Sign in

UC Berkeley Social Sciences

@berkeleysocsci.bsky.social
37 followers 41 following 22 posts

Berkeley’s Social Sciences Division pioneers new conceptual and methodological approaches that transform what we know about, and how we understand, the social world. ls.berkeley.edu/SocialSciences

PostsRepliesMedia
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 22h
Psychology + Neuroscience Prof. Gül Dölen is developing a compelling new strategy for stroke recovery. Using carefully managed doses of psychedelics + VR video games, Dölen is testing whether the neural windows necessary for patients to relearn motor functions can be reopened. Read more:
ls.berkeley.edu
Using virtual reality and psychedelics to restore brain function
When Professor Gül Dölen joined UC Berkeley’s neuroscience and psychology departments in January 2024, the influential scientist got to work designing her new lab and office. Now, after an extensive r...
010
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The American constitutional system may not be as durable against authoritarian leadership as once thought. New research from Political Science Prof. Eric Schickler argues that the Trump presidency has exposed weaknesses in institutions like checks + balances + separation of powers. Learn more:
ls.berkeley.edu
Political Science paper explores institutional weaknesses exposed by the Trump presidency
Political scientists have long assumed that the American constitutional system was a durable safeguard against authoritarian leadership. Checks and balances, separation of powers and federalism were d...
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The brain’s learning system may be more complex than previously thought. New research from Psychology Prof. Anne Collins showed that rather than learning from rewards, as scientists believed for decades, the brain actually learns through two mental processes: working memory + habit. Learn more:
ls.berkeley.edu
New psychology study challenges the belief that humans learn by getting rewards
For decades, scientists believed that humans learn mainly by getting rewards — when a choice leads to a good outcome, we stick with it; when it doesn’t, we try something new. But a new UC Berkeley stu...
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
In his new book, "Personal Networks over the Life Course: Dynamic Perspectives,” Berkeley Sociology Prof. Claude Fischer + his coauthors explore how + why major life changes (from moving to another country to having kids) affect relationships over time. Read more:
ls.berkeley.edu
New sociology book explores how personal relationships change over a lifetime
From graduating college to dealing with health problems, major life changes can disrupt our social world. A forthcoming book, “Personal Networks over the Life Course: Dynamic Perspectives,” which was ...
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Where you move after losing a job may depend on more than the job market. Research from Economics PhD student Richard Jin finds that college alumni networks can influence where people relocate after job loss. Read more:
ls.berkeley.edu
Alumni networks shape where people live and work after job loss, new economics research shows
New Berkeley Economics research finds that college alumni networks play a significant role in where people move after losing a job, suggesting social connections can influence relocation decisions as ...
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
As California voters weigh a proposed one-time wealth tax on billionaires this Nov., Norwegian economist Morten Nyborg Støstad examined why billionaire taxes remain popular with voters — and why that support can shift when proposals reach the ballot — at this year’s annual Stone Lecture. Read more:
ls.berkeley.edu
What drives voter support for billionaire taxes? Stone Lecture takes a closer look
As Californians prepare to vote on Proposition 40 this November — which proposes a one-time 5% wealth tax on residents worth over $1 billion — the debate over wealth inequality is becoming more than j...
010
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Baseball has changed a lot over nearly 200 years — but maybe not as much as we think. History Prof. David Henkin explores the sport’s long history, from statistics + race to globalization, rule changes + robot umpires in his book, "Out of the Ballpark: How to Think About Baseball." Read more:
news.berkeley.edu
From designated hitters to robot umpires, how baseball has — and hasn’t — changed over its 200-year history - Berkeley News
Before baseball’s opening day, UC Berkeley professor David Henkin talks about his new book, the origin of statistics mania and whether the sport has ever truly been “uniquely American.”
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
In his new book, “The Insatiable Machine,” History Prof. Trevor Jackson traces the rise of capitalism — arguing the system has been defined by inequality, crisis + adaptation while also reshaping global life through gains in longevity, infrastructure + consumption. Learn more:
ls.berkeley.edu
What does ‘late-stage capitalism’ really mean? UC Berkeley professor chronicles an ‘apocalyptic’ history
Asked if his new book on the history of capitalism is hopeful, Trevor Jackson outright laughs. The UC Berkeley history professor has spent his career documenting the rise of the economic system that o...
001
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Meet the Berkeley professors shaping global conversations on South Asia + the Middle East. Gender + Women’s Studies Prof. Elora Shehabuddin + History Prof. Ussama Makdisi were recently elected to lead major scholarly associations. Learn more about their journey as a power couple:
ls.berkeley.edu
Meet the Berkeley professors shaping global conversations on the Middle East and South Asia
UC Berkeley is renowned for its academic rigor across departments and disciplines. For professors Elora Shehabuddin and Ussama Makdisi, it is also what made them decide to make Berkeley their home. As...
010
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
African American Studies Alumnus Kevin Rigby Jr. examines how media framing shapes the “appearance” of Black protest before its meaning is understood. His research on Black Lives Matter shows how language + imagery influence public interpretation. Learn more:
ls.berkeley.edu
What shapes our view of Black protest? It’s not what you think
A UC Berkeley African American Studies alumnus’ research is reframing how Black protest is understood by arguing that public perception is shaped less by protest itself and more by how it is presented...
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
What happens inside AI’s “black box”? A collaboration between Linguistics Prof. @begus.bsky.social, Berkeley Artificial Humanities researcher @ninabegus.bsky.social + artist collective Metahaven uses immersive interactive artworks to explore how AI systems process information. Learn more:
ls.berkeley.edu
