University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR)

The ICPSR Council welcomes incoming members who begin four-year terms in 2026. More: https://myumi.ch/NXMQP

Why do combat sports and other public spectacles hold such enduring political power?

In a new article for The Conversation, ISR researcher Scott Atran explores how public displays of courage, sacrifice, and endurance can strengthen collective identity and deepen people's connection to groups, causes, and leaders. Drawing on decades of research, the article examines the psychological concept of identity fusion and how shared symbols, rituals, and experiences can shape political commitment, belonging, and national purpose.

Read more about the psychology behind combat spectacles and collective identity below.

Applications are now open for travel awards to attend the 2026 ISR Symposium, Complexity in the Social World: The Challenging Case of Place.

ISR will provide 35 travel awards for eligible early career scholars whose work engages with the interdisciplinary science of place. Awards cover airfare, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation, helping reduce financial barriers to participation and expand the community of scholars exploring how place shapes the social world.

Join researchers from across disciplines for conversations on social inequality, history, race, causality, research transparency, and the opportunities and challenges of studying complex social systems. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through September 4, 2026.

Apply below!

*Artwork by Yen Azzaro, a graphic depiction of ideas presented at the October 2025 Complexity Symposium.

Today is a beautiful day to support social science 🌞🌷

In many cultures, grandparents, parents and grandchildren live under one roof. Now, many U.S. families are embracing this way of living. "You see ... much higher rates of multigenerational households among divorced families than among married families," said Natasha Pilkauskas, associate professor of public policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and research associate professor at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR). She speaks with Business Insider.

Link in first comment ⬇️

Consumer confidence falls as gas prices, inflation worries climb Consumer sentiment fell for the third straight month as supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to lift gasoline prices, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers.

Current Events in the ICPSR Bibliography:
"Measuring the cumulative impact of intimate partner violence across a lifetime finds women and sexual minorities most harmed."

More: https://myumi.ch/DE7vB

Where teens live can shape substance use patterns in very different ways.

A new study from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research finds that neighborhood conditions shape adolescent substance use differently across rural and urban communities.

Led by ISR researchers Joy Jang and Megan Patrick, the research found higher cigarette use among teens in disadvantaged rural neighborhoods and higher cannabis use among urban adolescents, underscoring the need for targeted, place based prevention strategies. Read more about Rural-urban divide below.

Where leading social science research meets real world impact.

The Institute for Social Research is hiring an HR Generalist Senior to help support one of the world’s leading social science research institutes. This role will partner with teams across ISR to support recruitment, employee relations, professional development, workplace culture, and strategic HR initiatives in a collaborative academic environment.

If you’re passionate about people, problem solving, and supporting impactful research, we’d love to hear from you!

Learn more about the HR Generalist Senior position and apply here: https://myumi.ch/5wAJ9