Some Possible Effects in Psychology

Sometimes psychological concepts emerge from the primal ooze that constitutes popular culture or lore: consider the well-documented Coolidge effect, the Duke of Marlborough effect, or the Mickey Gilley effect. My point is that we should be aware that sometimes major truths can be found, like love, in all the wrong places.

Novelist and scenario writer Anita Loos wrote two books in the 1920’s that positively beg serious study in research: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Gentlemen Marry Brunettes. Can we talk nowadays about an Anita Loos effect?   Frankly, the 1950’s movie loaded the dice, using Marilyn Monroe as the blonde. We need some research before we presume to do so. Seriously, hard science is empirical!

Some of you oldies might remember Dr. Eric Berne’s pop psychology book, The Games People Play. Joe South put these games succinctly in this song, and you don‘t have to read the book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5znh58WITU8
But let’s look at a few other possibilities:

Is it true that big girls don’t cry? The Four Seasons implied that to be the case.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVBvy2cc0Io

If there is, why not call it the Four Seasons effect: is there a relationship between Neuroticism or attendant lacrimal behavior in females and height? Now that should call for a straightforward correlational study: “Feminine height and emotionality.” I’d use a simple correlation between the Neuroticism scale on the Five-Factor Inventory or the Big 5 Inventory and measured height using a sample of appropriately-aged volunteers. That’s a slam-dunk for a SEPA paper -- convenient data, easily done stats!

And Jimmy Soul once hypothesized a prescription for happiness, ably stated in a song by Pokemon masters Ash, Misti, Dawn, and May:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN7qlqJOnlo

Naturally, any test of it should be reported in an article entitled something like “Spousal Attractiveness and Subjective Well Being”; and we may have -- presto! -- a Jimmy Soul effect!

Of course, dysfunctional families are always in style for research. Ska singer Peter Tosh suggested this topic originally in “Shame and Scandal in the Family.”: But let‘s report it as “Parental uncertainty as a mediator of diminished self-esteem” and launch the Tosh effect.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOaeCG4CIwU

The Inner Circle suggested an interesting research topic: “Prearrest Disorientation and Confusion in Minor Offenders” in their song “Bad Boys“:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4MRmEPNUxY

Okay: a Bad Boy Disorientation Syndrome or maybe an Inner Circle effect.

How about research into stereotypes? This little song provides some possible examples of stereotypes in cheerleading (lyrics helpfully provided in “I‘m Sexy, I‘m Cute“):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXV8baZnTFo&feature=related

Naturally, the research should be entitled something like “Negative Stereotypes of Officially Designated Performance Encouragement Personnel;” and out of it should emerge the Cheerleader Stereotype.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfhNKK7rkhw

.Anyway, you get the idea.

Finally, Jimmy Buffet suggested exploring this topic: “Factors Mediating Nostalgia for Gulf Coast Dives.” I think of The Florabama Lounge, near Gulf Shores -- happy times for generations of Alabamians who will exhibit the Buffet effect some day.