Latest news with #RowanUniversity
The Guardian
a day ago
- General
- The Guardian
Why it's good to admit when you're wrong – and how to improve
You may be familiar with the feeling. Someone factchecks you mid-conversation or discredits your dishwasher-loading technique. Heat rises to your face; you might feel defensive, embarrassed or angry. Do you insist you're right or can you accept the correction? Admitting to being wrong can be difficult and uncomfortable. But the ability to admit to incorrect ideas or beliefs – what psychologists call 'intellectual humility' – is important. Research shows that people with higher intellectual humility think more critically, and are less biased and less prone to dogmatism. People high in intellectual humility 'are able to acknowledge the limits of their knowledge and beliefs', says Tenelle Porter, an assistant professor of psychology at Rowan University. They recognize that we all get things wrong and are willing to admit their own gaps in knowledge. Meanwhile, people low in intellectual humility tend to overconfidently cling to their beliefs, and are not swayed by opposing evidence. People who are more intellectually humble tend to have better relationships. Being unable to acknowledge other people's perspectives can damage the trust in a relationship, says therapist and author Nedra Glover Tawwab. Acknowledging that you're wrong, on the other hand, can be a great opportunity to deepen a relationship. Research suggests that couples who score higher in intellectual humility tend to have healthier conflict management, as well as higher relationship quality and satisfaction. On average, people prefer to befriend or date people who are more humble, says Daryl Van Tongeren, who studies psychology and social values at Hope College. People also tend to be more committed to and satisfied with relationships when they perceive their partners to be more humble, Van Tongeren adds, and having both individuals in a couple rank highly in humility is associated with a healthier, less stressful transition into parenthood. People with low intellectual humility will often react defensively when contradicted, says Leor Zmigrod, a political neuroscientist who recently wrote a book about rigid, ideological thinking. They might feel personally attacked or insulted, and arrogantly double down, she says. But recognizing such qualities in yourself can be easier said than done. When Van Tongeren published his book on humility, people would say things like: 'Humility – that's what my father-in-law needs.' 'No one starts off by saying: 'Oh, humility, that's what I need,'' he says. Our personalities can be flexible if we put in the work, says Tawwab. So how does someone get better at admitting they're wrong? Studies show that 'people are terrible at knowing whether they're very flexible or very rigid thinkers,' says Zmigrod. But a good way to start is to practice noticing how you respond to being contradicted. Be mindful of when your emotions and ego get in the way of a thoughtful response, she says – and over time you may be able to recognize your patterns. A person's intellectual humility is also linked with how flexible their thinking is in general, Zmigrod says. So if you notice defensiveness or anger when, say, a regular routine is disrupted, that could be a sign that your intellectual humility could use some work. If self-driven introspection is difficult, Van Tongeren recommends asking trusted people to assess how open they think you are to new perspectives, and whether they think you get defensive of your own ideas. 'Ask people from a variety of areas of your life,' he says, because 'you might be really humble at work, but not super humble at home, or vice versa.' You can glean information about your intellectual humility while also signaling to others that you're trying to work on yourself. Before attempting this, consider whether you're honestly ready to hear this kind of feedback. Learning to be more gracious when contradicted is an important skill, because an inability to recognize when you're wrong diminishes trust in relationships, says Tawwab. The first thing to do is 'reframe what being wrong means', says Tawwab. A lot of people internalize the idea that being wrong means they're stupid, ignorant or worth less as a person, she says. But if we lived in a world where no one was wrong or allowed to be wrong, 'we would live in a world that has never shifted', she says. Seeing it as associated with personal growth, curiosity and other positive values will make being wrong feel less fraught. Sign up to Well Actually Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life after newsletter promotion There are science-backed ways to engender intellectual humility. One is quite simple: listen. People who can admit when they're wrong tend to be better listeners, says Van Tongeren. But more than that, when one person in a conversation is a good, deep listener, 'the act of listening actually cultivates and generates humility' for both parties. If you find yourself resisting admitting being wrong, Porter recommends casting your memory back to a time when you realized you had erred. Research suggests that when you remember your own fallibility, 'that can help recalibrate us and make us more open to listening to what we might be missing,' she says. If you want to encourage someone else in your life to work on their intellectual humility, they first need to feel like they're in an environment where it's safe to make mistakes, says Tawwab. And 'people tend to digest information best when they're seeking it out for themselves,' she says. So rather than lecture them on the importance of acknowledging their errors, it may be best to simply share articles, books or personality quizzes that can help them self-reflect and come to their own conclusions. You can also take the edge off by suggesting that you both work on this issue together, says Van Tongeren. Once you're able to recognize when you're wrong and admit it to yourself without an emotional or ego-driven reaction, being able to verbalize your mistakes will come much more easily. And when it comes to telling another person that you were wrong, Tawwab says you don't have to do it immediately. After a conversation, it might take you some time to process and accept this assessment. In that case, you can go back to the person a few days later. 