News – Department of Psychology

December 18, 2024

Excellence in Data Science Scholarship puts Psychology “front and center”

Psychology alumnus John Dolan ‘92 is challenging the misconception that psychology is merely a “soft science” by showcasing its integral...

December 18, 2024

Alumni advice shapes career trajectories at Psychology Pathways Dinner

Twenty-eight psychology alumni returned to campus this fall for the Psychology Pathways Dinner, an event designed to connect current students...

December 10, 2024

UW Psychology major uses her voice to advocate for others

Samantha Sorenson shows off her graduation cap in front of Bascom Hall. Photo: Bryce Richter Editor’s note: This story contains references to...

December 3, 2024

5 Questions With Mia Braico x’27

This month's featured student is sophomore psychology major Mia Braico x'27. UWPsych: Why did you choose to study Psychology? Braico:...

November 25, 2024

Lupyan featured in TIME Magazine

Talking out loud to yourself is perfectly normal—and even beneficial. It can facilitate problem-solving and improve how well you perform...

November 19, 2024

Alumni Feature: Niamh Rahman ’16

Niamh Rahman ‘16 came to UW-Madison with the goal of pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian, but her...

November 7, 2024

5 Questions With Rayane Prado Nunes x’25

This month, the Department of Psychology is pleased to bring you 5 Questions with senior and psychology major Rayane Prado...

October 31, 2024

Americans own guns to protect themselves from psychological as well as physical threats

Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Tim Walz and JD Vance all have something in common. All four of them, along with...

October 30, 2024

Coffey receives Alliant Energy James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award

Dr. Patricia Coffey, teaching faculty member in the Department of Psychology and respected forensic psychologist, was recently honored by the...

October 10, 2024

New members join Psychology Board of Visitors

The Department of Psychology is delighted to welcome three new members to its Board of Visitors and congratulate current Board...

September 26, 2024

Curtin wins $3.2 million NIH grant to improve alcohol use recovery with AI-driven interventions

Professor of Psychology John Curtin has received a $3.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a...

September 24, 2024

Department of Psychology welcomes five new faculty members to campus

This fall, the Department of Psychology welcomed five new faculty members with expertise in everything from adolescent risk-taking and children’s...

August 1, 2024

Alibali selected to receive APA Developmental Psychology Mentor Award

Professor Martha Alibali has been selected to receive the American Psychological Association’s 2025 Division 7 Developmental Psychology Mentor Award. The award...

July 30, 2024

UW–Madison student-advisor pair Hammond and Marler named to 2024 cohort of Gilliam fellows

UW–Madison PhD student Emma Hammond and Professor Catherine Marler have received the prestigious Gilliam Fellowship from the Howard Hughes Medical...

July 18, 2024

Wan named 2024 AVDF/ACLS Fellow for Research on the Liberal Arts

Sirui Wan, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Psychology, has been named a 2024 AVDF/ACLS Fellow for Research on the...

July 17, 2024

Rogers receives competitive Research Forward award

A project led by Professor Tim Rogers has been chosen from 101 initial applications for one of nine Research Forward...

June 25, 2024

Department congratulates Victor Villacrez as 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

The Department of Psychology is proud to announce that Victor Villacrez ’00 is our 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. The Applications...

June 25, 2024

Psychology Alumni Spotlight: Helen Rottier, Disability Cultural Center

Helen Rottier ‘18 landed what she calls “the most fun job I could imagine anyone having” while still in graduate...

May 9, 2024

Mentor award winners guide undergraduate learning

Each spring the Office of the Provost recognizes outstanding mentors with the Awards for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research, Scholarly and...

May 1, 2024

Annual awards event celebrates undergraduate excellence, distinguished alumnus

On Friday, April 19, nearly 230 people gathered in Varsity Hall at Union South to congratulate this year’s undergraduate award...

April 24, 2024

Wolff Fellow and Psychology Major Crafts Year of Travel to Explore African Influence Worldwide

Max Koenig, from Baraboo, will follow his May 2024 graduation with a year-long exploration of the influence of African culture,...

April 23, 2024

Gernsbacher elected to AAAS second term

Eight University of Wisconsin–Madison scholars have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest...

March 20, 2024

Lupyan receives Cattell Sabbatical Award

Professor of Psychology Gary Lupyan has been awarded a 2024-2025 James McKeen Cattell Sabbatical Award. Since 1974, the James McKeen...

March 20, 2024

Diversity Science Podcast: Antiracism Resources and Activities in Academia

Psychology PhD students Kendall Holley, Ben Douglas, and Michelle Marji discuss the work they have been doing to build resources and communities...

March 14, 2024

Day of the Badger is coming!

Mark your calendars: Day of the Badger is April 16-17 this year. Save the date to celebrate what makes the UW...

March 13, 2024

C. Shawn Green featured in The Guardian

Scientific research has consistently shown that video games do not make people more violent. Playing games can, however, improve perceptual...

January 3, 2024

Department welcomes new academic advisor

We are pleased to welcome new academic advisor, Cesar Arroyo Calderon, to the Department of Psychology this semester. In this...

December 19, 2023

First Cohort of Data Science in Human Behavior Master’s Program Graduates

On December 17, the first graduates of the Department of Psychology’s Data Science in Human Behavior program received their master’s...

