loader from loading.io

Finding Balance Between Tightness & Looseness with Dr. Michele Gelfand

AMSEcast

Release Date: 11/20/2024

The History of Spies with Andrew Hammond show art The History of Spies with Andrew Hammond

AMSEcast

AMSEcast celebrates 250 years of American innovation with Dr. Andrew Hammond, historian and curator at the International Spy Museum. Hammond explores the evolution of intelligence and espionage, from trial-and-error codebreaking by pioneers like the Friedmans to today’s cutting-edge technology. He highlights cryptographic breakthroughs, spy tools, and covert communication methods like one-time pads and suitcase radios. The conversation traces the U.S.’s rise as a global intelligence leader, fueled by Cold War innovation and British collaboration. Stories like the CIA’s Glomar Explorer...

info_outline Inside the U.S. Mint with Don Bennett show art Inside the U.S. Mint with Don Bennett

AMSEcast

We continue to celebrate 250 years of American innovation with Don Bennett, Deputy Associate Director of the U.S. Mint’s Manufacturing Directorate. He joins Alan on this episode of AMSEcast to talk about the Mint’s history, operations, and cutting-edge advancements. With facilities in Philadelphia, Denver, West Point, and San Francisco, the Mint produces coins using robotics, high-speed presses, and laser die processing. Don discusses the importance of physical currency, the American Innovation Dollar Coin Program, and upcoming designs for the nation’s 250th anniversary. This episode is...

info_outline The Presidents and Science show art The Presidents and Science

AMSEcast

What you didn't know about the Presidents and the scientific process is on exhibit at AMSE.

info_outline AMSE Science Report with Mark Miodownik show art AMSE Science Report with Mark Miodownik

AMSEcast

Welcome to the AMSE Science Report. Today we speak with Mark Miodownik about his terrific book, It’s a Gas: The Magnificent and Elusive Elements that Expand Our World. A fascinating conversation began by asking a very basic question – what is a gas?

info_outline Marie Curie’s Legacy with Dava Sobel show art Marie Curie’s Legacy with Dava Sobel

AMSEcast

Award-winning science writer Dava Sobel returns to AMSEcast to discuss her latest book, The Elements of Marie Curie. She and host Alan explore Curie’s groundbreaking research, her struggles against societal barriers, and her enduring impact on science and women in STEM. From her discovery of polonium and radium to mentoring future pioneers like Ellen Gleditsch and Marguerite Perey, Curie’s legacy shaped cancer treatment and scientific research. Sobel also highlights Curie’s daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie, and her Nobel-winning work on artificial radioisotopes. Tune in for a fascinating...

info_outline Innovation & Policy with Sudip Parikh show art Innovation & Policy with Sudip Parikh

AMSEcast

With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, AMSEcast is celebrating 250 years of American innovation with expert interviews. CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and executive publisher of Science, Dr. Sudip Parikh joins Alan on this episode to explore the forces shaping scientific progress. He highlights interdisciplinary collaboration, the impact of immigration on innovation, and the need for clear communication in securing research funding. Dr. Parikh also discusses the evolution of U.S. science policy, the role of private investment, and the...

info_outline Taking Risks and Innovating Along the Way with Al Romig show art Taking Risks and Innovating Along the Way with Al Romig

AMSEcast

Executive Officer of the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. Al Romig joins this special edition of AMSEcast, recorded at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington. Dr. Romig has led a distinguished career including leadership roles at Sandia National Lab, Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, and now as Executive Officer of the National Academy of Engineering. He and Alan discuss key innovations from national laboratories and the Skunk Works. He also discusses the importance of risk-taking to foster innovation and why he’s skeptical about the future of American innovation. It’s...

info_outline The World of Uranium with Tom Zoellner show art The World of Uranium with Tom Zoellner

