Douglas Vakoch - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Videos by Douglas Vakoch

Documentary of Douglas Vakoch at Arecibo Observatory, reviewing the history of interstellar commu... more Documentary of Douglas Vakoch at Arecibo Observatory, reviewing the history of interstellar communication and a new strategy for Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

43 views

Interview of Douglas Vakoch.

349 views

Interview of Douglas Vakoch

45 views

This is part of a series: The Long Game explores the impact, benefits, and risks of long-term thi... more This is part of a series: The Long Game explores the impact, benefits, and risks of long-term thinking.

We talked to Douglas Vakoch, President of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence), about sending messages toward star systems light years away, initiating interstellar communications that could span generations, and challenging our mindset about vast time scales.

70 views

With a myriad of stars out there, and all the evidence suggesting there is nothing extraordinary ... more With a myriad of stars out there, and all the evidence suggesting there is nothing extraordinary about life on our planet, the chances are we are not alone in the vast expanse of outer space. But even if that's true, should humans really be actively searching for extraterrestrial life? Will it be the downfall of our civilization, or the opening of a new and brighter era? We talked about it with Dr Douglas Vakoch, president of the Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence organization (METI). Transcript: https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/414137-planet-space-extraterrestrial-life/

116 views

What would motivate extraterrestrial intelligence to make first contact? Scarce resources? Or sim... more What would motivate extraterrestrial intelligence to make first contact? Scarce resources? Or simply curiosity?

292 views

Zachary Quinto interviews Douglas Vakoch about Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence, music, an... more Zachary Quinto interviews Douglas Vakoch about Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence, music, and fears of first contact.

76 views

Asteroid detection is an extension of our natural instinct to protect ourselves. We evolved to sc... more Asteroid detection is an extension of our natural instinct to protect ourselves. We evolved to scan our environment for dangers, taking defensive action against threats. Equally naturally, whenever we face a rising tide, it is easy to become paralyzed by fear—in this case, leading us to avoid thinking about the potentially catastrophic risks that asteroids pose to human civilization. By facing these fears directly, however, we have a secure and predictable path to avoid a devastating threat to the survival of our species.

As astronomers survey our cosmic environment, they have detected two thousand potentially hazardous asteroids that come close to Earth. Even if these asteroids are no immediate threat when they pass by Earth, sometimes their trajectories are altered by our planet’s gravity as they pass by. When these asteroids return decades later, they could collide with Earth.

One such asteroid is 99942 Apophis.

279 views

SETI and astrobiology papers with full text by Douglas Vakoch

New Scientist, Dec 2, 2017

The messages we are sending to a nearby world that might harbour aliens do not put Earth in peril.

New Scientist, Jun 9, 2018

It's time to find a new way to talk to possible extraterrestrial civilisations, says Douglas Vako... more It's time to find a new way to talk to possible extraterrestrial civilisations, says Douglas Vakoch.

Nature Physics, 2016

Mark Buchanan’s recent Thesis column — ‘Searching for trouble?’ — accurately summarizes key objec... more Mark Buchanan’s recent Thesis column — ‘Searching for trouble?’ — accurately summarizes key objections to Messaging Extra-terrestrial Intelligence (METI), in which powerful, intentional signals are transmitted to specific astronomical targets, in the hope of a reply. Most notably, Buchanan characterizes METI as seeming “inherently risky”.

The risk we most often hear about — alien invasion — is simply not plausible, however. Any civilization slightly more advanced than we are could already detect our presence through our accidental electromagnetic radiation. Only a virtual twin of modern terrestrial technology would pick up information-rich beacons but be blind to the BBC at interstellar distances. If we are in danger of an alien invasion, it’s too late.

New Scientist, 2009

Our messages to aliens are more likely to get a response if we stop being so boring, argues Dougl... more Our messages to aliens are more likely to get a response if we stop being so boring, argues Douglas Vakoch.

Theology and Science, 2017

The fear of annihilation by an advanced civilization may not be limited to Earth, and it may help... more The fear of annihilation by an advanced civilization may not be limited to Earth, and it may help explain the silence of the cosmos.

Acta Astronautica, 2011

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) typically presupposes contact with extraterre... more The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) typically presupposes contact with extraterrestrial civilizations much longer lived than humanity. Many have argued that given humanity’s ‘‘youth,’’ the burden of transmitting should be placed on the extraterrestrial civilizations, which presumably possess more advanced technologies. These assumptions have contributed to the current emphasis on Passive SETI. Complementing this existing stress on Passive SETI with an additional commitment to Active SETI, in which humankind transmits messages to other civilizations, would have several advantages, including (1) addressing the reality that regardless of whether older civilizations should be transmitting, they may not be transmitting; (2) placing the burden of decoding and interpreting messages on advanced extraterrestrials, which may facilitate mutual comprehension; and (3) signaling a move toward an intergenerational model of science with a long-term vision for benefiting other civilizations as well as future generations of humans. Technological requirements for Active SETI are considered, and a case is made for Active SETI as a means for experimentally testing variants of the Zoo Hypothesis. Recommendations are provided for sustaining Passive and Active SETI and the communities that conduct these searches.

Acta Astronautica, 2011

With recently growing interest in the Active Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), in ... more With recently growing interest in the Active Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), in which humankind would send intentional signals to extraterrestrial civilizations, there have been increased concerns about appropriate policy, as well as the role of space law and ethics in guiding such activities. Implicit in these discussions are notions of responsibility and capability that affect judgments about whether humans or other civilizations should initiate transmissions. Existing protocols that guide SETI research address transmissions from Earth, but there is debate over whether these guidelines should inform de novo transmissions as well. Relevant responsibilities to address include (1) looking out for the interests of humankind as a whole, (2) being truthful in interstellar messages, and (3) benefiting extraterrestrial civilizations. Our capabilities as a species and a civilization affect how well we can fulfill responsibilities, as seen when we consider whether we will be able to reach consensus about message contents (and whether that would be desirable), and whether we have the capacity to decode messages from beings that rely on different sensory modalities. The interplay of these responsibilities and capabilities suggests that humankind should place increased emphasis on Active SETI.

Acta Astronautica, Feb 1, 2011

Acta Astronautica, 2010

Some characteristics of terrestrial music may be meaningful to extraterrestrial civilizations by ... more Some characteristics of terrestrial music may be meaningful to extraterrestrial civilizations by virtue of the connection between acoustics and mathematics—both of which might be known by technologically advanced extraterrestrial intelligence. For example, a fundamental characteristic of terrestrial polyphonic music is found the number of tones used various scales, insofar as the number of tones represents a compromise between competing musical demands; the number of tones in a scale, however, also reflects some of the perceptual characteristics of the species developing that music. Thus, in the process of communicating something about the structure of terrestrial music through interstellar messages, additional information about human perceptual and cognitive processes can also be conveyed. This paper also discusses methods for sending signals that bear information through the form of the very frequencies in which the signals are transmitted. If the challenges of creating intelligible messages are greater than often thought, the advantage of reduced conventionality of encoding the message by using an iconic format of this sort may be of significant value. Such an approach would allow the incremental introduction of musical concepts, somewhat akin to the step-by-step tutorials in mathematics and logic that form the basis of Freudenthal’s Lincos.

