The Rise of Emotional Robots
[no-caption] David Williams/SAPIENS Listen to the companion episode of SAPIENS: A Podcast for Everything Human! When Dan White first pulled Pepper out of the box, it was slumped…
Tag: relationships
Is Robot Empathy a Trap?
[no-caption] David Williams/SAPIENS Can robots care? And why should we care if they do? SAPIENS host Jen Shannon meets Pepper the robot, and host Chip Colwell goes on…
Cuando regatear al sistema es el único camino para crear una familia
[no-caption] Miguel Gaggiotti Sonsoles* y su pareja deseaban adoptar un niño o niña. Vivían en un bonito barrio de Barcelona y, según explicó Sonsoles, se consideraban idóneos para…
Why Envy Might Be Good for Us
Nyae-Nyae in northern Namibia is the last place in the country where Ju/‘hoansi are free to hunt in the traditional way. James Suzman This article was originally published…
The Evolutionary Enigma of the Human Eyebrow
[no-caption] Pexels This article was originally published at The Conversation and has been republished under Creative Commons. Eyebrows. We all have them, but what are they actually for? …
When Gaming the System Is the Only Way to Parenthood
[no-caption] Miguel Gaggiotti Sonsoles* and her partner had set their hearts on adopting a child. They lived in a nice Barcelona neighborhood, and from the start, Sonsoles explained,…
Humanity’s Surprising Variety of Approaches to Toilet Training
[no-caption] David D/Flickr This article was originally published at The Conversation and has been republished under Creative Commons. Are 2-year-olds too young to start toilet training? …
Grief Can Make Us Wise
A candlelight vigil on February 15 honored the victims of the recent mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. Jim Rassol/Getty Images In the first hours…
When It Comes to Love, Is Three (or More) a Crowd?
Even today, performances of Romeo and Juliet move audiences for how the couple’s ardent love imperiled them. Robbie Jack/Getty Images Passionate love is a dangerous thing, or so…
Why Do We Wrap Presents?
[no-caption] Buppha Wuttifery/Getty Images The holiday season is here. That means presents under Christmas trees, next to menorahs, accompanying Kwanzaa candles, traded at white elephant …
A Belated Homecoming for Missing U.S. Marines
[no-caption] David Williams/SAPIENS Growing up, writer Clay Bonnyman Evans had heard all sorts of stories about his mother’s father, 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Jr. Evans’ grandfathe…
Learning to Trust Machines That Learn
Imagine lying on a hospital bed. Doctors with grave expressions hover. One leans down to tell you that you are terribly sick and says they recommend a risky…
Why Humans Are So Smart—And So Stressed Out
Our brains deal with vast amounts of information, but all that processing power comes at a cost. Ars Electronica/Flickr This article was originally published at The Conversation and has b…
Follow up: #Tinder as a research method
Following the unexpected popularity of my May article Tinder as a Methodological Tool I was asked by Allegra to write a follow up expanding on the subject and…
How Culture Shapes Perceptions of Miscarriage
Miscarriage memorials come in a variety of public and private forms, depending on personal beliefs and cultural norms. Susie Kilshaw Charlotte’s* tattoo, a black etching of a feather,…
Every Day is Heterosexual Pride Day
Are you a heterosexual? Feeling discriminated against by a persecuted minority? Why can’t we celebrate what makes us common and powerful? Just because we’re not unique, it doesn’t…
The Moral Code of Chinese Sex Workers
The risks of earning a living in the sex industry are lessened by workers protecting one another’s safety and best interests. Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images One hot afternoon…
How Babywearing Went Mainstream
Baby carriers—an ancient tool adapted to modern times—offer parents a way to bond with their child and express their individuality. Michelle Jones/SAPIENS Danielle Gold has 18 baby carrie…
Tinder as a methodological tool #EmergingDigitalPractices
Imagine being able to remotely and anonymously search through locals in your area, browse through pictures of them, and chat with those who also found you attractive. Imagine…
The Anthropoliteia #BlackLivesMatter Syllabus, Week 29: Courtney Morris For Black Boys Who Look Blue
The editors of Anthropoliteia are happy to continue an ongoing series The Anthropoliteia #BlackLivesMatterSyllabus Project, which will mobilize anthropological work as a pedagogical exercise addressin…
ANTHROPOLOGY FOR AN #AGEING PLANET
When I teach undergraduates about ageing in anthropology, I sometimes begin by stating the very mundane fact that none of us are ever going to be as young…
ANTHROPOLOGY FOR AN #AGEING PLANET
When I teach undergraduates about ageing in anthropology, I sometimes begin by stating the very mundane fact that none of us are ever going to be as young…
ANTHROPOLOGY FOR AN #AGEING PLANET
When I teach undergraduates about ageing in anthropology, I sometimes begin by stating the very mundane fact that none of us are ever going to be as young…
European Brides in the Islamic State
What factors are motivating Dutch women to relocate to Islamic State strongholds at all costs? Three anthropologists set out to find the untold stories behind their emigration. Michelle…