Psychology | Penn Today

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book “Think Again,” Adam Grant of the Wharton School discusses the benefits of questioning assumptions, letting go of outdated opinions, and rethinking to improve mental acuity.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

Two medical personnel looking at an fMRI image on a computer.

A new understanding of brain activity when we ‘read the minds’ of others

Penn psychologists Anna Jenkins and Dilara Berkay show the role of uncertainty in engagement of the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex. Their findings pave the way for a broader understanding of autism and social anxiety.

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To make better choices, understand how your brain processes values

In a Q&A, Emily Falk of the Annenberg School for Communication discusses how the brain sifts through options and how reflecting on priorities can help align behaviors with long-term aims.

Tackling brain conditions, says psychology professor Nicole Rust, requires thinking about the brain not as a domino chain but as a complex dynamical system with feedback loops.

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‘Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders—and How We Can Change That’

The first book from psychology professor Nicole Rust of the School of Arts & Sciences dives into why research on conditions like Alzheimer’s and depression hasn’t translated more effectively into better treatments.

Harvard-trained educator: Kids who learn how to use AI will become smarter adults—if they avoid this No. 1 mistake

In her commencement speech to the Graduate School of Education, Angela Duckworth of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses the value of AI.

Exploring the ‘liking gap’ and what it means socially

Erica Boothby of the Wharton School discusses how to overcome the “liking gap,” the misconception people have that they aren’t liked by others.

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