November 28, 2023

Kids who feel their parents are less reliable take fewer risks vital to learning and growth

Trying something new is a risk every child undertakes as they explore and learn about the world. While risk can...

November 14, 2023

Psychology graduate students promote representation in the sciences at high school expo

Outside Madison East High School, gray clouds have broken into a steady and chilly October rain. Inside East’s brightly colored...

November 9, 2023

James Li featured in L&S Magazine: A Pediatric Prognosis

Here’s how it typically works. A parent brings their child to their pediatrician, concerned about a potential mental health condition — maybe it’s anxiety, or...

November 9, 2023

Delta Certificate awarded to Melissa Schoenlein

Psychology graduate student Melissa Schoenlein recently received her Delta Certificate, demonstrating her commitment to excellence in teaching. Schoenlein, who works...

October 16, 2023

Kate Walsh awarded $4.2 million grant through National Institute on Drug Abuse

Kate Walsh, a psychology and gender and women’s studies professor, has been awarded a $4.2 million grant from the National...

September 28, 2023

Department welcomes new career development manager

We are pleased to welcome our first-ever Career Development Manager, Stephanie Scholze, M.S., to the Department of Psychology. In this...

September 12, 2023

Students examine the mental health impact of digital spaces in PSYCH 531: Psychological Effects of the Internet

Students take [a closer] look at the mental health impact of digital spaces in Psychology 532: Psychological Effects of the...

September 12, 2023

Paula Niedenthal on Wisconsin Public Radio

Wearing a smile on your face can be interpreted differently depending on where you live. Professor Paula Niedenthal visits The...

August 29, 2023

Schloss recognized with Departmental Teaching Award

The Department of Psychology is pleased to recognize Associate Professor Karen Schloss with this year’s Departmental Teaching Award. Schloss’s contributions...

June 27, 2023

Maryellen MacDonald, field-changing psychology of language professor, retires

Questions about how we produce, comprehend, and remember language are typically investigated by separate research labs. But Psychology Professor Maryellen...

May 31, 2023

Walsh awarded funding through the Increasing Social and Economic Inclusion Initiative

The UW-Madison Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education (OVCRGE) has awarded almost $250,000 for a new...

May 9, 2023

Psychology and Computer Sciences undergrad Pragati Maheshwary honored twice by Google this year

“I aspire to contribute to the field of computing research by bringing educational reforms through the innovation of new tools...

May 5, 2023

Department of Psychology Graduation Celebration

Congratulations to our undergraduate students graduating December 2022, May 2023, and August 2023!

May 4, 2023

Undergraduate Awards Reception celebrates student excellence, alumni achievements

On Tuesday, April 25, more than 200 people gathered in Varsity Hall at Union South to congratulate this year’s undergraduate...

May 3, 2023

Professor Emeritus Leonard Ross dies at 92

Leonard Ellis Ross, 92, professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology, died March 15, 2023, at Oakwood Village West in...

May 2, 2023

Students who see science in the real world are more likely to stick with STEM majors

Giving new college students opportunities to reflect on the ways science, technology, engineering and math can affect their lives makes...

March 16, 2023

Psychology students in Class of 2023 prepare to enter various career fields

As seniors in the Department of Psychology finish their final semester, their undergraduate experiences and post-graduation plans represent a variety...

March 15, 2023

New funding for MIDUS study researching pathways to health and illness across midlife

The Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS) study examines how a variety of factors contribute to differences in physical and mental...

March 15, 2023

Professor Demis Glasford advancing research on race, class, politics joins Psychology Department faculty

If you claim to support an idea, and then have the opportunity to implement it, would you? According to research...

March 3, 2023

Resilience doesn’t equate to positive outcomes for individuals who have experienced early childhood maltreatment

Early childhood maltreatment can have long lasting effects that follow a person into adulthood. Although the majority of kids who...

February 28, 2023

New UW institute to study evidence-based solutions to diversity-related challenges

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has launched the Institute for Diversity Science as a hub for the many researchers on campus...

February 7, 2023

How might telepathy actually work outside the realm of sci-fi?

In an essay recently published in Aeon, Professor of Psychology Gary Lupyan and colleague Andy Clark of the University of...

January 24, 2023

Remembering Chuck Snowdon, renowned primatologist and professor emerit of psychology

Charles T. Snowdon, Hilldale Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, died Jan. 8 at UW Hospital in...

January 17, 2023

The Science of Stereotyping

A new UW study shows why letting stereotypes inform our judgments of unfamiliar people can be such a hard habit...

January 17, 2023

Psychology Major Strengthens Student STEM Interest with Bridging Wisconsin Program

Last spring, Psychology major Jonathan Bryan cultured bacteria in petri dishes, demonstrated laser lights and spectrums, and guided an engineering...

December 20, 2022

Psychology Major to Zillow Trailblazer

Meghan Wulff Reibstein '06 found the intersection of her business experience and passion for people in a job made possible...

December 20, 2022

Welcome New Faculty

This fall, the Department of Psychology welcomed five new outstanding scholars to our faculty, representing a wide range of expertise...

December 13, 2022

Professor Emeritus Bob Bowman dies at 94

Robert Edward “Bob” Bowman, 94, professor emeritus and former department chair in the Department of Psychology, died peacefully Nov. 21,...

