Psychology | Penn Today

Feeling FOMO for something that’s not even fun? It’s not the event you’re missing, it’s the bonding

In a co-written article, Barbara Kahn of the Wharton School says that reflecting on a prior experience socializing and bonding with friends can help mitigate the fear of missing out.

Social psychology is not in crisis

In a co-written letter, PIK Professor Dolores Albarracin comments on a recent essay portraying social psychology as experiencing catastrophic failure.

Allyson Mackey, Melissa Kelly, Ping Wang, and Vanessa Chan speaking to audience.

Modeling careers in STEM

At Penn’s annual Women in STEM Symposium, Vanessa Chan, Allyson Mackey, Ping Wang, and Melissa Kelly shared lessons from their experiences.

3 min. read

Small incentives drive lasting seatbelt habits, cut unbuckled trips by a third

Research from the Perelman School of Medicine and Penn Medicine’s Nudge Unit that incentivized drivers of connected cars with reward money to build and maintain seatbelt habits shows promise for promoting safer, consistent buckling behavior.

2 min. read

Is art appreciation going digital?

Anjan Chatterjee of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues compared aesthetic experiences of art across digital and in-person settings.

Angela Duckworth lecturing a class with a white board.

A simple way to boost math progress

Researchers from Penn’s Behavior Change for Good Initiative and their collaborators conducted a megastudy to investigate whether low-cost nudges–informed by behavioral science–could help teachers accelerate student progress in math.

3 min. read

The enormity of small talk as an introvert

A 2013 study by Adam Grant of the Wharton School presented a fresh perspective on the personality traits that facilitate success.

Eggs are scarce. These people don’t miss them

Eggs have been heavily researched, but, says Paul Rozin of the School of Arts & Sciences, “as far as I know, no one’s studied the psychology of eating eggs.”

How small talk opens up deeper connections

Emily Falk of the Annenberg School for Communication explains how small talk establishes a brain “synchrony” that allows for more meaningful exchanges.

Dolores Albarracín honored with BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award

Albarracín, a PIK Professor with appointments in the Annenberg School for Communication and School of Arts & Sciences, is being recognized for increasing “our understanding of how attitudes can be changed, particularly with regard to persuasive messages.”

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