Acta Astronautica, 1998

A Dialogic Model of constructing a unified reply message is suggested in which differences betwee... more A Dialogic Model of constructing a unified reply message is suggested in which differences between perspectives are valued, rather than minimized. In this model, a diversity of views is seen as a virtue. Consensus in the broad sense of agreeing to include multiple perspectives is encouraged, while consensus in the narrow sense of everyone agreeing about all parts of the message is seen as overly restrictive, if not impossible. In the Dialogic Model, even perspectives that are irreconcilable with one another might be included in a single reply. Drawing upon multiple perspectives allows us to expand beyond our own preconceptions, gives extraterrestrials several ways to understand our views of the world, and portrays the breadth of human concerns.Seven benefits of beginning work on a reply message immediately are identified: (1) concretely understanding the challenge of creating an adequate reply; (2) helping decode messages from extraterrestrials; (3) creating interstellar compositions as a new form of art; (4) having a reply ready in case we receive a message; (5) providing a sense of concrete accomplishment; (6) preparing for an active search strategy; and (7) gaining public support for SETI.

Documentary of Douglas Vakoch at Arecibo Observatory, reviewing the history of interstellar commu... more Documentary of Douglas Vakoch at Arecibo Observatory, reviewing the history of interstellar communication and a new strategy for Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

43 views

Interview of Douglas Vakoch.

349 views

Interview of Douglas Vakoch

45 views

This is part of a series: The Long Game explores the impact, benefits, and risks of long-term thi... more This is part of a series: The Long Game explores the impact, benefits, and risks of long-term thinking.

We talked to Douglas Vakoch, President of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence), about sending messages toward star systems light years away, initiating interstellar communications that could span generations, and challenging our mindset about vast time scales.

70 views

With a myriad of stars out there, and all the evidence suggesting there is nothing extraordinary ... more With a myriad of stars out there, and all the evidence suggesting there is nothing extraordinary about life on our planet, the chances are we are not alone in the vast expanse of outer space. But even if that's true, should humans really be actively searching for extraterrestrial life? Will it be the downfall of our civilization, or the opening of a new and brighter era? We talked about it with Dr Douglas Vakoch, president of the Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence organization (METI). Transcript: https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/414137-planet-space-extraterrestrial-life/

116 views

What would motivate extraterrestrial intelligence to make first contact? Scarce resources? Or sim... more What would motivate extraterrestrial intelligence to make first contact? Scarce resources? Or simply curiosity?

292 views

Zachary Quinto interviews Douglas Vakoch about Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence, music, an... more Zachary Quinto interviews Douglas Vakoch about Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence, music, and fears of first contact.

76 views

Asteroid detection is an extension of our natural instinct to protect ourselves. We evolved to sc... more Asteroid detection is an extension of our natural instinct to protect ourselves. We evolved to scan our environment for dangers, taking defensive action against threats. Equally naturally, whenever we face a rising tide, it is easy to become paralyzed by fear—in this case, leading us to avoid thinking about the potentially catastrophic risks that asteroids pose to human civilization. By facing these fears directly, however, we have a secure and predictable path to avoid a devastating threat to the survival of our species.

As astronomers survey our cosmic environment, they have detected two thousand potentially hazardous asteroids that come close to Earth. Even if these asteroids are no immediate threat when they pass by Earth, sometimes their trajectories are altered by our planet’s gravity as they pass by. When these asteroids return decades later, they could collide with Earth.

One such asteroid is 99942 Apophis.

279 views

New Scientist, Dec 2, 2017

The messages we are sending to a nearby world that might harbour aliens do not put Earth in peril.

New Scientist, Jun 9, 2018

It's time to find a new way to talk to possible extraterrestrial civilisations, says Douglas Vako... more It's time to find a new way to talk to possible extraterrestrial civilisations, says Douglas Vakoch.

Nature Physics, 2016

Mark Buchanan’s recent Thesis column — ‘Searching for trouble?’ — accurately summarizes key objec... more Mark Buchanan’s recent Thesis column — ‘Searching for trouble?’ — accurately summarizes key objections to Messaging Extra-terrestrial Intelligence (METI), in which powerful, intentional signals are transmitted to specific astronomical targets, in the hope of a reply. Most notably, Buchanan characterizes METI as seeming “inherently risky”.

The risk we most often hear about — alien invasion — is simply not plausible, however. Any civilization slightly more advanced than we are could already detect our presence through our accidental electromagnetic radiation. Only a virtual twin of modern terrestrial technology would pick up information-rich beacons but be blind to the BBC at interstellar distances. If we are in danger of an alien invasion, it’s too late.

New Scientist, 2009

Our messages to aliens are more likely to get a response if we stop being so boring, argues Dougl... more Our messages to aliens are more likely to get a response if we stop being so boring, argues Douglas Vakoch.

Theology and Science, 2017

The fear of annihilation by an advanced civilization may not be limited to Earth, and it may help... more The fear of annihilation by an advanced civilization may not be limited to Earth, and it may help explain the silence of the cosmos.

Acta Astronautica, 2011

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) typically presupposes contact with extraterre... more The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) typically presupposes contact with extraterrestrial civilizations much longer lived than humanity. Many have argued that given humanity’s ‘‘youth,’’ the burden of transmitting should be placed on the extraterrestrial civilizations, which presumably possess more advanced technologies. These assumptions have contributed to the current emphasis on Passive SETI. Complementing this existing stress on Passive SETI with an additional commitment to Active SETI, in which humankind transmits messages to other civilizations, would have several advantages, including (1) addressing the reality that regardless of whether older civilizations should be transmitting, they may not be transmitting; (2) placing the burden of decoding and interpreting messages on advanced extraterrestrials, which may facilitate mutual comprehension; and (3) signaling a move toward an intergenerational model of science with a long-term vision for benefiting other civilizations as well as future generations of humans. Technological requirements for Active SETI are considered, and a case is made for Active SETI as a means for experimentally testing variants of the Zoo Hypothesis. Recommendations are provided for sustaining Passive and Active SETI and the communities that conduct these searches.

Acta Astronautica, 2011

With recently growing interest in the Active Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), in ... more With recently growing interest in the Active Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), in which humankind would send intentional signals to extraterrestrial civilizations, there have been increased concerns about appropriate policy, as well as the role of space law and ethics in guiding such activities. Implicit in these discussions are notions of responsibility and capability that affect judgments about whether humans or other civilizations should initiate transmissions. Existing protocols that guide SETI research address transmissions from Earth, but there is debate over whether these guidelines should inform de novo transmissions as well. Relevant responsibilities to address include (1) looking out for the interests of humankind as a whole, (2) being truthful in interstellar messages, and (3) benefiting extraterrestrial civilizations. Our capabilities as a species and a civilization affect how well we can fulfill responsibilities, as seen when we consider whether we will be able to reach consensus about message contents (and whether that would be desirable), and whether we have the capacity to decode messages from beings that rely on different sensory modalities. The interplay of these responsibilities and capabilities suggests that humankind should place increased emphasis on Active SETI.