November 17, 2022

Shutts Receives Grant to Study Interventions to Reduce Racial Biases in Children

Professor of Psychology Kristin Shutts was recently awarded a $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to...

November 8, 2022

Nick Buttrick in Los Angeles Times: Why former slave states became the foundation for American gun culture

There are a lot of guns in America — this nation has collectively more civilian-owned guns than we have citizens. Unlike...

October 26, 2022

Innovating Care for Sexual Violence Survivors

I study ways to improve the mental, physical, social, and general well-being of sexual violence survivors. Decades of research have...

October 20, 2022

Teaching reading, the right way

Mark Seidenberg has been fighting the battle for years. Decades, actually. Seidenberg, Vilas Research Professor and Donald O. Hebb Professor...

October 11, 2022

Alma Schneider ’90 records podcast sharing “uncensored truth about raising kids with disabilities”

In the introduction to each episode of the podcast “2 Moms No Fluff,” Alma Schneider ‘90 states, “prepare to laugh,...

October 11, 2022

New members join Board of Visitors

The Department of Psychology is delighted to welcome two new members to its Board of Visitors and congratulate current Board...

September 21, 2022

Students perceive themselves as a ‘math person’ or a ‘reading person’ early on – and this can impact the choices they make throughout their lives

As kids progress through school, they tend to increasingly perceive themselves as either a “math person” or a “language person,”...

August 16, 2022

Historical rates of enslavement predict modern rates of American gun ownership

The higher percentage of enslaved people that a U.S. county counted among its residents in 1860, the more guns its...

August 4, 2022

Stereotypes can be self-reinforcing, stubborn even without any supporting evidence

A new study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison shows why letting stereotypes inform our judgments of unfamiliar people...

August 1, 2022

Secret Smiles: What cues do we lose when a smile’s hidden beneath a mask?

Professor of psychology Paula Niedenthal would be among the first to tell you that a smile is never just a...

July 21, 2022

More news, more worry during pandemic

Anxiety and fear went hand in hand with trying to learn more about COVID-19 in the early days of the...

July 18, 2022

Gooding elected as NAMI Dane County Board President

At its June 28, 2022 meeting, the Board of Directors of theNational Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-Dane County unanimouslyelected Dr....

June 30, 2022

Janet Shibley Hyde, Trailblazing Researcher in the Psychology of Gender and Women’s Studies, Retires

In her 36 years as a faculty member at UW-Madison, Professor Janet Shibley Hyde made significant strides in the fields...

June 30, 2022

Hill Goldsmith, Renowned Developmental Psychologist and Behavioral Geneticist, Retires

In 1978, Antoine Bascom Professor and Leona Tyler Professor of Psychology Hill Goldsmith celebrated a major academic milestone when he...

June 28, 2022

Berridge Lab Advances our Understanding of the Neurobiology of Higher Cognition

Prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dependent cognition allows people to plan, avoid distractions and stay on track to meet their goals as they...

June 28, 2022

Siri Carpenter ’95: Psychology Major to Science Journalist

Siri Carpenter ’95 wrote down nearly every word Professor Patricia Devine said during an Introduction to Psychology course she signed...

June 16, 2022

Madison Magazine: Can we emotionally connect with our pets? Some researchers say yes.

A friend of mine, also named Michael, is a longtime cat owner who frequently serenades his pets with classical music....

June 9, 2022

BBC Future: Why your favourite colour is probably blue

In 1993, crayon-maker Crayola conducted an unscientific, but intriguing poll: it asked US children to name their favourite crayon colour....

June 7, 2022

Students and faculty gain new insights in collaborative Prejudice Development and Reduction course

After Professors Trish Devine and Kristin Shutts discussed their research interests related to social biases and prejudice, they hoped to...

May 31, 2022

Paula Niedenthal in OnWisconsin magazine: The Science behind a Smile

A stranger smiles at you on the street. If you were raised in the United States, you’ll probably assume this...

May 5, 2022

Badger Herald: Visiting professor to return as permanent faculty this fall

After working as a visiting professor for the past semester, Morgan Jerald will permanently join the University of Wisconsin Department...

May 4, 2022

Undergraduate Awards Reception recognizes academic excellence, outstanding involvement in cognitive science research, and more

On Thursday, April 28, nearly 200 people gathered in Varsity Hall at Union South to congratulate this year's undergraduate award...

April 14, 2022

Expert on hearing and former department chair Willard Thurlow dies at 103

Former psychology professor Willard Thurlow passed away peacefully at home on April 1, 2022. A faculty member of the Department...

April 13, 2022

Student Spotlight: Sara Stanislawski x’25

Each month, we spotlight outstanding psychology majors in our department. This month, we’re excited to feature Sara Stanislawski, a first-year...

April 11, 2022

Li named first A.A. Alexander Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry

James Li was recently appointed as the recipient of the newly established A.A. Alexander Professorship, an endowed professorship that alternates...

April 5, 2022

Shutts awarded Phi Beta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award

Our faculty are recognized nationally for their contributions to the field of psychology, and our reputation as one of the...

March 23, 2022

Walsh awarded Wisconsin Idea Collaboration Grant

Associate Professor Kate Walsh of the Department of Psychology, along with Assistant Professor Mariel Barnes of the La Follette School, received...

