Psychology

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.

Michele W. Berger

Defining neural ‘representation’

Neuroscientists frequently say that neural activity ‘represents’ certain phenomena, PIK Professor Konrad Kording and postdoc Ben Baker led a study that took a philosophical approach to tease out what the term means.

Marilyn Perkins

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.

Marilyn Perkins

Managing mental health amid gun violence

In 2021, Philadelphia saw a record number of 486 homicides by shooting as well 1,846 non-fatal shootings. According to clinical psychologist Leah Blain, exposure to trauma, including to gun violence, increases the risk of negative health outcomes.

From Penn Medicine News

Helping the brain to heal the gut

In the second edition of her book on irritable bowel syndrome, Penn psychologist Melissa Hunt explores advances made in the past decade. Her aim is to offer accessible, effective, self-help psychological treatment for those who suffer from the disorder.

Luis Melecio-Zambrano



In the News


CNBC

Jeff Bezos’ simple 3-step strategy for Amazon’s success can help you become a ‘big leader’ too

Adam Grant of the Wharton School says that the more a leader focuses on doing something to benefit others, the more likely they are to produce something that’s also going to achieve success for themselves.

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PBS NewsHour

‘Brains and Beauty’ exhibit explores how the mind processes art and aesthetic experiences

Anjan Chatterjee of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the aesthetic triad is a mental system for engaging with an artwork.

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The Washington Post

Is it anxiety or something else? What women should know

Lily Brown of the Perelman School of Medicine says that rates of anxiety disorders skyrocket around the time of first menstruation in puberty.

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The New York Times

If you’re sure how the next four years will play out, I promise: You’re wrong

In an opinion essay, Adam Grant of the Wharton School says that acknowledging that the future is unknowable and unpredictable can bring some comfort when it feels like the world is shattered.

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Psychology Today

The quiet leaders: How shy CEOs succeed

Adam Grant of the Wharton School says that introverts tend to be less threatened by others’ ideas, collecting many of them before determining a vision.

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Barron’s

How to make the most of your network: A blueprint for female advisors

“Give and Take,” a book by Adam Grant of the Wharton School, addresses the research, activities, and successes of “givers,” people who prioritize others’ needs without offering anything in return.

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