Psychology | Penn Today

Why rental support works

Cash assistance drastically reduces tenants’ likelihood of eviction and homelessness, according to an ongoing study of the PHLHousing+ program from Weitzman’s Vincent Reina and Arts & Sciences’ Sara Jaffee.

2 min. read

People who are good at small talk do this one thing: It ‘makes a new acquaintance feel like an old friend’

Erica Boothby of the Wharton School explains how collaborative riffing can help form better conversational connections.

Top psychologist says all elite achievers have one thing in common—and it’s not an innate ability like brains or talent

Angela Duckworth of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses her research into grit.

Who, What, Why

Who, What, Why: Olivia Larson on sleep and memory in mental health disorders

“My overarching goal was to use sleep as a window into the mechanisms that link poor cognitive functioning with poor mental health,” clinical psychology doctoral student Olivia Larson says of her dissertation.

2 min. read

Unlocking human potential through behavior change

Maryland’s top education leader touts efforts to cut absenteeism, recruit teachers

A study by Angela Duckworth of the School of Arts & Sciences will measure the effect of no-cell policies in Maryland schools.

Tell me more with Kelly Corrigan: Making change for one and all

Angela Duckworth of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses the factors that affect human behavior and the challenges associated with them.

You’re probably doing small talk wrong

Erica Boothby of the Wharton School explains how strong bonds occur through playful conversational riffing rather than pre-existing similarities.

So um, why do we say ‘um’ so much?

Delphine Dahan of the School of Arts & Sciences says that the shortness of “um” and its employment of the “uh” vowel makes it easy to say, since it relaxes the tongue.

Ella Vance stands in front of a staircase with her arms crossed.

Ella Vance: Diving into the causes of crime

Third-year Ella Vance spent the summer working with Penn Carey Law’s Paul Robinson exploring the potential roots of crime, including addiction and poverty. Her 10-week opportunity was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.

2 min. read

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Why rental support works

People who are good at small talk do this one thing: It ‘makes a new acquaintance feel like an old friend’

Top psychologist says all elite achievers have one thing in common—and it’s not an innate ability like brains or talent

Who, What, Why: Olivia Larson on sleep and memory in mental health disorders

Unlocking human potential through behavior change

Maryland’s top education leader touts efforts to cut absenteeism, recruit teachers

Tell me more with Kelly Corrigan: Making change for one and all

You’re probably doing small talk wrong

So um, why do we say ‘um’ so much?

Ella Vance: Diving into the causes of crime