'Even if you can't do it in the present moment, you can still recover that conversation and build that trust,' she says. Over time, hopefully you'll get better and faster at it, eventually being able to notice and address errors in the moment. And you'll probably deepen your relationships as a result, she says. There are many headwinds when it comes to intellectual humility, says Porter, especially in contemporary life. Social media creates echo chambers, people constantly express ever more polarized views, and false information proliferates online. All this pushes us away from being willing and able to change our minds or admit we're wrong. But remember that we as people value these traits, she says, regardless of how challenging it is to maintain them.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney tapped to serve as Rowan University trustee
Former state Senate President Steve Sweeney will soon have a new addition to his resume — Rowan University trustee. The longtime state senator and former gubernatorial hopeful was cleared by the state Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday morning for a post on the Rowan University Board of Trustees. Sweeney, a Gloucester County Democrat, announced his run for the 2025 Democratic gubernatorial primary in December 2023. He lost earlier this month to Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-Montclair. During his tenure as state senate president, some of the legislation that passed included bills that increased New Jersey's minimum wage and expanded family leave. He lost his seat in the Legislature, a shocking upset in 2021 by an unknown truck driver, now former state Sen. Ed Durr. From Trenton: NJ appears poised to hike sales tax on cigarettes, vapes in final state budget for 2026 Sweeney served as Senate president for 12 years. Since his loss in 2021, he has been the director of a bipartisan think tank at Rowan University. Before his time in Trenton, Sweeney was a member of the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Professionally, Sweeney is an ironworker and serves as general vice president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, overseeing union locals in New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania. Sweeney crossed party lines to work with former Gov. Chris Christie in 2011 to raise the retirement age and teamed up with him again to charge workers more for pensions, which brought tens of thousands of workers to protest in Trenton. Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@ This article originally appeared on Steve Sweeney to become Rowan University trustee NJ
The Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Why it's good to admit when you're wrong – and how to improve
You may be familiar with the feeling. Someone factchecks you mid-conversation or discredits your dishwasher-loading technique. Heat rises to your face; you might feel defensive, embarrassed or angry. Do you insist you're right or can you accept the correction? Admitting to being wrong can be difficult and uncomfortable. But the ability to admit to incorrect ideas or beliefs – what psychologists call 'intellectual humility' – is important. Research shows that people with higher intellectual humility think more critically, and are less biased and less prone to dogmatism. People high in intellectual humility 'are able to acknowledge the limits of their knowledge and beliefs', says Tenelle Porter, an assistant professor of psychology at Rowan University. They recognize that we all get things wrong and are willing to admit their own gaps in knowledge. Meanwhile, people low in intellectual humility tend to overconfidently cling to their beliefs, and are not swayed by opposing evidence. People who are more intellectually humble tend to have better relationships. Being unable to acknowledge other people's perspectives can damage the trust in a relationship, says therapist and author Nedra Glover Tawwab. Acknowledging that you're wrong, on the other hand, can be a great opportunity to deepen a relationship. Research suggests that couples who score higher in intellectual humility tend to have healthier conflict management, as well as higher relationship quality and satisfaction. On average, people prefer to befriend or date people who are more humble, says Daryl Van Tongeren, who studies psychology and social values at Hope College. People also tend to be more committed to and satisfied with relationships when they perceive their partners to be more humble, Van Tongeren adds, and having both individuals in a couple rank highly in humility is associated with a healthier, less stressful transition into parenthood. People with low intellectual humility will often react defensively when contradicted, says Leor Zmigrod, a political neuroscientist who recently wrote a book about rigid, ideological thinking. They might feel personally attacked or insulted, and arrogantly double down, she says. But recognizing such qualities in yourself can be easier said than done. When Van Tongeren published his book on humility, people would say things like: 'Humility – that's what my father in law needs.' 'No one starts off by saying: 'Oh, humility, that's what I need,'' he says. Our personalities can be flexible if we put in the work, says Tawwab. So how does someone get better at admitting they're wrong? Studies show that 'people are terrible at knowing whether they're very flexible or very rigid thinkers,' says Zmigrod. But a good way to start is to practice noticing how you respond to being contradicted. Be mindful of when your emotions and ego get in the way of a thoughtful response, she says – and over time you may be able to recognize your patterns. A person's intellectual humility is also linked with how flexible their thinking is in general, Zmigrod says. So if you notice defensiveness or anger when, say, a regular routine is disrupted, that could be a sign that your intellectual humility could use some work. If self-driven introspection is difficult, Van Tongeren recommends asking trusted people to assess how open they think you are to new perspectives, and whether they think you get defensive of your own ideas. 