Psychology | Penn Today

Testing the reproducibility of social science research

A team co-led by Gideon Nave of the Wharton School replicated 21 high-profile social science studies and found discrepancies with the original research. Researchers betting in prediction markets, however, were quite accurate at predicting which findings would replicate and which would not.

Study finds most teens avoid rash, impulsive behavior

A new study found that the majority of teenagers avoid the kind of impulsive behavior commonly associated with “typical teenagers,” citing that imbalance models in brain development is evident in only a subset of teens.

Tobias Nasgarde (left) and Garrett Meccariello, graduate students in the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences program at Penn.

A gentle nudge at the right moment can curb unnecessary spending online

It turns out, reminding people of their financial goals before they start online shopping can reduce unnecessary spending of this kind by almost 25 percent.

Criminologist John MacDonald and emergency medicine physician Eugenia South of the University of Pennsylvania.

Greening vacant lots reduces depression in city dwellers

People living within a quarter mile of greened lots had a 41.5 percent decrease in feelings of depression and a nearly 63 percent decrease in self-reported “poor mental health,” compared to those who lived near the lots that received no intervention.

Why people don’t prepare for disasters

Wharton's Robert Meyer discusses the lack of disaster preparedness individuals take in response to hurricane season, and the psychology of decision-making in relation to disasters.

Which antidepressant is right for you? This genetic test could help

The Perelman School of Medicine’s Michael Thase co-authored a study that found that patients experiencing depression were 30 percent more likely to respond well to treatments selected with guidance from genetic testing. “Having knowledge in improving the care of your patient is a good thing,” said Thase.

Why are we so mesmerized by stories like the cave rescue in Thailand?

Deborah Small of the Wharton School discussed the public’s fascination with dramatic news stories with the possibility of a narrative conclusion. Small said that chronic social issues like poverty or malnutrition were less likely to captivate the public’s attention. (Audio)

This is how police killings affect black mental health

Atheendar Venkataramani of the Perelman School of Medicine co-authored a study comparing the impact that reports of police killings have on white and black participants. The researchers found that the news was actively detrimental to black adults’ psyches.

Here’s when family therapy can help

Jacqueline Hudak of the Perelman School of Medicine was interviewed about the benefits of family counseling.

What Testosterone Does to Men’s Preferences for Luxury Brands

A study co-authored by researchers at the Wharton School found that men, and likely women, too, are influenced by hormones when shopping.

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