Psychology | Penn Today

Virtual reality therapy plunges patients back into trauma. Here is why some swear by it

Edna Foa of the Perelman School of Medicine developed a therapeutic technique called prolonged exposure, used to treat chronic PTSD.

Why you might feel weird when you go maskless

Cristina Bicchieri of the School of Arts & Sciences was cited for her theory of social norms, which purports that people conform to meet the expectations of others.

Person sitting at a table with blurry people in front and a screen hanging on the wall behind, which reads, "Experiential effects on brain development."

Scientists say active early learning shapes the adult brain

Through the Abecedarian Project, an early education, randomized controlled trial that has followed children since 1971, Penn and Virginia Tech researchers reveal new discoveries about brain structure decades later.

What is anticipatory grief and how does it work?

Allison Werner-Lin of the School of Social Policy & Practice spoke about anticipatory grief, the distress one feels leading up to an impending loss or change, “even if the change is exciting and anticipated and chosen,” she said.

A young person wearing a mask and polka dot t-shirt leaning against a faux wooden wall.

A mental health checkup for children and adolescents, a year into COVID

As a whole, this group experienced a significant short-term psychological toll. Though the long-term consequences aren’t yet known, particularly given how the year disproportionately exacerbated adverse childhood experiences, Penn experts remain cautiously optimistic.

The science behind vaccine incentives

Katy Milkman of the Wharton School was interviewed about using incentives to motivate people to get vaccinated. “The focus is not on the adamant folks who are absolutely against it; it's rather on everyone else,” she said.

A group of four people leaning against a wall. The one farthest on the left is wearing a bag diagonal across the chest and holding papers. The second from left has on a purse. The second from right has on a backpack and is holding a blue spiral notebook. The person all the way on the right is pointing to the others and holds a folded piece of white paper and a writing utensil.

Morality isn’t fixed but changes around close relationships

Research from MindCORE postdoc Daniel Yudkin found that the importance people place on certain moral values shifts depending on who is around in a given moment.

Mental Health Awareness Month happenings for Penn faculty and staff

For Mental Health Awareness Month, the Division of Human Resources is hosting faculty and staff events focused on caregiving support, mindfulness, and nutrition, among other areas of need.

On Mental Health Action Day, here are 5 tips to cope with ‘reentry anxiety’ amid COVID-19

Thea Gallagher of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about “reentry anxiety” and offered tips for managing these feelings. “Start thinking about ways you can make that reentry less like you're jumping into an ice bath and more like you're wading into water,” she said.

Facebook calls links to depression inconclusive. These researchers disagree

Melissa Hunt of the School of Arts & Sciences questioned Facebook’s argument that the poor mental health outcomes tied to use of their platform can be mitigated with self-discipline. “All of the things that would contribute to these platforms being healthier for people to use, which is basically spend less time, don't follow strangers, don't spend time passively scrolling through this random feed that's being suggested to you," Hunt says. "That completely undermines their whole business model."

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