AMSEcast

Tom Zoellner, award-winning writer and Chapman University professor, joins AMSEcast to discuss his book Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock that Shaped the World. He and Alan discuss the discovery of uranium, its radioactive nature, and its historical impact. Once dismissed as worthless by miners, uranium became vital to energy and warfare. The U.S. uranium rush peaked in the 1950s but has since declined. Today, uranium enrichment is expanding in the U.S., with major players like Orano investing in Oak Ridge.     Guest Bio Tom Zoellner is an award-winning writer and the author of nine...

info_outline Exhibiting the Best of the Smithsonian with Jennifer Collins and Nicole Webster show art Exhibiting the Best of the Smithsonian with Jennifer Collins and Nicole Webster

AMSEcast

Alan takes a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to speak with Nicole Webster, the Manager of School and Teacher Programs, and Jennifer Collins, Learning Experience Manager for Exhibits and Initiatives. Broadcasting from the museum itself, the discussion revolves around its fascinating history, impressive collections, and impactful educational initiatives. With over 4 million annual visitors on-site and 10 million online, the museum is a hub of scientific knowledge and public engagement. Nicole and Jennifer explain the intricacies of the museum's exhibits, educational...

info_outline Materials and All Matters of Science with Mark Miodownik show art Materials and All Matters of Science with Mark Miodownik

AMSEcast

Materials scientist and BBC presenter Dr. Mark Miodownik joins AMSEcast to discuss his latest book, It’s a Gas. He explores the hidden world of gases, from steam’s role in electricity production to methane’s surprising history. The conversation spans George Washington’s scientific curiosity, oxygen’s life-saving importance, and the chemistry of scent. Mark also unpacks the science of hot air and hydrogen balloons, noble gases, and carbon capture technology’s potential to combat climate change. Looking ahead, he envisions a future of sustainable materials and repairable goods....

info_outline
 
More Episodes
Dr. Michele Gelfand is a cultural psychologist and author of Rule Makers, Rule Breakers. She joins us to discusses how “tight” and “loose” cultures shape societies. Tight cultures, like Japan’s, respond to threats with strict rules and order, while looser ones, like the U.S., allow greater flexibility. Gelfand suggests a balanced “Goldilocks” approach, adjusting strictness and flexibility to suit each environment's needs, from families to organizations. She also explores online accountability, recommending "nudges" to promote civility, and sees AI as a potential tool for managing biases and promoting understanding.
 
 
Guest Bio

Michele Gelfand is a Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Professor of Psychology by Courtesy at Stanford University. Gelfand uses field, experimental, computational, and neuroscience methods to understand the evolution of culture--as well as its multilevel consequences for human groups. Her work has been cited over 20,000 times and has been featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, National Public Radio, Voice of America, Fox News, NBC News, ABC News, The Economist, De Standard, among other outlets.

 

Gelfand has published her work in many scientific outlets such as Science, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Psychological Science, Nature Scientific Reports, PLOS 1, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Research in Organizational Behavior, Journal of Applied Psychology, Annual Review of Psychology, American Psychologist, Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Current Opinion in Psychology, among others. She has received over 13 million dollars in research funding from the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and the FBI.

 

As a native New Yorker, Michele is now a California transplant. She is married to Todd Betke and has two daughters, Jeanette and Hannah, two birds (Bonnie and Theo) and a Portuguese water dog, Pepper.

 
 
Show Notes
  • (1:47) What is culture?
  • (4:08) The age that we start learning norms
  • (10:01) What makes a person or nation a tight versus a loose culture
  • (15:12) How the movement of people affect looseness and tightness dynamics
  • (17:57) How changes in attitudes occur
  • (20:59) Tightness doesn’t mean a lack of creativity
  • (24:26) The Goldilocks Approach
  • (30:49) Avoiding becoming too tight or too loose
  • (32:55) Applying the Goldilocks Approach on social media
  • (35:56) The disrupting force technology can have on loose and tight cultures
  • (38:19) AI’s ability to understand culture
  • (41:11) What’s next for Dr. Michele Gelfand
  • (45:00) How to follow Michele’s work

 

 

Links Referenced