All posts tagged: engage

Starmer’s reluctance to engage with the details shows a lack of political leadership

Starmer’s reluctance to engage with the details shows a lack of political leadership

Published by Sam Flores

For all of Keir Starmer’s undoubted abilities, steady nerve and top-level experience in the legal profession, his tenure as prime minister has been fraught with difficulty. This is no doubt partly due to his limited enthusiasm for the (at times banal) realities of political leadership. It is also due to his reluctance to engage sufficiently with the details of important decisions. At key moments, he has chosen to look the other way and defer to others to execute. The most recent and consequential example of this is the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington DC, which we now know was driven primarily by former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney. A quick refresh on recent Labour party history should have been enough to deter this decision. Instead, Starmer outsourced political judgment to others. Now that it has backfired, he is attempting to deflect the blame for his own misjudgments, perhaps not realising – or not accepting – that the buck ultimately stops with him. He has lost goodwill by removing a range of colleagues, …

Your body exhibits subtle physiological changes when you engage in self-deception

Your body exhibits subtle physiological changes when you engage in self-deception

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study published in the journal Psychophysiology suggests that when people are unsure about their own performance but try to boast about it, their bodies still show subtle signs of lying. The research provides evidence that uncertainty pushes individuals into a middle ground between honesty and deception. This middle ground allows individuals to boost their self-esteem while experiencing less physiological stress than an outright lie. Humans often navigate complex social situations by deciding whether to be honest or to bend the truth for personal gain. Telling a clear lie usually triggers physical changes like increased sweating, while being completely honest tends to keep the body in a calmer state. Both of these actions depend on a person knowing the actual facts of a situation. Yet, everyday life is full of ambiguous situations where people do not have all the facts. Scientists wanted to understand what happens to a person’s body and confidence when they lack clear information but still try to present themselves in the best possible light. They aimed to see if people …

PM warns Travelodge CEO to ‘seriously engage’ with MPs after ‘appalling’ hotel sex attack  | Politics News

PM warns Travelodge CEO to ‘seriously engage’ with MPs after ‘appalling’ hotel sex attack  | Politics News

Published by Sam Flores

Sir Keir Starmer has personally written to Travelodge’s CEO and warned she must “seriously engage with MPs” over concerns about women’s safety. The letter sent to Jo Boydell comes after a Berkshire hotel guest was sexually assaulted by a man who was wrongly given access to her room in 2022. Attacker Kyran Smith, who had falsely claimed to be her partner, was jailed in February for seven and a half years, with the hotel forced to apologise for offering the victim £30 as compensation for what happened. Travelodge has since acknowledged that the response was “inappropriate”. Describing the attack in Maidenhead as “utterly appalling”, the prime minister has now told Ms Boydell that lessons must be learnt and that action must be taken to better protect guests. Image: Kyran Smith was jailed in February. Pic: Thames Valley Police His intervention is significant and comes a week after Ms Boydell refused an open meeting with MPs worried about Travelodge’s safety procedures. In the wake of the incident, the hotel has made some immediate changes and is …

Why Engage with the Past? Philosophy and Its History

Why Engage with the Past? Philosophy and Its History

Published by Jenni Sidey

In philosophy, you quite immediately notice a striking difference between content taught and philosophical research, for example, when looking at how philosophy departments are structured in European universities. There are courses and research projects that deal with current topics usually associated with the chairs of theoretical philosophy (philosophy of nature, metaphysics) and practical philosophy (ethics, feminist philosophy, political philosophy), respectively. And there are those that deal with philosophical theories of philosophers who lived long ago, that is, content that belongs to the field of the history of philosophy, often associated with chairs of history of philosophy. While the former research and teaching content addresses current issues and topics, such as climate change or polyamory, the latter deals with questions and problems that may seem somewhat outdated at first glance. These include, for example, Descartes’s mechanistic view of nature, which includes (outdated) mechanistic descriptions of the human body, and Kant’s philosophical argument for why space is necessarily Euclidean (which has been proven false). Of course, there are still contemporary philosophical concepts of nature that can be …

People who believe they contribute to society are more likely to vote and engage in politics

People who believe they contribute to society are more likely to vote and engage in politics

Published by José Betancourt

Two studies using data from two different points in recent American history found that individuals who believe their contribution to society is higher are more likely to intend to vote, engage in activism, and seek election information. They were also more likely to donate to and volunteer for political causes compared to individuals who saw their contribution to society as smaller. The paper was published in PLOS One. Political participation is the extent to which citizens engage in activities intended to influence political decision-making, such as voting, engaging in political activism, communicating with officials, or engaging in public debate. Political participation is crucial in representative democracies because it provides legitimacy to governing institutions by reflecting the will and preferences of the population. High levels of participation help ensure accountability, as elected representatives are responsive to citizens who can reward or punish them through elections. Political participation also fosters civic competence, encouraging individuals to develop political knowledge and a sense of efficacy. However, in spite of this, a significant number of eligible citizens do not engage …

