New Horizons in Science

Those who remember a 1980s George Carlin routine about “stuff” (cf. YouTube) will have a preview of Sam Gosling’s research. People, he observes, are deeply connected to their stuff. Some is used to make statements about attitudes and values—such as bumper stickers, yellow ribbons, or Springsteen T-shirts. Some affects what you think about—family photos or an iPod playlist. And some is an inadvertent consequence of everyday life—a messy desk or a forgotten theater ticket in a winter-coat pocket. Each of these things offers clues to your psychological functioning. Gosling will explain how your stuff can show what you’re like, whether it’s lying around your living room—or your Facebook page.