Acta Astronautica, Feb 1, 2011

Acta Astronautica, 2010

Some characteristics of terrestrial music may be meaningful to extraterrestrial civilizations by ... more Some characteristics of terrestrial music may be meaningful to extraterrestrial civilizations by virtue of the connection between acoustics and mathematics—both of which might be known by technologically advanced extraterrestrial intelligence. For example, a fundamental characteristic of terrestrial polyphonic music is found the number of tones used various scales, insofar as the number of tones represents a compromise between competing musical demands; the number of tones in a scale, however, also reflects some of the perceptual characteristics of the species developing that music. Thus, in the process of communicating something about the structure of terrestrial music through interstellar messages, additional information about human perceptual and cognitive processes can also be conveyed. This paper also discusses methods for sending signals that bear information through the form of the very frequencies in which the signals are transmitted. If the challenges of creating intelligible messages are greater than often thought, the advantage of reduced conventionality of encoding the message by using an iconic format of this sort may be of significant value. Such an approach would allow the incremental introduction of musical concepts, somewhat akin to the step-by-step tutorials in mathematics and logic that form the basis of Freudenthal’s Lincos.

Acta Astronautica, 1998

A Dialogic Model of constructing a unified reply message is suggested in which differences betwee... more A Dialogic Model of constructing a unified reply message is suggested in which differences between perspectives are valued, rather than minimized. In this model, a diversity of views is seen as a virtue. Consensus in the broad sense of agreeing to include multiple perspectives is encouraged, while consensus in the narrow sense of everyone agreeing about all parts of the message is seen as overly restrictive, if not impossible. In the Dialogic Model, even perspectives that are irreconcilable with one another might be included in a single reply. Drawing upon multiple perspectives allows us to expand beyond our own preconceptions, gives extraterrestrials several ways to understand our views of the world, and portrays the breadth of human concerns.Seven benefits of beginning work on a reply message immediately are identified: (1) concretely understanding the challenge of creating an adequate reply; (2) helping decode messages from extraterrestrials; (3) creating interstellar compositions as a new form of art; (4) having a reply ready in case we receive a message; (5) providing a sense of concrete accomplishment; (6) preparing for an active search strategy; and (7) gaining public support for SETI.

Acta Astronautica, 2011

Contemporary narratology (narrative theory) offers a useful framework for interpreting interstell... more Contemporary narratology (narrative theory) offers a useful framework for interpreting interstellar messages that have already been sent to potential extraterrestrial recipients,as well as for designing messages that may be transmitted in the future. In this paper, narratological concepts are used to analyze in depth a single interstellar message sequence, elucidating methods by which various parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs) can be paired with pictures to describe the human body in motion. The concept of focalization is applied to the message sequence’s use of isolation and magnification, which highlight the structure and function of the human body and its constituent parts. The challenges of interpreting gaps within narratives, as well as the setting in which events occur, are considered. The importance of closure in providing a fitting end to narratives is examined, and the plausibility of creating images that could be interpreted correctly by extraterrestrial intelligence is assessed. Narratological concepts examined here, as well as additional aspects of narrative,provide important resources for future work in interpreting and designing interstellar messages.

For many astronomers, the progressive development of life has been seen as a natural occurrence g... more For many astronomers, the progressive development of life has been seen as a natural occurrence given proper environmental conditions on a planet: even though such beings would not be identical to humans, there would be significant parallels. A striking contrast is seen in writings of nonphysical scientists, who have held more widely differing views. But within this diversity, reasons for differences become more apparent when we see how views about extraterrestrials can be related to the differential emphasis placed on modern evolutionary theory by scientists of various disciplines. One clue to understanding the differences between the biologists, paleontologists, and anthropologists who speculated on extraterrestrials is suggested by noting who wrote on the subject. Given the relatively small number of commentators on the topic, it seems more than coincidental that four of the major contributors to the evolutionary synthesis in the 1930s and 1940s are among them. Upon closer examination it is evident that the exobiological arguments of Theodosius Dobzhansky and George Gaylord Simpson and, less directly, of H. J. Muller and Ernst Mayr are all related to their earlier work in formulating synthetic evolution. By examining the variety of views held by nonphysical scientists, we can see that there were significant disagreements between them about evolution into the 1960s. By the mid-1980s, many believed that “higher” life, particularly intelligent life, probably occurs quite infrequently in the universe; nevertheless, some held out the possibility that convergence of intelligence could occur across worlds. Regardless of the final conclusions these scientists reached about the likely prevalence of extraterrestrial intelligence, the use of evolutionary arguments to support their positions became increasingly common.

Acta Astronautica, 2000

Pictorial messages have previously been advocated for interstellar communication because such mes... more Pictorial messages have previously been advocated for interstellar communication because such messages are presumed to be capable of presenting information in a non-arbitrary and easily intelligible manner. In contrast to this view, pictorial messages actually represent information in a partially conventional way. This point is demonstrated by examining pictorial representations of human beings from a range of cultures. While such representations may be understood quite readily by individuals familiar with the conventions of a particular culture, to the uninitiated outsider, such representations can be unintelligible. In spite of the partially arbitrary nature of pictorial representation, we may be able to construct messages that would teach extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) some of the conventions by which we view pictures. One such approach is to pair numerical information about geometrical objects with pictorial representations of the same objects. Problems of conventionality can also be addressed in part through use of (1) multiple representations of the same object, (2) contextual cues, (3) three- and four-dimensional representations and (4) non-visual representations.

Leonardo, 1998

Directly Displaying Pictures The earliest speculations about Communication with Extrater-restrial... more Directly Displaying Pictures The earliest speculations about Communication with Extrater-restrial Intelligence (CETI) centered on contact with the in-habitants of other bodies of our solar system, either our moon or other planets. Nineteenth-century astronomical theories made ...

To explore the hypothesis that KIC 8462852ʼs aperiodic dimming is caused by artificial megastruct... more To explore the hypothesis that KIC 8462852ʼs aperiodic dimming is caused by artificial megastructures in orbit, rather than a natural cause such as cometary fragments in a highly elliptical orbit, we searched for electromagnetic signals from KIC 8462852 indicative of extraterrestrial intelligence. The primary observations were in the visible optical regime using the Boquete Optical SETI Observatory in Panama. In addition, as a recommended preparatory exercise for the possible future detection of a candidate signal, three of six observing runs simultaneously searched radio frequencies at the Allen Telescope Array in California. No periodic optical signals greater than 67 photons m −2 within a time frame of 25 ns were seen. If, for example, any inhabitants of KIC 8462852 were targeting our solar system with 5 MJ laser pulses, locally illuminating an approximately 3 au diameter disk, the signal could have been detected at the Boquete Observatory. The limits on narrowband radio signals were 180–300 Jy Hz at 1 and 8 GHz, respectively. While the power requirement for a detectable, isotropic narrowband radio transmission from KIC 8462852 is quite high, even modest targeting on the part of the putative extraterrestrials can lower this power substantially.

