Psychology | Penn Today

The unexpected value of communicating science to the public

Nicole C. Rust from the School of Arts & Sciences shares her experience with science writing for public audiences.

Understanding how young children recognize emotions in music

Research from psychologists in the School of Arts & Sciences shows that children ages 3 to 5 can identify emotions in music, but that kids who show fewer signs of empathy or guilt demonstrate poorer emotion recognition. “We’re excited to continue to use music as a paradigm both to understand underlying mechanisms and as a treatment target,” Rebecca Waller says.

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Why the search for meaning can cause ‘purpose anxiety,’ and what to do about it

Alumna Larissa Rainey is credited for coining the term “purpose anxiety” while a graduate student at Penn in 2014.

Study finds female mountain gorillas prefer to join ‘buddies’

Robert Seyfarth of the School of Arts & Sciences says that female gorillas seem to be seeking out their friends when deciding whether to make a change of group.

What art teaches us

Research by Eileen Cardillo of the Perelman School of Medicine provides insight into how art can inform and enlighten its viewers.

The psychology of the cancer bell

Lindsey Zinck of Penn Medicine says that ringing the cancer bell in the infusion suite can trigger sad or painful emotions for patients whose cancer has recurred. Melanie Zisa and her staff helped design a mural, “The Wall of Hope,” to create a more private space to feature the bell.

How to quickly improve your ability to predict the future

PIK Professor Philip Tetlock discusses his research on superforecasters.

John Amaechi shares the six books that changed his thinking

In his book “Think Again,” Adam Grant of the Wharton School discusses the benefits of questioning assumptions, letting go of outdated opinions, and rethinking to improve mental acuity.

One dietary supplement shown to reduce aggression by up to 28%

A study by Adrian Raine of the School of Arts & Sciences and colleagues found that omega-3 fatty acids led to a reduction in aggression by as much as 28 percent.

Here is the science of why you doomscroll

Emily Falk of the Annenberg School for Communication writes that, “by making choices based on your goals and values, you’ll influence not just yourself but also those around you.”

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