Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh, Author at Study Breaks

Illustration of Silly Bandz by Veronica Chen

10 Years Later, It’s Time To Celebrate Silly Bandz and Its Short-Lived Spotlight

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

The children’s toy fad was intense but brief. Yet its legacy lives on in subtle ways within us.…

October 8, 2020

conspiracy illustration by Veronica Chen

How Does ‘Conspiracy Thinking’ Manifest in Your Everyday Life?

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

The extreme theories may seem outlandish and irrational, but many of our regular beliefs may be no better.…

October 3, 2020

Illustration by Veronica Chen of individuals of different heights

For Some Workers, Office Chairs Pit Pain Against Productivity

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

Standard office furniture creates painful problems for many office workers outside of the average height range. Who is responsible for solving them?…

September 18, 2020

Illustration by Veronica Chen of the game Monopoly

Monopoly Is Ruthless — But It Can Also Teach Us About Cooperation

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

The board game has long been known for its dangerous ability to escalate tensions. But rather than avoiding this, maybe it's the point.…

September 4, 2020

Illustration by Ash Ramirez of a person in an empowerment self-defense class

Empowerment Self-Defense: Defending Ourselves From Our Own Fear

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

New feminist safety classes not only teach women how to defend themselves in real-life scenarios, but also interrogate society's response to violence.…

August 30, 2020

illustration by veronica chen of an individual struggling with an eating disorder, as depicted in A Hunger Artist

‘A Hunger Artist’ Is a Valuable Resource for Those Affected by Anorexia

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

The Psychology Today blog speaks not only to the joys of recovery, but also to the pains of struggling with the disorder. This Psychology Today blog gives a voice not just to the joy…

August 23, 2020

Illustration by Ash Ramirez of targeted ads on a computer screen

A Tentative Defense of Targeted Ads and Data Collection

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

We're used to seeing them on social media and our initial reaction is often disgust. But what happens when we really scrutinize our hesitations?…

August 14, 2020

Illustration by Diana Egan of an unboxing video on a home screen

We Love Unboxing Videos, But Can We Really Say Why?

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

They are incredibly popular, forming their own subsection of YouTube. But what is it about the genre that has attracted so many viewers?…

August 7, 2020

Illustration by Veronica Chen of an owl and it's child

Christina Perri’s Lullaby Album Re-Imagines Working Motherhood

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

'Songs for Carmella: Lullabies and Sing-Alongs' challenges societal expectations of the role of women in the workplace and at home.…

July 31, 2020

Illustration by Ash Ramirez of mutual friends online

Having Mutual Friends With Someone Is Great, But There Can Be Drawbacks

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

Having friends of friends has long been presumed to be beneficial, but perhaps it's more stressful than we've been thought.…

July 26, 2020

In an article about National Days, an illustration by Ash Ramirez of a calendar on the month of July

Made-Up ‘National Days’ Provide No Shortage of Celebration

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

Whether it’s the International Day of Non-Violence (Oct. 2) or National Doughnut Day (June 4), who’s to say that you can’t choose to make the time special?…

July 19, 2020

Illustration by Ash Ramirez, Humboldt State University of an air conditioning unit

How We’ve Been Conditioned Into Air Conditioning

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

From saving money to saving the planet, there are lots of good reasons to get rid of air conditioners. Here’s why Americans never will.…

July 10, 2020

Illustration by Veronica Chen of a person on a hill during a walk

Now’s the Time To Take Some Mindful Steps To Upgrade Your Next Walk

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

It's not just a way to get from one point to another. Get the most out of your walking experience.…

July 3, 2020

Illustration by Diana Egan, University of Kentucky of a tiny home in a field, reflecting the tiny lifestyle

Tiny Lifestyles Are More Complicated Than You Might Think

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

The trend is attractive because it promises freedom and simplicity. But even in a tiny house, life can still be pretty complex.…

June 25, 2020

An illustration (by Veronica Chen, Yale University) of a dragon hoarding toilet paper

Hoarding and Shaming: The Unity in Our Pandemic Response

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

The stress of COVID-19 has put us in competition with our neighbors, but our actions in the supermarket might reveal more about how we relate to each other.…

June 18, 2020

in an article about tan lines, a woman tans in the summer sun rays

Hiding Your Tan Lines Might Be Sabotaging Your Summer

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

We're used to spending hours trying to cover them, but they might be the very thing we need to show off our summer achievement.…

June 10, 2020

Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

Writer Profile

Alicia Furlan

University of Pittsburgh
Philosophy, Communication Rhetoric

10 Years Later, It’s Time To Celebrate Silly Bandz and Its Short-Lived Spotlight

How Does ‘Conspiracy Thinking’ Manifest in Your Everyday Life?

For Some Workers, Office Chairs Pit Pain Against Productivity

Monopoly Is Ruthless — But It Can Also Teach Us About Cooperation

Empowerment Self-Defense: Defending Ourselves From Our Own Fear

‘A Hunger Artist’ Is a Valuable Resource for Those Affected by Anorexia

A Tentative Defense of Targeted Ads and Data Collection

We Love Unboxing Videos, But Can We Really Say Why?

Christina Perri’s Lullaby Album Re-Imagines Working Motherhood

Having Mutual Friends With Someone Is Great, But There Can Be Drawbacks

Made-Up ‘National Days’ Provide No Shortage of Celebration

How We’ve Been Conditioned Into Air Conditioning

Now’s the Time To Take Some Mindful Steps To Upgrade Your Next Walk

Tiny Lifestyles Are More Complicated Than You Might Think

Hoarding and Shaming: The Unity in Our Pandemic Response

Hiding Your Tan Lines Might Be Sabotaging Your Summer

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Alicia Furlan, University of Pittsburgh

Writer Profile

University of Pittsburgh Philosophy, Communication Rhetoric

University of Pittsburgh
Philosophy, Communication Rhetoric