March 16, 2022

In Her Own Words: Carolyn Zahn-Waxler ’62 Reflects on 50 Years in Emotion Research

Psychology alumna Carolyn Zahn-Waxler ’62 has spent more than 50 years researching children’s emotional lives, focusing largely on the origins...

March 3, 2022

Student Spotlight: Megan Wu x’23

Each month, we spotlight outstanding psychology majors in our department. This month, we're excited to feature Megan Wu, a third-year...

March 1, 2022

New Study Finds Toddlers Incorporate Gender into their Language Processing

Our understanding of language relies on more than just the spoken word. A myriad of external cues, like nonverbal signals...

February 16, 2022

Shutts awarded Cattell Sabbatical Award

Psychology professor Kristin Shutts has been awarded a 2022-2023 James McKeen Cattell Sabbatical Award. Since 1974, the James McKeen Cattell...

February 7, 2022

Pollak named Vaughan Bascom Professor

Seth Pollak has been named as a Vaughan Bascom Professor. The coveted professorship honors the distinguished fifth president of the...

February 1, 2022

Perception study may explain promising depression therapy

Rather than constantly repainting a new canvas with a picture of the surrounding world each time it takes in information,...

January 25, 2022

Student Spotlight: Abdullah Marei x’23

For as long as he can remember, international student Abdullah Marei has gravitated towards big questions: What are people’s motivations...

January 20, 2022

Reading Political Maps and Selecting Ripe Bananas: How Color Influences our Judgments

From reading political maps to selecting the ripest banana, color influences how we make judgments about our world. Assistant Professor...

January 20, 2022

Using a social marketing approach to develop a pro-diversity intervention

Mitchell Campbell, PhD’21 was just a kid the first time he saw Minnesota’s anti-smoking campaign ad on television. “This grandpa...

January 10, 2022

Watch John Curtin’s TEDxOshkosh talk, “Mental Healthcare at Our Fingertips”

Professor of Psychology John Curtin spoke at TEDxOshkosh in November 2021. Watch his talk below on how two emerging technological innovations,...

January 6, 2022

Cap Times: What do children’s books teach children about gender?

Beginning in 2018, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers Ellen Converse, Matt Borkenhagen and Mark Seidenberg transcribed a collection of popular contemporary...

November 30, 2021

Zahn-Waxler honored for distinguished scientific contributions to child development

The Society for Research in Child Development honored Dr. Carolyn Zahn-Waxler '62, Honorary Fellow at the Center for Healthy Minds,...

November 29, 2021

Brauer Group Lab awarded prize for best article of the year on intergroup relations

The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues recently named the Brauer Group Lab as the recipient of the...

November 22, 2021

Hyde recognized for distinguished service to the Society for Scientific Study of Sexuality

On November 20, 2021, the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality presented its Distinguished Service to SSSS Award to...

November 16, 2021

Gallimore recognized with Distinguished Reviewer Award

Recognized for his outstanding contributions as a peer reviewer for Teaching & Learning Inquiry, senior lecturer Dr. Jonathan Gallimore received...

November 3, 2021

Seth Pollak in The Washington Post: How Parents Can Help Themselves, and their children, feel okay again

Parents can talk about their child’s personal growth and say, “ ‘I’ve been thinking how great it was that you...

October 26, 2021

Action video games make players better learners of visual, memory tasks

Playing video games that are heavy on action can make you better at some new tasks. New research reveals that...

October 6, 2021

Gernsbacher receives 2021 Psychonomic Society Clifford T. Morgan Distinguished Leadership Award

Vilas Research Professor and the Sir Frederic C. Bartlett Professor of Psychology Morton Ann Gernsbacher recently received the 2021 Psychonomic...

September 27, 2021

The Department of Psychology Welcomes Julia Greenberg

The Department of Psychology is pleased to welcome Julia Greenberg to our instructional staff team this fall. Dr. Greenberg will...

September 21, 2021

Scientific American: Discrimination Persists in Society—but Who Discriminates?

Americans are becoming more tolerant of people of different races, ethnicities and sexual orientations, recent research indicates. Yet discrimination toward people...

September 14, 2021

New master’s degree program trains students to use advanced data science tools to analyze and understand human behavior

The explosion of data science has changed the ways companies, government offices and nonprofit organizations track how people purchase and...

August 17, 2021

Wisconsin State Journal: DOJ grant secured by Kate Walsh will expand post-assault medical and advocacy services on campus

UW-Madison students who experienced a sexual assault had one place to go in Dane County for a forensic exam, or...

August 11, 2021

Yuri Saalmann receives grant to investigate the neural basis of consciousness

Psychology professor Yuri Saalmann and colleagues at UW-Madison, University of Pennsylvania, Allen Institute for Brain Science, INSERM and Sorbonne University,...

August 11, 2021

Judith Harackiewicz recognized for presentation at Understanding Interventions

Paul Pintrich Professor of Psychology Judith Harackiewicz received this year's Understanding Interventions Tol Award, an honor which recognizes a presentation...

August 10, 2021

Seth Pollak’s research featured in Knowable Magazine, “Studying poverty through a child’s eyes”

Researchers studying how poverty and adversity affect children’s development often track how negative experiences — be they poverty itself or factors such...

July 22, 2021

Bookworms can “read” people, too

“He saw terror in her eyes.” “She was filled with fury.” More than any other genre, fiction is the realm...