What’s really happening inside AI’s black box? Berkeley researchers have answers
Scientists have traditionally treated the internal mathematical layers of artificial intelligence — often described as AI’s “black boxes” — as too abstract and complex for humans to fully interpret. B...
092
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Should central banks always follow the Taylor rule? New research from Economics Profs. Emi Nakamura + @jonsteinsson.bsky.social + PhD student Venance Riblier finds that central banks with strong credibility may be able to deviate from the rule without fueling long-term inflation. Read more:
ls.berkeley.edu
UC Berkeley economists reassess the Taylor rule in a post-COVID world
When inflation spiked after COVID-19, many critics accused the Federal Reserve of abandoning traditional monetary policy. In a study presented at the 2025 Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, UC Be...
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Berkeley Political Science Prof. Cecilia Hyunjung Mo has received the funding she needs to confront some of the world’s most urgent challenges: human trafficking, child exploitation + rising social division. Read more about her research throughout Sierra Leone, Liberia + Ethiopia:
ls.berkeley.edu
Political Science professor receives new global grants to reduce exploitation and build social cohesion
UC Berkeley Political Science Professor Cecilia Hyunjung Mo recently received several global research grants to confront some of the world’s most urgent challenges: human trafficking, child exploitati...
010
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
New research from Berkeley Political Science Prof. @sdhyde.bsky.social + Columbia Political Science Prof. @profsaunders.bsky.social examines how shifts in U.S. presidential power have removed what limited checks remained on U.S. foreign + security policy, putting global order at risk. Read more:
ls.berkeley.edu
An unconstrained U.S. presidency threatens the global order, new paper argues
Our current historical moment may signal the unraveling of the post-1945 world order, according to researchers from UC Berkeley and Columbia University. Recent shifts in U.S. governance have had rippl...
0186
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Your voice reveals more than what words you say. Linguistics Prof. Nicole Holliday (@mixedlinguist.bsky.social) studies the subtle speech patterns that shape perceptions of identity, belonging + trust — and why those insights matter as AI-generated voices become more common. Read more:
news.berkeley.edu
What your voice gives away - Berkeley News
In the debut of our new After Office Hours series, linguist Nicole Holliday reveals the signals hidden in how we speak.
01910
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
New research from Political Science Alumnus + Berkeley Economy & Society Initiative (BESI) Sr. Researcher @samtrachtman.bsky.social finds that Californians’ incomes aren’t keeping up with the cost of living + housing shortages emerge as a key driver. Read more:
ls.berkeley.edu
Priced out: Why Californians' incomes don't keep up with cost of living
California has long been seen as the “land of opportunity,” but a new report from the Berkeley Economy
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
As AI systems continue to advance, Psychology Prof. @alisongopnik.bsky.social points to the original learning model: the child. In a recent Berkeley Talks episode, she explains why children’s curiosity, exploration + learning capacity set them apart from today’s AI systems. Listen here:
news.berkeley.edu
Berkeley Talks: Alison Gopnik on why AI is no match for a 4-year-old - Berkeley News
AI may be advancing rapidly, but as the UC Berkeley developmental psychologist explains, the next leap in technology depends on replicating the unique forms of human intelligence cultivated during chi...
193
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Berkeley Economics Prof. Emmanuel Saez + conservative economist Arthur Laffer offered competing visions for California’s future at a recent UC Berkeley debate. They discussed whether a billionaire tax could help fund healthcare or slow economic growth. Read more:
ls.berkeley.edu
Two economic titans debate California's billionaires tax at UC Berkeley
Two of the country's most influential economists stepped onto a UC Berkeley stage earlier this month to debate one of California's biggest political and economic questions: Should billionaires pay more to help fund healthcare? Hosted by the Berkeley Pol...
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
As billionaire wealth + influence are growing at historic rates, UC Berkeley Economics Prof. @gabrielzucman.bsky.social argues that a 2% minimum tax on the ultra-rich could help reduce inequality, strengthen democracy + raise hundreds of billions in public revenue. Read more:
ls.berkeley.edu
Why UC Berkeley Economist Gabriel Zucman wants a 2% billionaire tax
Billionaire wealth has reached historic highs — and so has their power. UC Berkeley and Paris School of Economics Professor Gabriel Zucman, a world-renowned expert on wealth inequality and global tax ...
010
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
California is often seen as a model for climate leadership, but can it meet its future emissions goals? At a recent Berkeley Economy & Society Initiative (BESI) panel, experts examined the challenges facing the state’s climate agenda. Learn more:
ls.berkeley.edu
Experts examine whether California’s climate model can meet its future goals
In many ways, California is seen as a model for climate leadership. The state has managed to grow its economy while reducing emissions, and its climate policies have often set the tone for the rest of...
000
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Your news feed may be shaping more than you know. New research from UC Berkeley Economics PhD student Mingduo Zhao finds that recommendation algorithms can gradually increase political polarization by repeatedly serving users content that aligns with their existing views. Learn more:
ls.berkeley.edu
Your news feed may be making polarization worse
A new UC Berkeley Economics study finds that online news algorithms can quietly push readers toward more polarized views by reinforcing what they already believe. The research from Berkeley Economics ...
010
UC Berkeley Social Sciences @berkeleysocsci.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Trying to be happy sometimes has the opposite effect. In a new research review, UC Berkeley Psychology Prof. Iris Mauss + U of Toronto Psychology Prof. Brett Ford explore pitfalls (like suppressing bad moods) + promises (like emotional acceptance) that sustain well-being. Learn more:
ls.berkeley.edu
Why trying too hard to be happy might actually make you less happy
Trying to be happy can sometimes have the opposite effect. A new review of previous psychology research, titled “The pursuit of happiness: pitfalls and promises,” by Iris Mauss, a UC Berkeley psycholo...
140