News
A Conversation with the Co-Presidents of the Psychology Club
September 27, 2022 - Shelly DeJong, Alexander Gutanski
Helena Corda and Lauren Gunter are the co-presidents of the Psychology Club, a campus group for anyone interested in the field of psychology. Students connect with their peers, volunteer at various events, and get insights into a variety of career opportunities. We reached out to Helena and Lauren to learn about their lives, the benefits of being involved on campus, and their goals as co-presidents.
Proctor & Gamble Business Challenge Invites Psych Ph.D. Student
September 26, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
For 18 years, Procter & Gamble (P&G) has invited organizational psychology graduate students to a weeklong challenge to address problems they face as a business. Michigan State University psychology graduate student, Nathan Baker, will be taking part this year.
Study: Asexual relationships need same ingredients as any other relationship
September 23, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
New research from Michigan State University found that, despite asexuals’ lack of or dislike for sexual attraction, the ingredients that make for a successful relationship among asexual individuals are virtually the same as those in any other relationship.
New Season of Minority Politics Online Seminar Series Begins
September 22, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
A new season of Minority Politics Online Seminar Series (MPOSS) kicks off on September 27th. This series, hosted by Drs. Ana Bracic and Nazita Lajevardi from the Department of Political Science, and Dr. Mark J. Brandt from the Department of Psychology, uniquely focuses on how politics affect and is affected by marginalized people who have less power and are often excluded from the system.
Anxiety in Kids: MSU Psychology Professor Looks to Fill Research Gap
September 21, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting adults and children. Research, support services, and intervention options are in place for many struggling people, but young kids are often left out. Psychology professor Jason Moser, Ph.D., and his team are working to fill this research gap and explore ways to help kids through this early developmental stage.
Psych Ph.D. Student Shares His Story to Help Others During National Suicide Prevention Month
September 16, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
Content Warning: mention of suicide, grief, suicide awareness, suicide prevention. September is National Suicide Prevention month and Corbin Standley, an ecological-community psychology Ph.D. candidate, is uniquely equipped to share his story.
Meet a Psychology Spartan: Andrew Defever
September 13, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
Andrew Defever earned a Ph.D. in Social and Personality Psychology in 2018. As a student, Andrew realized that he wanted to work in industry rather than academia, so he began to figure out where he might fit best. Now as a senior manager in the research science division at J.D. Power, Andrew applies the data, research, and mentorship skills he learned while at MSU.
Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award Names MSU Psychology Alumna
September 8, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
The College of Social Science congratulates psychology alumna Jennifer Lawlor on receiving the Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award by JCI USA. Dr. Lawlor, who earned a doctorate in ecological-community psychology, works to help communities understand, share information, and move to action on complex social issues.
Study: Neighborhoods aren’t made for childfree people or single parents
September 7, 2022 - Kim Ward
Over the last few years, the pandemic has forced most of us to stay home in our own neighborhoods. New research from Michigan State University found that for some groups of people, spending time in their neighborhoods is no block party.
Meet a Psychology Spartan: Jacob Bradburn
September 6, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
Jacob Bradburn earned a PhD in Organizational Psychology in 2020. Shortly before graduating, he began working for Ford Motor Company as a People Scientist. Jacob sat down with us recently to talk about his time at MSU, what a People Scientist does, and how his program prepared him to make a difference in the workplace.
Organizational Psychologist Kevin Hoff Joins Faculty
August 29, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
The Michigan State University psychology department welcomes new faculty member Kevin Hoff, Ph.D. to their organizational psychology program. Dr. Hoff, who earned his doctorate from the University of Illinois, comes most recently from the University of Houston. Dr. Hoff’s research specializes in careers, vocational interests, personality, and the future of work.
Social Scientists Partner on Youth Violence Study in Lansing
August 29, 2022 - Emily Jodway
Carole Gibbs and Jennifer Cobbina of the College of Social Science’s School of Criminal Justice, along with Psychology research associate Sean Hankins, are in the midst of conducting an ongoing research project with adolescents in the Lansing community.
Meet a Psychology Spartan: Taylor Shippey
August 18, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
Taylor Shippey, a 2022 psychology major, has wasted no time since graduating. As a psychology undergraduate, Taylor discovered her passion for understanding, helping, and relating to people. As a graduate, she’s building upon her psychology skillset by entering the public relations field.
MSU Psychology Alumna Becomes First Woman President at Dartmouth
August 5, 2022 - Shelly DeJong
The College of Social Science congratulates alumna Sian Leah Beilock, on her recent election as the 19th President of Dartmouth College. Dr. Beilock, who earned doctorates in both kinesiology and psychology from Michigan State University, is the first woman elected to the position in Dartmouth’s more than 250-year history.
Social Science Students Present Research at Annual Mid-SURE Event
August 5, 2022 - Emily Jodway
Each year, Mid-Michigan Symposium for Undergraduate Research Experiences (Mid-SURE) affords undergraduate students from across multiple academic disciplines the opportunity to share their research with both the University and the community at large.
Jae Puckett Receives Transgender Research Award from APA
July 28, 2022 - Emily Jodway
The Transgender Research Award highlights and honors research that makes a notable contribution to this goal of understanding, health and well-being of transgender people and gender diversity in society. Dr. Puckett earned the recognition based on their most recent research area surrounding minority stress in transgender and gender diverse communities.
Dr. Ann Marie Ryan Received the 2022 Graduate School Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award
June 2, 2022
Dr. Ann Marie Ryan Received the 2022 Graduate School Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award
Bre Lind is the 2022 Outstanding Senior in Psychology
May 5, 2022 - Caroline Kraft
Bre Lind is the 2022 Outstanding Senior in Psychology.