July 8, 2021

Student Spotlight: Ami Lieberman

Like many of her peers, Ami Lieberman’s decision to pursue a psychology degree originated in her high school AP Psychology...

June 18, 2021

Students’ final projects get creative in addressing food waste, abuse, policing

Students of social and cognitive psychology know that people’s behaviors are influenced by social norms, that how you frame a...

June 18, 2021

Empowering People to Break the Bias Habit

Bias in individuals and social systems is a key contributor to inequalities in nearly every social domain. With the recent attention...

April 16, 2021

New projects study root causes of inequalities and how to reduce their effects

Fifteen projects — from improving doctor-patient communications for high-risk patients, to using data to understand racial differences in how Americans...

April 14, 2021

The Impact of the Pandemic on Social and Emotional Health

How the Pandemic Has Changed Us, the theme of the 2021 Psi Chi Newsletter, features a range of articles from...

April 13, 2021

Guggenheim Fellowship awarded to UW-Madison psychology professor Pollak

Dr. Seth Pollak, the College of Letters & Science Distinguished Professor of Psychology, has been named a Fellow of the...

April 8, 2021

Psychology major Manasa Kalluri named winner of Barry Goldwater Scholarship

Three University of Wisconsin–Madison students have been named 2021 winners of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, considered the country’s preeminent undergraduate scholarship...

March 25, 2021

Prominent psychologist and UW-Madison alumnus John Gottman to speak at commencement, receive honorary degree

UW–Madison graduates will hear from two outstanding keynote speakers at spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 8. Broadway star...

March 23, 2021

Day of the Badger is coming!

Day of the Badger is coming this Tuesday, April 6 – Wednesday, April 7. This 1848-minute event is an opportunity...

March 19, 2021

Innovating for Online Learning

When Jonathan Gallimore joined the Department of Psychology in the fall of 2019, he had never taught a 350-person class...

March 16, 2021

Researchers find a better way to measure consciousness

Millions of people are administered general anesthesia each year in the United States alone, but it’s not always easy to...

March 16, 2021

Maryellen MacDonald in The Capital Times: We can learn to talk to one another with masks on

With COVID-19 vaccines coming, it’s easy to fantasize about things getting back to normal — vacation travel, kids in school,...

March 8, 2021

Building better human-bot cybersecurity teams: University of Wisconsin-Madison led team wins prestigious US Department of Defense MURI grant

A multi-university team led by Somesh Jha at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has won a prestigious US Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) Award....

February 23, 2021

Psychopathy linked to fear-specific reductions in brain activity when taking another’s perspective

Psychopathic individuals exhibit reduced brain activity when taking the perspective of another person who is experiencing fear, according to new...

January 8, 2021

UW–Madison psychology department featured in APS’s Observer: From Words to Action

In their diversity statements, most universities either frame the benefits of diversity from a moral perspective (e.g., increasing fairness and...

January 8, 2021

Brad Postle on WUWM:Wisconsin Researchers Talk Memory, As Nation Remembers Alex Trebek

UW-Madison psychology and psychiatry professor and editor of "The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience" Brad Postle says when you're asked to...

January 5, 2021

Alumna Zhalarina Sanders ’15 Wins Chicago Emmy for The Light Series with PBS Wisconsin

Zhalarina Sanders '15, a native of Tampa, Florida, currently based in Atlanta, created an autobiographical music cinema series entitled The...

January 5, 2021

Championing Mental Health Awareness on Campus and in Community

As a child growing up in New York City, Diane Carol Gooding loved the cultural diversity: the museums, the performances,...

January 5, 2021

Children develop racial biases as early as preschool—can parents help reduce these biases?

That’s what graduate student Katharine Scott wants to find out. When she started her PhD program in 2015, working in...

December 29, 2020

Covering faces around kids won’t mask emotions

Kids were able to correctly identify emotions on faces displaying (from left) sadness, anger and fear even when they...

December 17, 2020

Sustainable Conferencing: Envisioning a More Productive, Accessible, and Environmentally Conscious Future

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought in-person academic conferences to a halt, research scientist Lilia Rissman and post-doctoral scholar Cassandra Jacobs...

December 17, 2020

Niedenthal and other top social scientists offer wisdom for a post-pandemic world

Which aspect of of social life will show the most significant positive societal and/or psychological change in response to the...

December 9, 2020

Student Spotlight: Gaylen Fronk

Graduate student Gaylen Fronk decided to pursue her PhD in clinical psychology in part because, she says, “it helps keep...

December 2, 2020

Fall 2020 Undergraduate Student Award recipients announced

The Department of Psychology is pleased to announce the recipients of the Fall 2020 undergraduate student awards. The Arlene R....

November 24, 2020

Schloss shares color communication research on WPR

Visual Reasoning Lab director and associate professor of psychology Karen Schloss spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio about how we interpret...

November 19, 2020

Harackiewicz receives Distinguished Scholar Award

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology recently recognized Paul Pintrich Professor of Psychology Judith Harackiewicz with its Distinguished Scholar...

November 16, 2020

Saalmann receives grants to advance research in the emergence of consciousness and predictive coding

Congratulations to Yuri Saalmann on two multimillion-dollar awards to advance two different tracks of his research: one in the emergence...