Cosmos Culture Cultural Evolution in a Cosmic Context, 2009

Acta Astronautica, 2008

As scholars involved with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) have contemplated h... more As scholars involved with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) have contemplated how we might portray humankind in any messages sent to civilizations beyond Earth, one of the challenges they face is adequately representing the diversity of human cultures. For example, in a 2003 workshop in Paris sponsored by the SETI Institute, the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) SETI Permanent Study Group, the International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology (ISAST), and the John Templeton Foundation, a varied group of artists, scientists, and scholars from the humanities considered how to encode notions of altruism in interstellar messages http://publish.seti.org/art_science/2003. Though the group represented 10 countries, most were from Europe and North America, leading to the group's recommendation that subsequent discussions on the topic should include more globally representative perspectives. As a result, the IAA Study Group on Interstellar Message Construction and the SETI Institute sponsored a follow-up workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA in February 2005. The Santa Fe workshop brought together scholars from a range of disciplines including anthropology, archaeology, chemistry, communication science, philosophy, and psychology. Participants included scholars familiar with interstellar message design as well as specialists in cross-cultural research who had participated in the Symposium on Altruism in Cross-cultural Perspective, held just prior to the workshop during the annual conference of the Society for Cross-cultural Research www.seti.org/altruism. The workshop included discussion of how cultural understandings of altruism can complement and critique the more biologically based models of altruism proposed for interstellar messages at the 2003 Paris workshop. This paper, written by the chair of both the Paris and Santa Fe workshops, will explore the challenges of communicating concepts of altruism that draw on both biological and cultural models.

Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 1996

British Journal of Psychology, 1996

Cognition & Emotion, 1997

Cognition & Emotion, 2001

Two experiments using identical stimuli were run to determine whether the vocal expression of emo... more Two experiments using identical stimuli were run to determine whether the vocal expression of emotion affects the speed with which listeners can identify emotion words. Sentences were spoken in an emotional tone of voice (Happy, Disgusted, or Petrified), or in a Neutral tone ...

Cognition & Emotion, 2000

... partici-pants presented in a carrier phrase designed to convey a sense of happiness, whereas ... more ... partici-pants presented in a carrier phrase designed to convey a sense of happiness, whereas other participants heard the same word embedded in carrier ... On the automatic activation of attitudes. ... Priming lexical neighbors of spoken words: Effects of competition and inhibition. ...

Cognition & Emotion, 2003

... Journal of Experimental Psychology: Gen-eral, 113, 256±281. Goldinger, SD, Luce, PA, &amp... more ... Journal of Experimental Psychology: Gen-eral, 113, 256±281. Goldinger, SD, Luce, PA, & Pisoni, DB (1989). Priming lexical neighbors of spoken words: Effects of competition and inhibition. Journal of Memory and Language, 28, 501±518. ...

Language and Speech, 2004

Until recently most models of word recognition have assumed that semantic auditory naming effects... more Until recently most models of word recognition have assumed that semantic auditory naming effects come into play only after the identification of the word in question. What little evidence exists for early semantic effects in word recognition lexical decision has relied primarily on priming manipulations using the lexical decision task, and has used visual stimulus presentation. The current study uses semantics auditory stimulus presentation and multiple experimental tasks, and does not use priming. Response latencies for 100 common nouns were found to speech perception depend on perceptual dimensions identified by Osgood (1969): Evaluation, Potency, and Activity. In addition, the two-way interactions between these word recognition dimensions were significant. All effects were above and beyond the effects of concreteness, word length, frequency, onset phoneme characteristics, stress, and neighborhood density. Results are discussed against evidence from several areas of research suggesting a role of behaviorally important information in perception.

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 02699930302302, Aug 18, 2010

Cognition Emotion, 2000

... partici-pants presented in a carrier phrase designed to convey a sense of happiness, whereas ... more ... partici-pants presented in a carrier phrase designed to convey a sense of happiness, whereas other participants heard the same word embedded in carrier ... On the automatic activation of attitudes. ... Priming lexical neighbors of spoken words: Effects of competition and inhibition. ...

Cognition and Emotion, 1996

The affective lexicon has been explained in terms of three underlying dimensions: Evaluation, Act... more The affective lexicon has been explained in terms of three underlying dimensions: Evaluation, Activity, and Potency. We assessed the importance of these dimensions during online speech perception. Participants made speeded lexical decisions about emotion words that were heard in a tone of voice that was either congruent or incongruent with the word' s meaning. The denotative semantic category from which

COVID-19 in International Media: Global Pandemic Perspectives, 2021

Covid-19 in International Media: Global Pandemic Perspectives is one of the first books uniting a... more Covid-19 in International Media: Global Pandemic Perspectives is one of the first books uniting an international team of scholars to investigate how media address critical social, political, and health issues connected to the 2020-21 COVID-19 outbreak.
The book evaluates unique civic challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities for media worldwide, exploring pandemic social norms that media promote or discourage, and how media serve as instruments of social control and resistance, or of cooperation and representation. These chapters raise significant questions about the roles mainstream or citizen journalists or netizens play or ought to play, enlightening audiences successfully about scientific information on COVID-19 in a pandemic that magnifies social inequality and unequal access to health care, challenging popular beliefs about health and disease prevention and the role of government while the entire world pays close attention.

"COVID-19 in International Media: Global Pandemic Perspectives", 2021

COVID-19 in International Media: Global Pandemic Responses is one of the first books uniting an i... more COVID-19 in International Media: Global Pandemic Responses is one of the first books uniting an international team of scholars to investigate how media address critical social, political, and health issues connected to the 2020–2021 COVID-19 outbreak. The book evaluates unique civic challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities for media worldwide, exploring pandemic social norms that media promote or discourage, and how media serve as instruments of social control and resistance, or of cooperation and representation. These chapters raise significant questions about the roles mainstream or citizen journalists or netizens play or ought to play, enlightening audiences successfully about scientific information on COVID-19 in a pandemic that magnifies social inequality and unequal access to healthcare, challenging popular beliefs about health and disease prevention and the role of government while the entire world pays close attention.

This book will be of interest to students and faculty of communication studies and journalism, departments of public health, sociology, and social marketing.

John C. Pollock is Professor of Health and Human Rights Communication at the Departments of Communication Studies and Public Health, The College of New Jersey.

Douglas A. Vakoch is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Clinical
Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies.
COVID-19 in International Media

There is a growing recognition of the importance of transgender perspectives on the environment. ... more There is a growing recognition of the importance of transgender perspectives on the environment. Unlike more established approaches in the environmental humanities and queer studies, transecology is a nascent inquiry whose significance and scope are just being articulated. Drawing on the fields of gender studies and ecological studies, contributors to this volume engage major concepts widely used in both fields as they explore the role of identity, exclusion, connection, intimacy, and emplacement to understand our relationship to nature and environment.

The theorists and ideas examined across multiple chapters include Stacy Alaimo’s notion of "trans-corporeality" as a "contact zone" between humans and the environment, Timothy Morton’s concept of "mesh" to explore the interconnectedness of all beings, Susan Stryker’s notion of trans identity as "ontologically inescapable," Catriona Mortimer-Sandilands and Bruce Erickson’s history of the development of queer rural spaces, Judith Butler’s analysis of gender as "performative," with those who are not "properly gendered" being seen as "abjects"—and Julia Serano’s contrasting rejection of gender as performance.

Transecology: Transgender Perspectives on Environment and Nature will be of great interest to scholars, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates in transgender studies, gender studies, ecocriticism, and environmental humanities.