'Ask people from a variety of areas of your life,' he says, because 'you might be really humble at work, but not super humble at home, or vice versa.' You can glean information about your intellectual humility while also signaling to others that you're trying to work on yourself. Before attempting this, consider whether you're honestly ready to hear this kind of feedback. Learning to be more gracious when contradicted is an important skill, because an inability to recognize when you're wrong diminishes trust in relationships, says Tawwab. The first thing to do is 'reframe what being wrong means', says Tawwab. A lot of people internalize the idea that being wrong means they're stupid, ignorant or worth less as a person, she says. But if we lived in a world where no one was wrong or allowed to be wrong, 'we would live in a world that has never shifted', she says. Seeing it as associated with personal growth, curiosity and other positive values will make being wrong feel less fraught. Sign up to Well Actually Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life after newsletter promotion There are science-backed ways to engender intellectual humility. One is quite simple: listen. People who can admit when they're wrong tend to be better listeners, says Van Tongeren. But more than that, when one person in a conversation is a good, deep listener, 'the act of listening actually cultivates and generates humility' for both parties. If you find yourself resisting admitting being wrong, Porter recommends casting your memory back to a time when you realized you had erred. Research suggests that when you remember your own fallibility, 'that can help recalibrate us and make us more open to listening to what we might be missing,' she says. If you want to encourage someone else in your life to work on their intellectual humility, they first need to feel like they're in an environment where it's safe to make mistakes, says Tawwab. And 'people tend to digest information best when they're seeking it out for themselves,' she says. So rather than lecture them on the importance of acknowledging their errors, it may be best to simply share articles, books or personality quizzes that can help them self-reflect and come to their own conclusions. You can also take the edge off by suggesting that you both work on this issue together, says Van Tongeren. Once you're able to recognize when you're wrong and admit it to yourself without an emotional or ego-driven reaction, being able to verbalize your mistakes will come much more easily. And when it comes to telling another person that you were wrong, Tawwab says you don't have to do it immediately. After a conversation, it might take you some time to process and accept this assessment. In that case, you can go back to the person a few days later. 'Even if you can't do it in the present moment, you can still recover that conversation and build that trust,' she says. Over time, hopefully you'll get better and faster at it, eventually being able to notice and address errors in the moment. And you'll likely deepen your relationships as a result, she says. There are many headwinds when it comes to intellectual humility, says Porter, especially in contemporary life. Social media creates echo chambers, people constantly express ever more polarized views, and false information proliferates online. All this pushes us away from being willing and able to change our minds or admit we're wrong. But remember that we as people value these traits, she says, regardless of how challenging it is to maintain them.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Rowan Innovation Venture Fund Appoints Garden State Venture Partners to Lead Next Phase of Innovation
- New leadership team will expand fund operations, deepen economic impact, and engage new partners across New Jersey's innovation ecosystem - GLASSBORO, N.J., June 12, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Rowan Innovation Venture Fund (RIVF) today announced the appointment of Garden State Venture Partners (GSVP) as its new management team, marking a significant milestone in the fund's evolution. This leadership expansion brings together a seasoned group of investment and institutional professionals to lead the fund into its next phase of innovation and impact. The GSVP leadership team is comprised of three Rowan alumni, including Michael Connallon, Jr., who brings 24 years of experience in global financial services, including leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase, where he advised highly sophisticated institutional investors, following years at Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. Shawn Hill has two decades of venture capital and private equity management positions, including Partner at Moderne Ventures, Venture Partner at Polymath Ventures, and management positions at Constellation Software, one of Canada's largest private equity firms. Connallon and Hill join Ernie Holtzheimer, a distinguished corporate and securities attorney and partner at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, who has managed RIVF since 2020. Connallon says, 'this team brings deep venture experience and industry operational expertise with plans to scale the fund's value and strengthen commercial pathways for university-led research and technology. Through GSVP's global network, we will attract new co-investment partners for RIVF portfolio companies who are mission-aligned and impact-driven, engaging businesses and investors in a soon-to-be-announced Fund that will allow for larger, later-stage funding rounds.' 