Dr. Lisa Oswald: How Digital Media Influence Our Political Behaviors

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Tomás Lejarraga, a behavioral scientist working at the intersection of economics and psychology. We explore how birth order influences siblings' willingness to take risks. Our discussion begins by examining the long-held hypothesis that younger, laterborn children are more prone to taking risks than their older siblings. Dr. Lejarraga shares insights from a study on risk-taking behavior in adulthood, revealing surprising findings that challenge this belief. We also discuss a second study suggesting that while birth order effects cannot be entirely dismissed, they are primarily observable in younger ages and may not persist throughout life. Additionally, we delve into the various methods scientists use to assess individuals' willingness to take risks, the competitive dynamics among siblings, the implications of null results, and the influence of environment and culture on birth order effects. The episode will help listeners understand the complexities of sibling differences and how family environments shape our behavior.  The episode transcript is available at www.unravelingbehavior.org. Timestamps (01:33) How risk preferences form and develop (03:37) Family dynamics and their impact on personality traits and risk taking (08:42) Defining laterborns (10:40) Past research on birth order effects on personality and risk taking (16:25) Methodology used to study birth order effects in adulthood (19:51) Self-reported risk taking and exploring personal assessments (26:01) Lab experiments and analyzing risky choices in controlled settings (30:49) Real-life risks and the choices of notable explorers and revolutionaries (33:47) Interpreting null results and what they mean for birth order research (36:20) Could birth order effects be confined to family environments? (39:27) Investigating birth-order effects across different age groups (45:18) Parental strategies on whether to counteract or embrace the influence of birth order (48:09) Focus on Western samples in birth order research and the need for cross-cultural studies (50:13) Understanding common perceptions about birth order effects (51:25) Learning pathways with instruction vs. experience depending on birth order (53:10) The environment's influence in shaping risk-taking behavior

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Lisa Oswald, a computational social scientist and expert on public discourse in online environments. We dive into an impactful study she coauthored in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, which examines the complex relationship between digital media and democracy. Our discussion covers how digital platforms can both empower political participation and contribute to political polarization. We clarify the differences between correlational and causal evidence, explaining why causal evidence is scarce and challenging to obtain when studying the effects of social media use on democracy. An important takeaway is the skewed nature of content production on social media—where a small number of users generate the majority of content, often amplifying extreme or biased viewpoints. We also explore the importance of political context, the role of corporate responsibility, and the necessity for transparency and content moderation policies to safeguard democratic institutions. Access the full show notes for this episode at unravelingbehavior.org. Timestamps (00:00) Introduction (01:46) The potential of digital media to erode democracy (06:33) Research question motivating the study (07:35) Importance of a systematic literature review (10:39) Types of digital media and political behaviors analyzed (14:13) Correlational vs. causal evidence (18:31) Selection of articles in the review (19:41) Scarcity of causal evidence and its alignment with correlational findings (21:03) Beneficial effects of digital media use on political participation (22:46) Increased digital media use linked to decreased trust in governments (24:11) Increased digital media use linked to greater political polarization (25:14) The skewed nature of content production on social media (28:43) The role of political context (31:57) Internet companies’ reactions to scientific findings (33:26) The need for data access for researchers and greater transparency for users (34:19) Balancing user awareness with corporate and governmental responsibility (37:15) Conclusion

Join Dr. Ana Sofia Morais on 'Unraveling Behavior' as she talks with leading researchers about the hidden patterns driving human behavior. Discover how people make decisions, how they handle risk, and how our environment and the online world shape our actions. New episodes are released every eight weeks. Available on all platforms, including YouTube!   Website: unravelingbehavior.org