November 5, 2020

Student Spotlight: Emma Lai

In a season of unknowns, senior Emma Lai is pushing forward. With a triple major in psychology, economics, and religious...

October 27, 2020

Walsh receives Department of Justice grant to expand sexual assault services on UW-Madison campus

Kate Walsh, Professor of Psychology and Gender and Women's Studies, and head of the Sexual Violence Research Initiative, has been awarded...

October 14, 2020

Studies pin some forms of discrimination on small proportion of campus community

MADISON —Research from the University of Wisconsin–Madison suggests certain forms of discrimination on campus are committed by a relatively small...

October 6, 2020

Student Spotlight: Meredith Bone and Olivia Moens

While the pandemic certainly affects many aspects of Olivia Moens’s and Meredith Bone’s senior year at UW–Madison, their commitment to...

September 18, 2020

Is it possible to rid police officers of bias?

BBC Future recently highlighted bias research from Patricia Devine, William Cox, Xizhou Xie and colleagues, detailing strategies for reducing bias:...

September 18, 2020

Amid pandemic, students continue to push ahead with educational goals

In challenging times like these, how are students navigating their educational goals and plans? We caught up with a few...

September 16, 2020

Department of Psychology Pursues Ambitious Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Goals

Following the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor earlier this year, the Department of Psychology affirmed our...

September 15, 2020

New Faculty Focus: Kate Walsh

The Department of Psychology is pleased to welcome our newest faculty member, Kate Walsh. Walsh earned her PhD in Clinical...

August 25, 2020

Niedenthal and Smith address pandemic’s emotional toll

Paula Niedenthal, professor of psychology, and Karen Smith, post-doctoral scholar, spoke with The Journal Times about how the pandemic affects...

August 10, 2020

That little voice in your head — if you have it — may be aligning your thoughts

It’s not uncommon these days to have some time alone with your thoughts. But what does that sound like, if...

August 5, 2020

Psychology Research Experience Program Adapts to Virtual Format

Plans for the 2020 Psychology Research Experience Program (PREP) began like any other year, with PREP staff identifying participating labs,...

August 4, 2020

Student Spotlight: Eren Fukuda

Graduate student and Tokyo native Eren Fukuda is working on a critically important issue: How can we help young children...

July 14, 2020

New Associate Chair for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Announced

The UW–Madison Department of Psychology announced Monday the creation of a new associate chair position focused on issues of race,...

July 1, 2020

Showing pro-diversity feelings are the norm makes individuals more tolerant

Showing people how their peers feel about diversity in their community can make their actions more inclusive, make members of...

June 27, 2020

Is bilingualism related to creativity?

Are bilinguals more creative than monolinguals? A recent study from the Austerweil Lab published today examined the relationship between an...

June 3, 2020

How to talk to friends and family about race

There are many ways to be an ally and champion solutions for social change: donating, sharing resources, signing petitions, and...

June 1, 2020

What we lose when we hide our smiles behind a mask

Trying to interact with other humans without being able to smile is the facial equivalent of communicating via text message;...

May 26, 2020

Psychology Students Prepare for Next Steps with SuccessWorks

“I want to major in psychology, but I’m not sure what to do with it.” It’s a refrain Maureen Muldoon...

May 19, 2020

C. Shawn Green awarded Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Award

Each year students elected to the honor society Phi Beta Kappa nominate their favorite professors for the annual Teaching Award....

May 13, 2020

Professor Janet Hyde recognized as a Spring 2020 Honored Instructor

Professor of Psychology and Gender & Women's Studies, and Director of the Center for Research on Gender and Women Janet...

May 1, 2020

Language learning research translated for kids

Are you looking for a fun way to incorporate science into homeschooling your children during this pandemic? If so, here’s...

April 30, 2020

Graduate student Caleigh Guoynes named Peer Mentor Award winner

Three graduate students, including psychology graduate student Caleigh Guoynes, have been honored with Peer Mentor Awards. The awards, sponsored by...

April 29, 2020

Student Highlight: Sheyenne Tung and Zach Gestrich

The Social and Behavioral Development Lab at the University of Wisconsin–Madison investigates genetic and environmental factors that contribute to individual...

April 24, 2020

Seth Pollak elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Seth Pollak, University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science Distinguished Professor of Psychology and an expert on child brain...

April 17, 2020

Graduate student Elise Hopman Recognized for excellence in mentoring undergraduates

Graduate student Elise Hopman was recognized with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Award for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research, Scholarly and Creative...

April 10, 2020

Do partisanship and misunderstanding of exponential growth affect COVID-19 risk perception?

The guidance from scientific experts is clear: preventative measures such as social distancing and self-quarantine can help mitigate the risk...

April 10, 2020

GRADUATE STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR SERVICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

In his five years with the Department of Psychology, graduate student Mitchell Campbell has made a concerted effort to help...

April 10, 2020

Go to bed: Making Sleep a Priority

Eat more vegetables. Exercise daily. Cut back on caffeine. Get a full night’s sleep. Millions of people make new year’s...

April 1, 2020

Schloss Lab Receives NSF grant to understand visual reasoning

Led by Assistant Professor of Psychology Karen Schloss, the Schloss Visual Reasoning Lab investigates how people make conceptual inferences from...

March 31, 2020

Turning Social Distancing into a positive

“This is a time of great stress and uncertainty for our nation and our world,” says Richard Davidson, professor of...