This book seeks to confront an apparent contradiction: that while we are constantly attending to ... more This book seeks to confront an apparent contradiction: that while we are constantly attending to environmental issues, we seem to be woefully out of touch with nature. The goal of Ecopsychology, Phenomenology and the Environment is to foster an enhanced awareness of nature that can lead us to new ways of relating to the environment, ultimately yielding more sustainable patterns of living. This volume is different from other books in the rapidly growing field of ecopsychology in its emphasis on phenomenological approaches, building on the work of phenomenological psychologists such as Maurice Merleau-Ponty. This focus on phenomenological methodologies for articulating our direct experience of nature serves as a critical complement to the usual methodologies of environmental and conservation psychologists, who have emphasized quantitative research. Moreover, Ecopsychology, Phenomenology and the Environment is distinctive insofar as chapters by phenomenologically-sophisticated ecopsychologists are complemented by chapters written by phenomenological researchers of environmental issues with backgrounds in philosophy and geology, providing a breadth and depth of perspective not found in other works written exclusively by psychologists.

REVIEW

"The collection of essays in Ecopsychology, Phenomenology, and the Environment: The Experience of Nature helps to expand the epistemological and methodological approaches that are so well suited for the interdisciplinary field of ecopsychology. Like many of its antecedents (e.g., Abram, 1996; Roszak, 2001; Roszak, Gomes, & Kanner, 1995; van Gennep, 1961), it will appeal to readers curious about the interplay of nature, consciousness, and psyche, and to those specifically interested in climate change, environmental ethics, public health, or phenomenological knowing...What I liked most about it, apart from some really beautiful writing, is its mature approach to suffering and the wildness of our nature, as part of the great chain of being. There is a cogent argument that we must address our sense of separateness from the world that holds us. I believe that readers will come away with an expanded sense of identity, and with a sense of calmness about what can be done and how one might go about contributing."
Barbara Landon
PsycCRITIQUES
November 10, 2014, Vol. 59, No. 45, Article 2

This book addresses important current and historical topics in astrobiology and the search for li... more This book addresses important current and historical topics in astrobiology and the search for life beyond Earth, including the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). The first section covers the plurality of worlds debate from antiquity through the nineteenth century, while section two covers the extraterrestrial life debate from the twentieth century to the present. The final section examines the societal impact of discovering life beyond Earth, including both cultural and religious dimensions. Throughout the book, authors draw links between their own chapters and those of other contributors, emphasizing the interconnections between the various strands of the history and societal impact of the search for extraterrestrial life.

This interdisciplinary book will benefit everybody trying to understand the meaning of astrobiology and SETI for our human society.

REVIEWS

Selected by Choice magazine as an "Outstanding Academic Title" for 2014

“This book is a very well-balanced, detailed analysis of the subject. … This is one of the best books on the subject; it belongs in all college libraries. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries.” (K. L. Schick, Choice, Vol. 51 (7), March, 2014)

“Are we alone in the universe? If not, then what might that mean? This fascinating volume offers a history of what Western cultures have thought about these questions … . a useful source for scientists, historians, anthropologists, and many other disciplines that concern themselves with these two large questions. … This volume nicely reveals the numerous ways in which anthropological knowledge and methods can help us think about and plan for managing the cultural impact of an eventual first contact.” (James Strick, Journal for the History of Astronomy, Vol. 47 (1), 2016)

“In this book you can find out about the first philosophers, writers and scientists who were interested in the possibility of life on other planets and get to know the reasons why it was considered possible by them and what actually led to their depictions of life elsewhere in literature. … Overall this book makes for really interesting reading if you’re interested in extraterrestrial life and astrobiology.” (Kadri Tinn, AstroMadness.com, December, 2013)

DESCRIPTION Astronomers around the world are pointing their telescopes toward the heavens, searc... more DESCRIPTION

Astronomers around the world are pointing their telescopes toward the heavens, searching for signs of intelligent life. If they make contact with an advanced alien civilization, how will humankind respond? In thinking about first contact, the contributors to this volume present new empirical and theoretical research on the societal dimensions of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Archaeologists and astronomers explore the likelihood that extraterrestrial intelligence exists, using scientific insights to estimate such elusive factors as the longevity of technological societies. Sociologists present the latest findings of novel surveys, tapping into the public’s attitudes about life beyond Earth to show how religion and education influence beliefs about extraterrestrials. Scholars from such diverse disciplines as mathematics, chemistry, journalism, and religious studies offer innovative solutions for bridging the cultural gap between human and extraterrestrial civilizations, while recognizing the tremendous challenges of communicating at interstellar distances. At a time when new planets are being discovered around other stars at an unprecedented rate, this collection provides a much needed guide to the human impact of discovering we are not alone in the universe.

REVIEWS
Nominated for the 2011 Eugene M. Emme Astronautical Literature Award

“At a time when new planets are being discovered around other stars at an unprecedented rate, this collection provides a much needed guide to the human impact of discovering we are not alone in the universe.” · International Journal of Anthropology

“For years sections of the SETI [Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence] community have bemoaned the fact that the social sciences are often sidelined in favour of the hard sciences when it comes to SETI discussion. Civilizations Beyond Earth starts to redress the balance, edited skillfully by Douglas Vakoch, the only sociologist on staff at the SETI Institute in California, and Albert Harrison, a psychologist from the University of California.” · Astronomy

“…a fascinating collection of essays examining how humanity might react to extraterrestrials…While [the book] is academically rigorous, it’s also accessible...it remains an essential introduction for anyone interested in SETI, xenobiology and UFOs.” · ForteanTimes

As we stand poised on the verge of a new era of spaceflight, we must rethink every element, inclu... more As we stand poised on the verge of a new era of spaceflight, we must rethink every element, including the human dimension. This book explores some of the contributions of psychology to yesterday’s great space race, today’s orbiter and International Space Station missions, and tomorrow’s journeys beyond Earth’s orbit. Early missions into space were typically brief, and crews were small, often drawn from a single nation. As international cooperation in space exploration has increased over the decades, the challenges of communicating across cultural boundaries and dealing with interpersonal conflicts have become all the more important, requiring different coping skills and sensibilities than “the right stuff” expected of early astronauts. As astronauts travel to asteroids or establish a permanent colony on the Moon, with the eventual goal of reaching Mars, the duration of expeditions will increase markedly, as will the psychosocial stresses. Away from their home planet for extended times, future spacefarers will need to be increasingly self-sufficient, while simultaneously dealing with the complexities of heterogeneous, multicultural crews.

"On Orbit and Beyond: Psychological Perspectives on Human Spaceflight," the second, considerably expanded edition of "Psychology of Space Exploration: Contemporary Research in Historical Perspective," provides an analysis of these and other challenges facing future space explorers while at the same time presenting new empirical research on topics ranging from simulation studies of commercial spaceflights to the psychological benefits of viewing Earth from space. This second edition includes an all new section exploring the challenges astronauts will encounter as they travel to asteroids, Mars, Saturn, and the stars, requiring an unprecedented level of autonomy. Updated essays discuss the increasingly important role of China in human spaceflight. In addition to examining contemporary psychological research, several of the essays also explicitly address the history of the psychology of space exploration. Leading contributors to the field place the latest theories and empirical findings in historical context by exploring changes in space missions over the past half century, as well as reviewing developments in the psychological sciences during the same period. The essays are innovative in their approaches and conclusions, providing novel insights for behavioral researchers and historians alike.

