Chance” to discuss his recent article, “Crime as Relational Concept in Political Geography,” published in Geography Compass.
Comments 1
jhonwood — September 23, 2025
This is a really thoughtful roundup—what stood out to me is how the idea of “authenticity” connects to so many parts of our lives, from identity to health to education. The point about ambiguous standards of belonging affecting marginalized groups really hits home. It also reminds me of how digital initiatives like nadakacheri 5.0 try to create accessible systems for people who might otherwise feel excluded. Just like with authenticity, it shows how fairness and inclusivity can shape people’s everyday experiences in powerful ways.