March 27, 2020

Interview with William Cox on the Psychology Behind Foreign Election Interference

Prejudice and bias researcher William Cox spoke with Channel 3000's Amy Reid for the March 26 evening news about the...

March 26, 2020

You Are Not Alone

Self-isolation is a proven strategy to limit the coronavirus. But for people who suffer from loneliness, it can create unexpected...

March 25, 2020

Survey: Many still find it hard to stay home during pandemic, worry about mental health during isolation

Most people are motivated to physically separate themselves from others to help stop the spread of coronavirus — according to...

March 18, 2020

COVID-19 Impact on Undergraduate Events

Due to the ongoing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 situation and recent campus update to move instruction online for the remainder...

February 27, 2020

Day of the Badger is coming!

Day of the Badger is coming this Tuesday, April 7 – Wednesday, April 8. This 1848-minute event is an opportunity...

February 25, 2020

Easy access, pressure on students contributes to increase in non-prescribed Adderall use

About two-thirds of young adults using Adderall illegally get it from their friends or roommates, according to a 2016 National...

February 21, 2020

Saffran’s Infant Learning Lab featured on Netflix docuseries ‘Babies’

The Infant Learning Lab, led by Professor Jenny Saffran, is featured in the Netflix docuseries, Babies, out today. In the...

February 17, 2020

Does music affect animals? Professor Emeritus Snowdon shares his research with WPR.

Professor Emeritus Charles Snowdon spoke with WPR’s Al Ross in early February about the relationship between animals and music. His...

February 12, 2020

Researchers wake monkeys by stimulating ‘engine’ of consciousness in brain

A small amount of electricity delivered at a specific frequency to a particular point in the brain will snap a...

February 6, 2020

Patricia Devine wins grant to address teachers’ unconscious racial bias

According to test scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress shared in October 2019, Wisconsin has the national’s largest...

February 4, 2020

When Personal Experience Meets Psychology: Samantha Michaels

While lectures and classroom discussions certainly affect our understanding of a given topic, applying classroom insights to life experience takes...

February 4, 2020

When Personal Experience Meets Psychology: Mark Koranda

While lectures and classroom discussions certainly affect our understanding of a given topic, applying classroom insights to life experience takes...

February 4, 2020

Student Spotlight: Liz Nies

After taking a philosophy class during her freshman year, Liz Nies x’20, a neurobiology major, spent “a lot of time...

January 21, 2020

Jenny Saffran honored for Scientific Achievement and Community Building

Congratulations to Professor Jenny Saffran, recipient of the inaugural Jeffrey L. Elman Prize for Scientific Achievement and Community Building of...

January 16, 2020

William Epstein, professor emeritus, dies at 88

William Epstein, 88, professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology, died peacefully at home on December 17, 2019. Bill’s long...

January 16, 2020

Health Professions Shadowing Program now taking applications

At the end of July, sixteen pre-selected students began a structured, two-week residential summer program, learning about current trends in...

January 10, 2020

How mindfulness changes the emotional life of our brains

Psychology professor and Center for Healthy Minds founder and director Richard Davidson spoke at TEDx SanFrancisco in October 2019. Watch...

January 8, 2020

Low genetic risk for ADHD may protect against negative life experiences

A recent study shows that people at low genetic risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not only less likely to...

November 21, 2019

What’s in a name? Power of labels in disability identity, societal perception

After obtaining a law degree from UW-Madison, Nicki Vander Meulen attempted to find work as a lawyer, but received rejection...

November 21, 2019

Student Spotlight: Katie Fan

As a freshman, Katie Fan x’20 had plans to become a biochemist. But after taking Chemistry 109 and Calculus 234,...

November 14, 2019

The Department of Psychology Welcomes Jonathan Gallimore

Dr. Jonathan Gallimore joined the Department of Psychology this fall as a senior lecturer, covering Introduction to Psychology, Basic Statistics,...

November 8, 2019

Psychology Research Experience Program gets students into the lab and builds undergraduate confidence

When you think of summer in Madison, you may picture leisurely afternoons with Babcock ice cream on the Terrace or...

October 24, 2019

Learning through teaching

The Department of Psychology's Kristin Shutts finds creative ways to connect with her students. by KÄRI KNUTSON OCTOBER 15, 2019For Kristin Shutts, teaching...

September 11, 2019

Emotion-Detection Applications Built on Outdated Science, Report Warns

Facial Movements Are Unreliable Signals of Emotion, Researchers Say Software that purportedly reads emotions in faces is being deployed or...

August 15, 2019

Three Faculty Earn Awards

The Society for General Psychology awarded Evjue-Bascom Professor and Helen Thompson Woolley Professor of Psychology and Gender & Women’s Studies...

August 6, 2019

John Curtin Wins Grant to Fight Opioid Addiction

New app in development aims to stop opioid relapses before they happen

August 1, 2019

FACULTY POSITION IN PSYCHOLOGY/ GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES – CLUSTER HIRE

The Departments of Psychology and Gender & Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seek to hire a tenure-track Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor with research...

November 5, 2018

SPRING 2019 UNDERGRADUATE DEPTH AND CAPSTONE COURSES

Descriptions of all Spring 2019 Depth and Capstone courses can be found here.