DESCRIPTION By drawing on the complex interplay of ecology and feminism, ecofeminists identify l... more DESCRIPTION

By drawing on the complex interplay of ecology and feminism, ecofeminists identify links between the domination of nature and the oppression of women. This volume introduces a variety of innovative approaches for advancing ecofeminist activism, demonstrating how words exert power in the world. Contributors explore the interconnections between the dualisms of nature/culture and masculine/feminine, providing new insights into sex and technology through such wide-ranging topics as canine reproduction, orangutan motherhood and energy conservation. Ecofeminist rhetorics of care address environmental problems through cooperation and partnership, rather than hierarchical subordination, encouraging forms of communication that value mutual understanding over persuasion and control. By critically examining ways that theory can help deconstruct domineering practices—exposing the underlying ideologies—a new generation of ecofeminist scholarship illuminates the transformative capacity of language to foster emancipation and liberation.

REVIEWS

“ …research students and academics will enjoy reading [this volume], and undergraduate students may benefit from the overview chapters that frame the theoretical approaches therein. I commend the collection on its ambitious scope and look forward to further investigations that extend critiques of gender, power and technology in such an engaging, interdisciplinary way. While feminist revitalisations are changing the political, social and cultural context in which this text sits, its validity as a piece of academic work remains.” · Gender, Place and Culture

“Ecofeminism and Rhetoric is helpful as an introductory text on ecofeminism for undergraduates, as well as for researchers open to incorporating an ecofeminist outlook into their work. [It]also is a valuable resource for those already familiar with ecofeminism…[The volume offers] valuable contributions to the academic literature while also opening pathways for activists and individuals concerned with creating change in their communities.” · Anthropological Forum: A Journal of Social Anthropology and Comparative Sociology

“[This volume’s] material is challenging—in terms of its challenge to popular thinking and conventional scholarship—and, yes, even troubling. However, the authors' reflection on their own work and the frames offered at the beginning and the end of the book provide useful ways of processing the theories and examples, making this is a book… appropriate for a variety of audiences ranging from the seasoned ecofeminist to one who has just discover ecofeminism.” · Women & Language

“Vakoch’s essay collection, although varied in subject matter, is successful because of its loose definition of both rhetoric and ecofeminism…[It] presents unique and intelligent arguments that uncover new avenues to approaching different ecologies…Plagued by accusations of containing impractical, high theoretical subject matter, ecocritical theory needs more tangibly applicable strategies like those found within Ecofeminism and Rhetoric to enact environmental change.” · The Journal of Ecocriticism

“A book on ecofeminist rhetoric assumes a difficult task….this collection of essays does an admirable job of opening the topic of ecofeminist rhetoric to further inquiry…and gives us a small but potentially very valuable window on one avenue of developing the field in this postapocalyptic era of global warming, species reduction, desertification, ecoracism, environmental injustice, slumming as a growth industry in rapid urbanization, and one energy crisis after another.” · Rhetoric Review

"In less that 180 pages, this book provides a comprehensive, well written, and carefully annotated overview of ecofeminism including the past, the present, and anticipated further developments in the future. Highly recommended!” · Mother Pelican. A Journal of Sustainable Human Development

“[O]ne of the very few books to have been published in the last 10 years on the declared topic of ecofeminism…the volume is a necessary and timely rethinking of ecofeminism; it includes some strikingly original essays that challenge and extend current ecofeminist thinking in exciting ways; and its general insistence on action and intervention (including rhetoric) as a way of collecting and evaluating ecofeminist thought is intelligent, effective and important.” · Catriona Mortimer-Sandilands, York University

“The overall approach of an ecofeminist analysis focused on rhetoric (discourse and persuasion) is original and interesting in its promise of a new and valuable form of, or perspective on, ecofeminist analysis. Many of the chapters struck me as flat-out fascinating: both wonderfully written and truly ground-breaking in their originality of focus and integration. In fact, what I think is most wonderful about this book is its real, almost startling, originality.” · Catherine Roach, University of Alabama

Feminist Ecocriticism examines the interplay of women and nature as seen through literary theory ... more Feminist Ecocriticism examines the interplay of women and nature as seen through literary theory and criticism, drawing on insights from such diverse fields as chaos theory and psychoanalysis, while examining genres ranging from nineteenth-century sentimental literature to contemporary science fiction. The book explores the central claim of ecofeminism—that there is a connection between environmental degradation and the subordination of women—with the goal of identifying and fostering liberatory alternatives. Feminist Ecocriticism analyzes the work of such diverse women writers as Rachel Carson, Barbara Kingsolver, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Mary Shelley. By including chapters from a comparable number of women and men, this book dispels the notion that ecofeminism is relevant to and used by only female scholars.

After uncovering the oppressive dichotomies of male/female and nature/culture that underlie contemporary environmental problems, Feminist Ecocriticism focuses specifically on emancipatory strategies employed by ecofeminist literary critics as antidotes, asking what our lives might be like as those strategies become increasingly successful in overcoming oppression. Thus, ecofeminism is not limited to the critique of literature, but also helps identify and articulate liberatory ideals that can be actualized in the real world, in the process transforming everyday life. Providing an alternative to rugged individualism, for example, ecofeminist literature promotes a more fulfilling sense of interrelationship with both community and the land. In the process of exploring literature from ecofeminist perspectives, the book reveals strategies of emancipation that have already begun to give rise to more hopeful ecological narratives.

Feminist Ecocriticism provides a novel integration of two important strands of contemporary literary criticism that have often failed to make contact: feminist criticism and ecocriticism. The openness of both feminist criticism and ecocriticism to multiple, even incompatible perspectives, without the insistence on unitary definitions of their fields, has given rise to a new hybrid discipline: feminist ecocriticism.

There are countless ways of thinking, feeling, and acting like an ecofeminist. Ecofeminism includ... more There are countless ways of thinking, feeling, and acting like an ecofeminist. Ecofeminism includes a plurality of perspectives, thriving in dialogue between diverse theories and practices involving ecological and feminist matters of concern. Deepening the dialogue, the contributors in this anthology explore critical and complementary interactions between ecofeminism and other areas of inquiry, including ecocriticism, postcolonialism, geography, environmental law, religion, geoengineering, systems thinking, family therapy, and more. This volume aims to further the cultural and literary theories of ecofeminism by situating them in conversation with other interpretations and analyses of intersections between environment, gender, and culture. This anthology is a unique combination of contemporary, interdisciplinary, and global perspectives in dialogue with ecofeminism, supporting academic and activist efforts to resist oppression and domination and cultivate care and justice.

Bringing together ecofeminism and ecological literary criticism (ecocriticism), this book present... more Bringing together ecofeminism and ecological literary criticism (ecocriticism), this book presents diverse ways of understanding and responding to the tangled relationships between the personal, social, and environmental dimensions of human experience and expression.