'Our partnership with Garden State Venture Partners will accelerate the success of Rowan-born startups, attract investment to the region and state, and create new opportunities for our students, faculty, and the broader community,' said Dr. Ali Houshmand, president of Rowan University. 'This collaboration will give entrepreneurs and researchers across New Jersey much needed access to capital, expertise and guidance.' 'This started as a Rowan effort but is quickly growing to have impact across the state. With the expansion of resources within RIVF we are doubling down on our commitment to support bold founders and accelerate innovation across New Jersey,' said Holtzheimer. 'The opportunities ahead are significant,' adds Hill, 'this is just the beginning. Over the coming months, we will be announcing new partnerships, investment strategies and ways we plan to scale our reach across the state.' About the Rowan Innovation Venture Fund Rowan Innovation Venture Fund (RIVF) currently manages 18 active investments in the life sciences, biotechnology, software development, telecommunications and food and beverage sectors. Launched with $5 million commitment in 2014 to seed visionary start-up ideas, RIVF received an additional $20 million commitment in 2022 to back a pipeline of evolving businesses from within and outside the Rowan University community. This fund is particularly unique because university-born venture funds of this scale are rare across the United States with estimates of only 5% of higher-ed institutions participating. Learn more about the RIVF at About Garden State Venture Partners Garden State Venture Partners (GSVP) is a next-gen venture capital firm built to attract and retain companies and talent within the state of New Jersey. GSVP is uniquely positioned to deepen existing partnerships and forge new ones across the state—catalyzing innovation and driving sustained economic success by connecting and investing in the state's innovation ecosystem. Learn more about GSVP at and access full leadership team bios here (PDF): MEDIA CONTACT: Colleen Kendrick, CEO Nonprofit Partners [email protected] 1-800-298-9812 ext. 1 MULTIMEDIA: Photo link for media: Photo caption: GSVP Managing Partners and distinguished Rowan University alumni – Michael Connallon Jr., Ernie Holtzheimer, and Shawn Hill. NEWS SOURCE: Garden State Venture Partners Keywords: Funding and Investment, Garden State Venture Partners, venture capital, entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, finance, economic development, academia, venture fund, innovation, economic development, entrepreneurship, New Jersey, Rowan University, GLASSBORO, N.J. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Garden State Venture Partners) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P126926 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Increased Toxicity Risk Identified For Children With ADHD, Autism
The number of people being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has risen sharply in recent decades, and research continues to look at factors involved in these conditions. A study published in 2023 revealed there's a difference in how children with autism or ADHD clear the common plastic compound bisphenol A (BPA), compared to neurotypical children. BPA is used in a lot of plastics and plastic production processes, and can also be found inside food and drink cans. However, previous research has also linked it to health issues involving hormone disruption, including breast cancer and infertility. Researchers from Rowan University and Rutgers University in the US looked at three groups of children: 66 with autism, 46 with ADHD, and 37 neurotypical kids. In particular, they analyzed the process of glucuronidation, a chemical process the body uses to clear out toxins within the blood through urine. They found that kids with ASD and ADHD couldn't clear out BPA and another similar compound called diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) with as much efficiency as other kids, potentially leading to longer exposure to their toxic effects. "Detoxification of these two plasticizers is compromised in children with ASD and ADHD," wrote the researchers in their published paper. "Consequently, their tissues are more exposed to these two plasticizers." It was only in the case of BPA that the difference was statistically significant though: the efficiency was reduced by about 11 percent for kids with ASD and 17 percent for kids with ADHD, compared with the control group of children. The researchers think that gene mutations in certain individuals mean that BPA can't be cleared as well as it needs to be, which means the substance sticks around in the body. That potentially could cause damage in terms of neuron development and operation. Conditions like ASD and ADHD are thought to involve a combination of genetic and environmental influences, and this new study brings together both of them. However, it's only part of the story – not every child with a neurodevelopmental disorder had problems flushing out BPA, so there are other factors at play, too. Work is continuing to identify how exactly ASD and ADHD develop in people – whether it's in utero before birth for example, or later on in life – as the data isn't enough to show whether BPA exposure causes either disorder. "There is an extensive body of epidemiological evidence for a relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders and environmental pollutants such as plasticizers," the researchers wrote. "How important plasticizer originated neurodevelopmental disorder is in the overall occurrence of these disorders is not known, but it must account for a significant proportion or would not have been so easy to detect in a metabolic study of moderate size such as this study." The research was published in PLOS ONE. A version of this article was first published in October 2023. Coffee Could Be The Secret to Healthy Aging For Women, Scientists Discover Texas Woman Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba After Flushing Sinuses Menopause Drug Reduces Breast Cancer Growth In Clinical Trial