April 9, 2018

Fall 2018 Undergraduate Depth and Capstone Courses

Descriptions of all Fall 2018 Depth and Capstone courses can be found here.

March 4, 2018

Prof. Seth Pollak awarded James McKeen Cattell Fellowship

Pofessor Seth Pollak has been awarded this year’s James McKeen Cattell Fellowship. These awards provide an extended sabbatical period that allows the...

February 12, 2018

Prof. Seth Pollak received the 2018 Kellet Mid-Career Award

Congratulations to Professor Seth Pollak, who is a recipient of the 2018 Kellett Mid-Career Award. This award is provided by...

February 12, 2018

Prof. Karl Rosengren chosen for Vilas Associates award

Congratulations to Professor Karl Rosengren, who has been chosen for the Vilas Associates award at the University of Wisconsin -...

February 8, 2018

Prof. Diane Gooding selected as APS Fellow

Congratulations to Professor Diane Gooding, who has been selected as a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science (APS). Professor Gooding’s research...

November 15, 2017

In Memoriam: Professor Len Berkowitz

Our friend and colleague, Professor Len Berkowitz passed away on January 3rd, 2016. Professor Berkowitz was a faculty member in...

November 15, 2017

Goldsmith receives the Dobzhansky Lifetime Achievement Award

Professor Hill Goldsmith has been awarded the Dobzhansky Lifetime Achievement Award from the Behavior Genetics Association. The Dobzhansky Award is...

November 15, 2017

Jenny Saffran elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Jenny Saffran, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of psychology and an expert on how infants learn, is among leaders in...

November 15, 2017

Clarke and Zettersten awarded NSF Fellowships

Emily Clarke of Professor Janet Hyde's lab, and Martin Zettersten of both Professor Jenny Saffran and Professor Gary Lupyan's labs...

November 15, 2017

Patricia Devine Honored

Patricia Devine is the 2014 recipient of the Thomas M. Ostrom Award from the Person Memory Interest Group. This award...

November 15, 2017

Yuri Saalmann Receives Award

Yuri Saalmann will receive the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation’s Young Investigator Award for his work exploring the relationship between...

November 15, 2017

Chuck Snowdon Honored

Chuck Snowdon will receive the Distinguished Primatologist Award from the American Society of Primatologists, which recognizes his outstanding career and...

November 15, 2017

David Devilbiss to present at the TedMed Hive Conference

We are proud to announce that David Devilbiss and his team are one of the few teams to be accepted...

November 15, 2017

Janet Hyde Honored

We are pleased to announce that Professor Janet Hyde has been recognized by The Committee on Women in Psychology of...

November 15, 2017

Connect with the Psychology Department on Social Media

Connect with the Psychology Department on Social Media! Follow the Psychology Department on Twitter @uwpsych for updates and announcements about opportunities and...

November 15, 2017

Back to All News Items Want To Join The Psychology Club?

Interested in Psychology? Want to meet people who share your interests? Join the Psychology Club! A resource-hub for anyone interested...

November 15, 2017

Abramson Honored

We're delighted to announce that Lyn Abramson and Lauren Alloy (Temple University) have been selected as the recipients of the...

November 15, 2017

Gernsbacher Honored

Morton Gernsbacher has received the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the Society for Text and Discourse and the 2013 Ernest...

November 15, 2017

Psychology Department Highly Ranked

In its Fall 2010 ratings, the National Research Council placed the UW in the top five among all departments of...

November 15, 2017

Hyde Honored

Janet Hyde has been awarded the Evjue Bascom Professorship.

November 15, 2017

MacDonald Honored

Maryellen MacDonald has been awarded a Distinguished Honors Faculty Award.

November 15, 2017

Professor honored with university award

Carol Ryff has been selected for a Hilldale Professorship.

November 15, 2017

Finola Kane-Grade Receives L&S Dean’s Prize

Finola Kane-Grade, B.A. (‘16) in Psychology and Music Performance, has been named one of this year’s recipients of the L&S...

November 15, 2017

Professor Craig Berridge Receives UW Award

Professor Craig Berridge has received a UW WARF Named Professorship, honoring his exceptional research program. He chose Patricia Goldman-Rakic as...

November 15, 2017

Professor Martha Alibali Receives UW Award

Professor Martha Alibali has received a UW Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship, honoring her exceptional research program. This newer UW award...

November 15, 2017

Professor Seidenberg’s New Book is Well Received

Professor Mark Seidenberg's new book, "Language at the Speed of Sight: How We Read, Why So Many Can’t, and What...

November 15, 2017

Jason Samaha of the Postle Lab Wins Award

The Psychology Department is pleased to announce that Jason Samaha, in Brad Postle’s lab, has won the 2017 Ann E....

November 1, 2017

To pick a great gift, it’s better to give AND receive

If it’s the thought that makes a gift count, here’s a thought that can make your gift count extra: Get...

November 1, 2017

Healthy competition makes habit of sustainability

Living sustainably to save the planet is serious stuff, but Madison-based non-profit Cool Choices has made a game of it....

November 1, 2017

Davidson elected to National Academy of Medicine

University of Wisconsin–Madison neuroscientist and professor Richard Davidson has been elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine, the...

January 15, 2017

Shawn Green Receives Award from the Office of Naval Research

Professor Shawn Green has been honored with a Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research. Professor Green’s previous...