Literature and Ecofeminism explores the intersections of sexuality, gender, embodiment, and the natural world articulated in literary works from Shakespeare through to contemporary literature. Bringing together essays from a global group of contributors, this volume draws on American literature, as well as Spanish, South African, Taiwanese, and Indian literature, in order to further the dialogue between ecofeminism and ecocriticism and demonstrate the ongoing relevance of ecofeminism for facilitating critical readings of literature. In doing so, the book opens up multiple directions for ecofeminist ideas and practices, as well as new possibilities for interpreting literature.

This comprehensive volume will be of great interest to students and scholars of ecocriticism, ecofeminism, literature, gender studies, and the environmental humanities.

Addressing a field that has been dominated by astronomers, physicists, engineers, and computer sc... more Addressing a field that has been dominated by astronomers, physicists, engineers, and computer scientists, the contributors to this collection raise questions that may have been overlooked by physical scientists about the ease of establishing meaningful communication with an extraterrestrial intelligence. These scholars are grappling with some of the enormous challenges that will face humanity if an information-rich signal emanating from another world is detected. By drawing on issues at the core of contemporary archaeology and anthropology, we can be much better prepared for contact with an extraterrestrial civilization, should that day ever come.

This book explores some of the contributions of psychology to yesterday's great space race, today... more This book explores some of the contributions of psychology to yesterday's great space race, today's orbiter and International Space Station missions, and tomorrow's journeys beyond Earth's orbit. Early missions into space were typically brief, and crews were small, often drawn from a single nation. As an intensely competitive space race has given way to international cooperation over the decades, the challenges of communicating across cultural boundaries and dealing with interpersonal conflicts have become increasingly important, requiring different coping skills and sensibilities from "the right stuff" of early astronauts.

Description Contents Resources Courses About the Authors In this compel... more Description
Contents
Resources
Courses
About the Authors

In this compelling book, leading scientists and historians explore the Drake Equation, which guides modern astrobiology's search for life beyond Earth. First used in 1961 as the organising framework for a conference in Green Bank, West Virginia, it uses seven factors to estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilisations in our galaxy. Using the equation primarily as a heuristic device, this engaging text examines the astronomical, biological, and cultural factors that determine the abundance or rarity of life beyond Earth and provides a thematic history of the search for extraterrestrial life. Logically structured to analyse each of the factors in turn, and offering commentary and critique of the equation as a whole, contemporary astrobiological research is placed in a historical context. Each factor is explored over two chapters, discussing the pre-conference thinking and a modern analysis, to enable postgraduates and researchers to better assess the assumptions that guide their research.

Women and Nature? Beyond Dualism in Gender, Body, and Environment provides a historical context f... more Women and Nature? Beyond Dualism in Gender, Body, and Environment provides a historical context for understanding the contested relationships between women and nature, and it articulates strategies for moving beyond the dualistic theories and practices that often frame those relationships.

In 1974, Françoise d’Eaubonne coined the term "ecofeminism" to raise awareness about interconnections between women’s oppression and nature’s domination in an attempt to liberate women and nature from subordination. Since then, ecofeminism has attracted scholars and activists from various disciplines and positions to assess the relationship between the cultural human and the natural non-human through gender reconsiderations. The contributors to this volume present critical and constructive perspectives on ecofeminism throughout its history, from the beginnings of ecofeminism in the 1970s through to contemporary and emerging developments in the field, drawing on animal studies, postcolonialism, film studies, transgender studies, and political ecology.

This interdisciplinary and international collection of essays demonstrates the ongoing relevance of ecofeminism as a way of understanding and responding to the complex interactions between genders, bodies, and the natural environment. It will be of great interest to students and scholars of ecofeminism as well as those involved in environmental studies and gender studies more broadly.

Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective provides such a scholarly overview, examining the intersec... more Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective provides such a scholarly overview, examining the intersection of culture and such topics as evolutionary accounts of altruism and the importance of altruism in ritual and religion. ​​The past decade has seen a proliferation of research on altruism, made possible in part by significant funding from organizations such as the John Templeton Foundation. While significant research has been conducted on biological, social, and individual dimensions of altruism, there has been no attempt to provide an overview of the ways that altruistic behavior and attitudes vary across cultures. The book addresses the methodological challenges of researching altruism across cultures, as well as the ways that altruism is manifest in difficult circumstances. A particular strength of the book is its attention to multiple disciplinary approaches to understanding altruism, with contributors from fields including psychology, anthropology, sociology, biology, communication, philosophy, religious studies, gender studies, and bioethics.​

REVIEWS

"Based on a symposium on the same theme held in connection with the 34th Annual Conference of the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, February 23–27, 2005, at Santa Fe, NM, and convened by the volume’s editor, the book contains contributions by 21 authors of different nationalities in 13 chapters, 7 of which are based on papers originally presented at this conference. While a “Foreword” by senior cross-cultural psychologist Harry C. Triandis (vii–xi) aptly leads into the subject matter, the “Afterword” (chapter 13, pp. 159–63), by Steven G. Post and Matthew T. Lee, concludes that “other-regarding behaviors are without exception endorsed in all major world religions and in the world cultures that have grown up around them” (p. 159) which allows us to assume that altruism is “a universal value” indeed (p. 163). (Post is a physician and Lee a sociologist, and both are engaged in the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, Stony Brook, NY.)...Short biographical notes about the contributors (pp. 165–71) and the editor (p. 173) as well as a general index (pp. 175–80) conclude this book, which is a high-quality tool for cross-cultural studies of altruism and beyond."
Christopher H. Grundmann
Zygon, vol. 49, no. 1, March 2014

"Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective provides a multidisciplinary effort to examine human altruism cross-culturally. The authors of the 11 chapters plus epilogue and afterword come from a variety of disciplines: Psychology and anthropology are well represented, with additional contributions from social work, philosophy, theology, and education. Other chapter authors come from communication, folklore studies, English literature, public health, recreation and tourism, and ecology and environmental sciences. The multidisciplinary breadth of this volume results from its origination as a symposium conducted at the 34th Annual Conference of the Society for Cross Cultural Research convened in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in February 2005. The pioneering work of Daniel Batson on altruism provides a foundation for the book and a common thread running through many of the chapters (Batson, 2011, 2012)...This book should be of interest to both students and professionals concerned with gaining a broader understanding of altruism in cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary perspectives. As noted above, it builds on the pioneering work of Batson and complements other recent work on altruism (Knafo & Israel, 2012; Midlarsky, Mullin, & Barkin, 2012; Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, & Schroeder, 2005; Snyder & Dwyer, 2013)."
John M. Davis
PsycCRITIQUES
April 28, 2014, Vol. 59, No. 17, Article 8

Bioastronomy 99, 2000

One of the challenges facing independently evolved civilizations separated by interstellar distan... more One of the challenges facing independently evolved civilizations separated by interstellar distances is to communicate information unique to one civilization. One commonly proposed solution is to begin with two-dimensional pictorial representations of mathematical concepts and physical objects, in the hope that this will provide a foundation for overcoming linguistic barriers. However, significant aspects of such representations are highly conventional, and may not be readily intelligible to a civilization with different conventions. The process of teaching conventions of representation may be facilitated by the use of three-dimensional representations redundantly encoded in multiple formats (e.g., as both vectors and as rasters). After having illustrated specific conventions for representing mathematical objects in a three-dimensional space, this method can be used to describe a physical environment shared by transmitter and receiver: a three-dimensional space defined by the transmitter--receiver axis, and containing stars within that space. This method can be extended to show three-dimensional representations varying over time. Having clarified conventions for representing objects potentially familiar to both sender and receiver, novel objects can subsequently be depicted. This is illustrated through sequences showing interactions between human beings, which provide information about human behavior and personality. Extensions of this method may allow the communication of such culture-specific features as aesthetic judgments and religious beliefs. Limitations of this approach will be noted, with specific reference to ETI who are not primarily visual.

