Positive Psychology | Penn Today

Three maps of the U.S., one blue, one purple, one red, indicating partisan politics.

Where political views and fundamental beliefs intersect

Research from The Penn Primals Project debunks the idea that conservatives think the world is more dangerous than liberals, findings with implications for future research and productive political debate.

Botox and bubble baths are Band-Aids. Here’s how to avoid consumerist self-care

Barbara Riegel of the School of Nursing says that “treat yourself” consumerism doesn’t meet the definition of self-care.

How habits get formed

On an episode of “Life Examined,” Katy Milkman of the Wharton School discusses the formation of habitual behaviors and some tips for adopting good habits.

Psychologist Jer Clifton sits on the steps of his office

What beliefs shape our minds?

Jer Clifton of the Positive Psychology Center developed a framework to study primal world beliefs, our most fundamental sentiments about the world as a whole. Now, he’s ready for everyone to discover what their primal world beliefs are.

I’m still single but this is why I’m quitting dating apps like Tinder and Hinge forever

Russel Ramsay of the Perelman School of Medicine is quoted on the notion of uncertainty as an anxiety generator.

So you wanted to get work done at the office?

Adam Grant of the Wharton School says that letting people work outside the office frees them from group think and micromanagement, allowing them to generate more and better ideas.

Social media may be affecting your mental health. Here’s how to tell

A quoted study by Melissa Hunt of the School of Arts & Sciences and colleagues suggests that limiting social media use to 30 minutes a day can improve well-being.

How to make your workout as fun as a video game, according to behavioral scientists

Mitesh Patel of the Perelman School of Medicine discusses how to apply gamification techniques to everyday fitness routines for motivation and enjoyment.

Two people standing in front of a wall of art. One of them is holding up a second piece of art in gloved hands. The other gestures toward the art, holding a computer or clipboard in the other hand.

Do art museums prioritize visitor well-being enough?

Research from the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project in Penn’s Positive Psychology Center reveals that the people working in these institutions want to see greater emphasis on human flourishing, but they feel ill-equipped to make it happen.

Illustration resembling a cosmic square with stars.

‘In These Times’ explores the intricate riddles of life through art

Episodes 6 and 7 of the latest season of the OMNIA podcast explore how art like music and dance have been the pulse of social movements, and how individual artistic experiences impact mental health and well-being.

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