Psychology | Penn Today

Eight computer-generated arrows all pointing in one direction.

One undergrad researcher powers through the pandemic

The unusual circumstances brought on by COVID-19 forced Lana Prieur, a junior in the School of Arts & Sciences, to pivot her approach to research—and sparked new connections in the process.

Hate waiting in line? New research may help things move faster

Hummy Song of the Wharton School spoke about the merits of a dedicated-queue system in managing line lengths. “We usually think about queues from the customer’s point of view, but there is another human on the other end of that line,” she said. “Encouraging customer ownership by dedicating assignments to each server when planning queue configurations might shorten the wait and service time.”

Two people in front of two computer monitors. The person moving the mouse is sitting. The other person stands watching.

Crowd-sourcing optogenetics data to tackle neurological diseases

The specialized field of neuroscience, optogenetics, shows clinical promise for conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson’s. But before human trials can get fully underway, the field must better understand a crucial intermediate step, aided by 45 labs in nine countries sharing information.

How to show compassion for Trump—even if you don’t like him

Charles “Chaz” L. Howard, vice president for social equity and community, and Michael Baime of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about finding empathy for President Trump. “The whole country is feeling more hatred and less kindness. This is a moment where we need to take stock, pause and think about what matters for ourselves and our whole country,” said Baime.

Person standing on frozen lake with back turned on a grey day.

HIV and suicide risk

While HIV infection can be well-managed with proper care, suicidal thoughts and attempts remain a pressing concern. A recent study looks at what accounts for the elevated risk for suicide among people living with HIV.

Powers of persuasion

Jonah Berger of the Wharton School was interviewed about the process of gradually changing the minds of others and about appeals to centrist voters by political candidates.

How are teens and young adults coping?

Howard Stevenson of the Graduate School of Education and Frances Jensen of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about how young people view the threat of COVID-19 and the effects of police violence on their mental health.

two people on a bench wearing masks, a third person motions that they want to sit in an open spot while one person currently on the bench gives a hand motion indicating no

Decision-making and anxiety in the time of COVID-19

Penn experts discuss the psychology behind decision-making, how anxiety and stress impacts behavior, and share strategies for deciding how to safely reengage with society.

Beauty and the mask: People who wear face masks rated ‘far more attractive,’ study finds

David Sarwer of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about research he helped conduct about perceptions of mask wearing. “For people who might self-conscious or concerned about how they look in a mask when they go in the public, we now have evidence that says, in reality, people are going to see you as more attractive,” he said.

Who helps the helpers? Why health care workers need 'emotional PPE'

Cecilia Livesey of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about launching an online platform that provides mental health support to Penn Medicine employees. “Stigma in mental health is high—especially among health care workers,” she said. “They have always been told they are the ones who are helping and caring for people. Caring for the care provider is a new idea.”

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