Psychology

Headshots of two people. On the left is a person with glasses wearing a blazer, white shirt and blue tie. On the right is a person in a black blazer, black-and-white blouse and visible necklace. Both are smiling.

The path to deeper connections, even amidst a pandemic

A new book from Penn’s Edward Brodkin and psychology doctoral candidate Ashley Pallathra focuses on the science and practice of attunement, the process by which people can most effectively connect to themselves and others.

Michele W. Berger ・

nanotube chips for the electronic nose

An ‘electronic nose’ to sniff out COVID-19

Through a newly funded grant, researchers across the University are developing a device that can rapidly detect COVID-19 based on the disease’s unique odor profile.

Erica K. Brockmeier ・

A young girl doing a math problem at a whiteboard. The numbers 25, 49, and 14 are visible.

Children persist less when parents take over

According to research from Penn psychologists, kids ages 4 to 7 persevere longer when allowed to struggle through a challenging activity than if a grown-up steps in.

Michele W. Berger ・

A blurred hand holding a stack of dollar bills, pushing them toward the camera.

Money matters to happiness—perhaps more than previously thought

Research from Wharton’s Matthew Killingsworth shows that contrary to previous influential work, there’s no dollar-value plateau at which money’s importance lessens. One potential reason: Higher earners feel an increased sense of control over life.

Michele W. Berger ・

A person sitting in front of a computer and a machine that tests vision.

One step closer to a clinical fix for the side effects of monovision

Monovision counters the deterioration of the ability to see up close but also causes dramatic visual distortions. New research confirms that a solution that successfully works with trial lenses—the special lenses used by eye doctors—also succeeds with contact lenses.

Michele W. Berger ・



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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