Media Coverage | Social Self Lab

We are excited to share our research with others. Below are some of our research areas and examples of media coverage those studies have received:

woman sitting on armchair staring at turned-off TV

The research: From “Love Actually” to love, actually: The sociometer takes every kind of fuel (Paravati, Naidu and Gabriel, 2020) Click here to view this article

Media coverage:

MARCH 28, 2020 Psychology Today: It’s possible to find happiness in times of social isolation

APRIL 17, 2020 Science Daily: From watching reruns to relationships, there are many ways of feeling connected

APRIL 19, 2020 PsychCentral: Can binge-watching your favorite show meet your social needs?

APRIL 21, 2020 Forbes: How to be social without people

APRIL 21, 2020 Yahoo!: Binge watching TV and other ‘guilty pleasures’ are as valuable as seeing family and friends, says study

group of people sitting on bench near trees duting daytime

The research: Social surrogates, social motivations, and everyday activities: The case for a strong, subtle, and sneaky social self (Gabriel, Valenti, & Young, 2016) Click here to view this article

Media coverage:

FEB 14, 2017 WBFO Buffalo’s NPR News Station: Loneliness Can Be Bad for Your Health

JAN 23, 2017 The Cut: Protests, Parties, and Sports Games All Fill the Same Human Need

SEPT 15, 2008 Time: Celebrity Worship: Good for Your Health?

The research: Chicken Soup Really Is Good for the Soul: “Comfort Food” Fulfills the Need to Belong (Troisi & Gabriel, 2011) Click here to view this article

Media coverage:
JAN 24, 2018 NBC News: Why We Crave Comfort Foods
APRIL 3, 2015 The Atlantic: Why Comfort Food Comforts
MARCH 27, 2015 University at Buffalo MD Physicians’ Group: Love the cook, love the food: Attraction to comfort food linked to positive social connections

The research: Becoming a Vampire Without Being Bitten: The Narrative Collective-Assimilation Hypothesis (Gabriel & Young, 2011) Click here to view this article

Media coverage:

JULY 27, 2018 Electric Lit: Science Says Reading a Book Makes You a Better Friend
JULY 2018 Bustle: Reading Can Alleviate Loneliness For A Very Specific Reason, According To A New Study
SEPT 7, 2011 The Guardian: Reading fiction ‘improves empathy’, study finds
APRIL 29, 2009 Live Science: Lonely Hearts Find Comfort in TV Characters
APRIL 27, 2009 The Hollywood Reporter: Studies: TV Pushes Away Loneliness

white concrete structure with American flag

The research: From Apprentice to President: The Role of Parasocial Connection in the Election of Donald Trump (Gabriel, Paravati, Green, & Folmsbee, 2018) Click here to view this article

Media coverage:

APRIL 30, 2018 The Atlantic: The Problem With Calling Trump a ‘Reality-TV President’

MARCH 29, 2018 Pacific Standard: Trump’s Secret Electoral Weapon: The Bond He Formed With TV Viewers

MARCH 20, 2018 The Legislative Gazette: Cynthia Nixon’s hope may lie to Gov. Cuomo’s left, experts say

MARCH 14, 2018 Media Post:Our Parasocial Bond With Donald J. Trump

MARCH 5, 2018 University at Buffalo Now: Reality TV Played Key Role in Taking Trump from ‘Apprentice’ to President

All images courtesy of Unsplash.