News – Department of Psychology

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

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 28, 2020

Department of Psychology Graduation Program

Congratulations to our undergraduate students graduating December 2019, May 2020, and August 2020!

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...

March 13, 2019

Department of Psychology’s Undergraduate Awards Reception – CANCELLED

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on large gatherings in Dane County, the Department of Psychology has made...

February 20, 2019

Professor Morton Ann Gernsbacher elected Chair of AAAS Section J (Psychology)

Professor Gernsbacher welcomes input from department members on issues pertinent to AAAS.

February 20, 2019

Online Research Methods selected as the 2018 Outstanding Teaching Resource by the APA

This is the second national award for our online (Psych 225) Research Methods course (the other was a TIER, Teaching Integrity in Empirical Research, award from the Sloan Foundation).

February 20, 2019

Patricia Devine was awarded a Hilldale Award in the Social Sciences

This award is given to one faculty member from each of the four divisions (Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences,...

February 20, 2019

Summer 2019 Course Offerings

The following undergraduate courses will be offered by the Psychology department in Summer 2019 during the 8-week (DHH) session –...

February 19, 2019

PREP Secures Support from National Science Foundation for Next Three Years

PREP will once again be supported by Research Experiences for Undergraduates award from the NSF, which will provide support for eight visiting students during the summers of 2019, 2020, and 2021.

December 18, 2018

Black Youths Less Protected From Antisocial Behaviors Than White Peers

December 14, 2018, By Kelly April Tyrrell For news media Black youths are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Yet, says the University...

December 4, 2018

Jamie Dawson will be the student speaker during winter commencement on Dec. 16 at the Kohl Center.

The UW–Madison senior has been chosen as the student speaker for winter commencement on Dec. 16 at the Kohl Center. She will be receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Afro-American studies and psychology.

November 5, 2018

SPRING 2019 UNDERGRADUATE DEPTH AND CAPSTONE COURSES

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

September 10, 2018

Best Poster Presentation Winner

Danielle Rendina was awarded the best poster presentation from Division 6, Society for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology at APA.

September 10, 2018

a TIER (Teaching Integrity in Empirical Research) Faculty Fellowship Winner

Morton Ann Gernsbacher online Psych 225 (Research Methods) course was selected by the Sloan Foundation for a TIER (Teaching Integrity in Empirical...

September 10, 2018

Phi Kappa Phi Scholar Winner

Morton Ann Gernsbacher has been selected as the 2018-2020 Phi Kappa Phi Scholar for demonstrating the ideals of the Society through...

August 29, 2018

Danielle Rendina Awarded Best Poster Presentation

Danielle received the honor of being awarded the best poster presentation from Division 6, Society for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology at APA. ...

August 28, 2018

Morton Ann Gernsbacher’s Course selected by the Sloan Foundation for a TIER Faculty Fellowship

These "Fellowships are awarded annually to faculty members [for] incorporating principles and methods of transparency in courses on quantitative research methods."

August 28, 2018

Morton Ann Gernsbacher wins Phi Kappa Phi Scholar Award

The Phi Kappa Phi Scholar is the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society.

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

The Psychology Peer Mentor Program Wants You!

Are you interested in joining the Psychology Department Peer Mentor Program? The Psychology Department Peer Mentor Program is designed to...

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

Bryan’s Aspiring Psychology Students Award Reception

Bryan's Aspiring Psychology Students Award Reception will be held on Thursday November 2nd from 5:30p-7pm at the Lake Mendota Room...

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...