 |
 |
That is a fallacious statement of my argument, which is: Topic A is important. Study B provides useful insights into Topic A, because it identifies cultural sources of illusions about relationships. Therefore, Study B is important or at least interesting. MB On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 12:58 PM, Phil Gasper <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Actually, I think I will use this one in my critical thinking class next > semester as an exercise for the students to point out its weaknesses. > > The following is a fallacious argument: > > Topic A is important. > Study B is about A. > Therefore, study B is important. > > --PG > > > On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 11:51 AM, Michael Balter <[log in to unmask] > > wrote: > >> Actually, I think this kind of study is important, and I think if Phil >> thought about it a little bit more he might agree. Unrealistic expectations >> about love and marriage are indeed a key factor in relationships breaking >> up, as most people who have voyaged very far into adulthood know anecdotally >> and which psychologists, family therapists and professionals know from their >> practices and research. Since troubled relationships are a key cause of >> suffering in the world, understanding more about them makes sense to me. >> >> As I have said before, let's not be the John McCains and Sarah Palins of >> the left when it comes to critiquing science. >> >> MB >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 12:43 PM, Phil Gasper <[log in to unmask]>wrote: >> >>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and >>> _east/7784366.stm >>> Published: 2008/12/16 10:02:45 GMT >>> >>> *Rom-coms 'spoil your love life'* >>> >>> Watching romantic comedies can spoil your love life, a study by a >>> university in Edinburgh has claimed. >>> >>> Rom-coms have been blamed by relationship experts at Heriot Watt >>> University for promoting unrealistic expectations when it comes to love. >>> >>> They found fans of films such as Runaway Bride and Notting Hill often >>> fail to communicate with their partner. >>> >>> Many held the view if someone is meant to be with you, then they should >>> know what you want without you telling them. >>> >>> Psychologists at the family and personal relationships laboratory at the >>> university studied 40 top box office hits between 1995 and 2005, and >>> identified common themes which they believed were unrealistic. >>> >>> The movies included You've Got Mail, Maid In Manhattan, The Wedding >>> Planner and While You Were Sleeping. >>> >>> The university's Dr Bjarne Holmes said: "Marriage counsellors often see >>> couples who believe that sex should always be perfect, and if someone is >>> meant to be with you then they will know what you want without you needing >>> to communicate it. >>> >>> "We now have some emerging evidence that suggests popular media play a >>> role in perpetuating these ideas in people's minds. >>> >>> "The problem is that while most of us know that the idea of a perfect >>> relationship is unrealistic, some of us are still more influenced by media >>> portrayals than we realise." >>> >>> As part of the project, 100 student volunteers were asked to watch the >>> 2001 romantic comedy Serendipity, while a further 100 watched a David Lynch >>> drama. >>> >>> Predestined love >>> >>> Students watching the romantic film were later found to be more likely to >>> believe in fate and destiny. A further study found that fans of romantic >>> comedies had a stronger belief in predestined love. >>> >>> Kimberly Johnson, who also worked on the study, said: "Films do capture >>> the excitement of new relationships but they also wrongly suggest that trust >>> and committed love exist from the moment people meet, whereas these are >>> qualities that normally take years to develop." >>> >>> The researchers have now launched an online study on media and >>> relationships. >>> They are asking people to participate by answering questions about >>> personality, relationships, and media consumption habits by filling in a >>> questionnaire which you can click on here<http://remark.sls.hw.ac.uk/cgi-bin/rws3.pl?FORM=Media_study> >>> . >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> ****************************************** >> Michael Balter >> Contributing Correspondent, Science >> Adjunct Professor of Journalism, >> Boston University >> >> Email: [log in to unmask] >> >> Website: michaelbalter.com >> Balter's Blog: michael-balter.blogspot.com >> ****************************************** >> > > -- ****************************************** Michael Balter Contributing Correspondent, Science Adjunct Professor of Journalism, Boston University Email: [log in to unmask] Website: michaelbalter.com Balter's Blog: michael-balter.blogspot.com ******************************************