The Impact of Discovering Life Beyond Earth, 2015

In the absence of knowledge of physical and cultural clues, communication between two species can... more In the absence of knowledge of physical and cultural clues, communication between two species can be almost impossible. Almost.

Getting the World Actively Involved in SETI Searches Jill C. Tarter, Avinash Agrawal, Rob Ackerma... more Getting the World Actively Involved in SETI Searches Jill C. Tarter, Avinash Agrawal, Rob Ackermann, Samantha K. Blair, M. Tucker Bradford, Danese M ... M. Dexter, G. Engargiola, E. Fields, J. Forster, C. Gutierrez-Kraybill, C. Heiles, T. Helfer, S. Jorgensen, G. Keating, J. Lugten, D ...

International and Cultural Psychology, 2013

Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XIII, 2010

ABSTRACT The 1959 Nature article by Giuseppe Cocconi and Phil Morrison1 provided the theoretical ... more ABSTRACT The 1959 Nature article by Giuseppe Cocconi and Phil Morrison1 provided the theoretical underpinnings for SETI, accompanied in 1960 by Project Ozma2, the first radio search for signals by Frank Drake at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). Well over 100 search programs have been conducted since that time, primarily at radio and optical wavelengths, (see www.seti.org/searcharchives) without any successful signal detection. Some have suggested that this means humans are alone in the cosmos. But that is far too strong a conclusion to draw from far too small an observational sampling. Instead of concluding that intelligent life on Earth is unique, it is more appropriate to note that in 50 years our ability to search for electromagnetic signals has improved by at least 14 orders of magnitude and that these improvements are still occurring at an exponential rate. At the SETI Institute we are in the process of reinventing the way we search in order to fully utilize these technological enhancements. We are now building the setiQuest community and we intend to get the world involved in making our searches better. We need to find ways to harness the intelligence of all Earthlings in order to better seek out extraterrestrial intelligence. If we do it right, we just might succeed, and we might also change how we see ourselves, and make our own world a better place.

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum II, 1996

This presentation reports on the use of the SETI Institute's Earth Speaks online project as a... more This presentation reports on the use of the SETI Institute's Earth Speaks online project as a projective measure of the geographic and demographic distribution of perceived needs, as well as the degree of species-level self-identification in humans.

Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics, 2013

This project identifies key principles of altruism that can be translated into interstellar messa... more This project identifies key principles of altruism that can be translated into interstellar messages for communication with extraterrestrial intelligence. The message contents will focus specifically on the evolution of altruism, drawing on recent insights in evolutionary biology, with particular emphasis on sociobiological accounts of kin selection and reciprocal altruism. This focus on altruism for message contents has several advantages. First, the subject can be translated into interstellar messages both via an existing formal interstellar language and via pictorial messages. For example, aspects of reciprocal altruism can be described through mathematical modeling, such as game theoretic approaches, which in turn can be described readily in the interstellar language Lincos. Second, concentrating on altruism as a message content may facilitate communications with extraterrestrial intelligence. Some scientists have argued that humans may be expected to communicate something about their moral status and development in an exchange with extraterrestrials. One of the most salient ways that terrestrial and extraterrestrial civilizations might be expected to evaluate one another is in terms of ethical motivations. Indeed, current search strategies assume some measure of altruism on the part of transmitting civilizations; with no guarantee of a response, the other civilization would be providing information to us with no direct payoff. Thus, concepts about altruism provide an appropriate content for interstellar messages, because the concepts themselves might be understood by extraterrestrial civilizations.

By integrating Active SETI and Passive SETI programs, we could establish an institutional framewo... more By integrating Active SETI and Passive SETI programs, we could establish an institutional framework for sustaining Passive SETI and the scientists who conduct it, even in the face of decades or centuries of silence from the stars.

Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2000

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1994

The Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 1998

APA PsycNET Our Apologies! - The following features are not available with your current Browser c... more APA PsycNET Our Apologies! - The following features are not available with your current Browser configuration. - alerts user that their session is about to expire - display, print, save, export, and email selected records - get My ...

Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 1997

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1997

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1994

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1994

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1994

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1994

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1994

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1994

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 1999

When SETI Succeeds: The Impact of High-Information …, 2000

... 12. Kleinz, p. 36. 13.“Messages from Space,” America: A Catholic Review of the Week 111 (12 D... more ... 12. Kleinz, p. 36. 13.“Messages from Space,” America: A Catholic Review of the Week 111 (12 December 1964): 770. 14. ... For example, Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, President of the University of Notre Dame, provided the foreword to an early NASA study on SETI. ...

Astrobiology, 2008

By its very nature, astrobiological research necessitates questioning long-held assumptions about... more By its very nature, astrobiological research necessitates questioning long-held assumptions about life. By using the “Earth as a natural laboratory” model—and then, importantly, going beyond it—astrobiologists have had to think carefully about how to fully understand what is, and ...

The Astrophysical Journal

Literature and Ecofeminism

Nature Physics, 2016

Mark Buchanan’s recent Thesis column — ‘Searching for trouble?’ — accurately summarizes key objec... more Mark Buchanan’s recent Thesis column — ‘Searching for trouble?’ — accurately summarizes key objections to Messaging Extra-terrestrial Intelligence (METI), in which powerful, intentional signals are transmitted to specific astronomical targets, in the hope of a reply. Most notably, Buchanan characterizes METI as seeming “inherently risky”. The risk we most often hear about — alien invasion — is simply not plausible, however. Any civilization slightly more advanced than we are could already detect our presence through our accidental electromagnetic radiation. Only a virtual twin of modern terrestrial technology would pick up information-rich beacons but be blind to the BBC at interstellar distances. If we are in danger of an alien invasion, it’s too late.

Getting the World Actively Involved in SETI Searches Jill C. Tarter, Avinash Agrawal, Rob Ackerma... more Getting the World Actively Involved in SETI Searches Jill C. Tarter, Avinash Agrawal, Rob Ackermann, Samantha K. Blair, M. Tucker Bradford, Danese M ... M. Dexter, G. Engargiola, E. Fields, J. Forster, C. Gutierrez-Kraybill, C. Heiles, T. Helfer, S. Jorgensen, G. Keating, J. Lugten, D ...

Getting the World Actively Involved in SETI Searches Jill C. Tarter, Avinash Agrawal, Rob Ackerma... more Getting the World Actively Involved in SETI Searches Jill C. Tarter, Avinash Agrawal, Rob Ackermann, Samantha K. Blair, M. Tucker Bradford, Danese M ... M. Dexter, G. Engargiola, E. Fields, J. Forster, C. Gutierrez-Kraybill, C. Heiles, T. Helfer, S. Jorgensen, G. Keating, J. Lugten, D ...