People who engage in impulsive violence tend to have lower IQ scores

People who engage in impulsive violence tend to have lower IQ scores

Published by José Betancourt

A recent comprehensive review of existing scientific research suggests that individuals who engage in impulsive acts of violence tend to score lower on intelligence tests compared to non-violent individuals. The findings provide evidence that lower intellectual abilities may make it harder for people to resolve conflicts peacefully, though intelligence is just one piece of a complex behavioral puzzle. The research was published in the journal Intelligence. Scientists from various disciplines have spent decades attempting to understand the underlying factors that drive aggression and violence. While past research provides evidence that lower cognitive abilities are linked to general criminal behavior, the specific relationship between intelligence and violent acts against others has remained less clear. This gap in knowledge prompted researchers to look closer at specific types of aggression. The researchers conducted the new review to figure out if people who commit violent acts consistently show lower intellectual abilities than those who do not. They also wanted to know if this pattern holds true for different components of intelligence, such as verbal skills and nonverbal problem solving. …

ICE memo directs officers in Minneapolis not to “engage with agitators”

ICE memo directs officers in Minneapolis not to “engage with agitators”

Published by Sam Flores

An internal memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement instructs officers in Minneapolis to avoid interacting with “agitators,” according to internal documents reviewed by Reuters. “DO NOT COMMUNICATE OR ENGAGE WITH AGITATORS,” the email from a top official read. “It serves no purpose other than inflaming the situation. No one is going to convince the other. The only communication should be the officers issuing commands.” The new directive also instructs officers to only target immigrants with a criminal history, including charges and convictions, which it calls a “criminal nexus.” “We are moving to targeted enforcement of aliens with a criminal history,” it read. “This includes arrests, not just convictions. ALL TARGETS MUST HAVE A CRIMINAL NEXUS.”  When asked for comment by Reuters, a spokesperson for the White House said the “guidance” should only be considered policy when it is “officially issued.” “There are ongoing conversations on how to most effectively conduct operations in Minnesota,” the spokesperson said. Start your day with essential news from Salon.Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. The internal memo …

Are you bracing your core or just holding your breath? A yoga teacher reveals how to correctly engage your deep core muscles when you exercise

Are you bracing your core or just holding your breath? A yoga teacher reveals how to correctly engage your deep core muscles when you exercise

Published by Jenni Sidey

You’ll have read or heard the instruction a thousand times, but how do you actually engage your core and what does it look like in practice? That’s something certified yoga teacher Leanne Lent from fitness app Yoga-Go wanted to demystify recently when she shared a video on Instagram. In the post, Lent demonstrates what most people do wrong, sucking in her stomach and clenching her abdominal muscles. You may like She then reveals how to actually brace your core with a close-up of her stomach. This time, there’s no obvious sucking in of her tummy. She continues to breathe normally. It’s a subtle change, but it can make a world of difference. “To engage your core effectively, you’re aiming to create support around your spine, especially between your ribs and hips, using your deep core muscles,” Lent tells Fit&Well. “A lot of people think it means sucking in, but that actually just creates tension and limits your movement and breath.” Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox. …

Conservatives and liberals tend to engage in different evidence-gathering strategies

Conservatives and liberals tend to engage in different evidence-gathering strategies

Published by José Betancourt

A new study published in PLOS ONE provides evidence that a person’s political ideology and their capacity for analytical thinking shape how they gather information. The findings suggest that liberals and individuals with higher cognitive reflection skills are more likely to seek out comprehensive statistical data, whereas conservatives and those who rely more on intuition tend to focus on singular data points or expert opinions. Public policy debates are often characterized by intense disagreement, even when facts are available. While much psychological research has examined how people process information they have already received, less attention has been paid to the earlier step of information seeking. The authors of the new study aimed to understand the standards of evidence people apply when they want to learn about the world. They sought to determine why some individuals demand rigorous statistical comparisons while others are satisfied with anecdotes or expert testimonials. “There is a solid research agenda that evaluates how people treat evidence presented to then. However, there is much less research on how people look for evidence …

Want to reduce stiffness and gently engage your core? Try this six-move Pilates routine that you can do in front of the TV

Want to reduce stiffness and gently engage your core? Try this six-move Pilates routine that you can do in front of the TV

Published by Jenni Sidey

It’s normal to take a break or fall out of habit from your normal workout routine during the festive period—and that’s nothing to feel guilty about. A break is just as good for your physical recovery as it is essential for mental health, giving you more time to relax, socialize and catch up on sleep. And while all the festive indulgence is good for the soul, it can leave you feeling sluggish. Maybe you’re bloated, your back aches or you have nervous energy to shake off. You may like Pilates instructor and trainer at The Fitness Group, Jodie Myers, says you can do a simple routine that will help you feel less stiff from the comfort of your living room—you can probably do it in your pajamas. Below are the moves she recommends. They’re beginner-friendly and you can even do them while watching TV. The best Pilates moves for when you’re feeling sluggish 1. Seated spinal twist Image credit: The Fitness Group Image credit: The Fitness Group Sets: 3 Reps: 10-12 Rest: 30-60sec Sit upright …