Psychology | Penn Today

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

Psychology Today

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.

The Wall Street Journal

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.

The New York Times

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.”

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.”

Men’s Health

These two personality traits make you instantly more attractive, say studies of over 4,000 people

A study by postdoc Natalia Kononov of the Wharton School suggests that kindness and helpfulness can make someone more attractive, regardless of the situation or relationship.

Vogue

Give ‘lemonading’ a shot if you’re going through a tough time right now

Nora Brier of the Perelman School of Medicine says that spending time talking to others can help people get out of their own head and bring them back to a neutral state.

Self

Life got you down? Experts suggest ‘lemonading’

Nora Brier of the Perelman School of Medicine recommends acting opposite to emotions of sadness when those feelings have been present for a long time.

An Army veteran speaking with a medical professional.

Standardizing provider assessments to aid veterans at risk of suicide

A Penn Medicine study of nearly 39,000 health records is the first to examine access to firearms and opioids, and completion of related interventions, among veterans at risk for suicide receiving care at the VA.

Huffington Post

Experts reveal the one hack that will help you finally tackle your to-do list

According to research from the College of Liberal and Professional Studies at the School of Arts & Sciences, scheduling time blocks with breaks to complete different tasks can help achieve the goals of a to-do list.

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