Dr. Jae Puckett received an Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association
April 28, 2022
Dr. Jae Puckett received an Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association
Dr. Kaston Anderson-Carpenter's New Study is the First to Examine Disparities in COVID-19 Social Distancing and Hand Washing in an International Context
April 21, 2022
Dr. Kaston Anderson-Carpenter's New Study is the First to Examine Disparities in COVID-19 Social Distancing and Hand Washing in an International Context
Three Members of the Psychology Department Won College of Social Science Awards This Year
April 18, 2022
Three Members of the Psychology Department Won College of Social Science Awards This Year
Psychology Students Presented 40 Research Projects at UURAF 2022
April 15, 2022
Psychology Students Presented 40 Projects at UURAF 2022
Dr. Kimberly Fenn was featured in an ABC News article about later school start times for teens
April 7, 2022
Dr. Kimberly Fenn was featured in an ABC News article about later school start times for teens
Dr. Jonathan Weaver won RCPD's Spirit of Ability Award
March 24, 2022
Dr. Jonathan Weaver won RCPD's annual Spirit of Ability Award.
MSU Clinical Psychologists Awarded NIH Grant to Study Psychosis in Midlife
March 17, 2022
Dr. Katy Thakkar, Kristen Culbert, and Dr. Kelly Klump were awarded an NIH grant to examine why women are at a higher risk for midlife psychosis than men.
Graduate student Megan Mikhail and research specialist Kristen Culbert were featured in a news story about eating disorders
February 24, 2022 - Caroline Kraft
Graduate student Megan Mikhail and research specialist Kristen Culbert were featured in a news story about eating disorders for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
Your partner probably isn't quite as funny as you think they are (and that's okay!)
February 15, 2022 - Liz Schondelmayer
Graduate Student Mariah Purol and Dr. Bill Chopik's new study suggests that the funnier people find their romantic partners and the more similar their senses of humor are, the happier they tend to be in their relationship.
Do individuals from different cultures imagine similar stories while listening to music?
January 27, 2022 - Caroline Kraft
Dr. McAuley and colleagues' new study suggests that individuals from similar cultures picture similar stories while listening to instrumental music.
Where female adolescents grow up can influence eating disordered behaviors
January 12, 2022 - Caroline Kraft
Megan Mikhail, a graduate student in Clinical Science, has discovered a link between the neighborhoods female adolescents grow up in and their risk of developing disordered eating patterns.
Two faculty members, Dr. Mark Brandt and Dr. Deborah Kashy received annual awards from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology
December 2, 2021 - Caroline Kraft
Two faculty members, Dr. Mark Brandt and Dr. Deborah Kashy received annual awards from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
Dr. Ann Marie Ryan received the Losey Award for Research Excellence from The Society for Human Resource Management
November 19, 2021 - Caroline Kraft
Dr. Ann Marie Ryan received the Losey Award for Excellence in Research from The Society for Human Resource Management.
Dr. Robin Miller received the UOE Distinguished Partnership Award for Community-Engaged Research
November 17, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dr. Robin Miller received the UOE Distinguished Partnership Award for Community-Engaged Research
Behavioral Neuroscientist Dr. Lily Yan explains how and why decreasing daylight affects mood and cognition and what we can do about it
November 1, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Behavioral Neuroscientist Dr. Lily Yan explains how and why decreasing daylight affects mood and cognition and what we can do about it.
Two faculty members were named APS Fellows
October 21, 2021 - Caroline Kraft
Two faculty members, Drs. S. Alexandra Burt and Quinetta Roberson, were named Fellows of the Association for Psychological Science.
The College of Social Science selected Dr. Robin Lin Miller as the October Diversity Champion
October 15, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
The College of Social Science selected Dr. Robin Lin Miller as the October Diversity Champion.
Clinical Science graduate students Diondra Straiton and Aksheya Sridhar are addressing anti-Black racism that affects Autism diagnosis and treatment
October 13, 2021 - Caroline Kraft
Clinical Science graduate students Diondra Straiton and Aksheya Sridhar are addressing anti-Black racism that affects the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with Autism
Dr. Katy Thakkar started a new campus program, Mental Health Research Connect
October 7, 2021 - Caroline Kraft
Dr. Katy Thakkar started a new campus program, Mental Health Research Connect.
Do we actually prefer different characteristics in new romantic partners?
August 3, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
When looking for their next romantic partners, most people would think they'd like to avoid someone who is just like their ex. But new social science research suggests that the majority of us actually do the exact opposite - or will even look for someone who reminds us of our parents.
Dr. Mark Brandt was awarded the Early Career Award from the International Society of Political Psychology
July 20, 2021 - Caroline Kraft
Dr. Mark Brandt received the Jim Sidanius Early Career Award from the International Society of Political Psychology.
A Quarter of Adults Don't Want Children and They're Still Happy
June 16, 2021 - Caroline Brooks
Dr. Jenna Watling Neal and Dr. Zachary Neal examined differences in personality traits and life satisfaction among parents, nonparents, and child-free individuals.
Caffeine Cannot Counteract All the Negative Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognition
May 26, 2021 - Caroline Brooks
Caffeine does not mitigate the negative effects of sleep deprivation on place-keeping during multi-step tasks.
On International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, Dr. Robin Lin Miller discusses global barriers for sexual and gender minorities seeking HIV/AIDS care
May 17, 2021 - Robin Lin Miller; Caroline Kraft
On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, Dr. Robin Lin Miller discusses barriers for sexual and gender minorities seeking HIV/AIDS care in African and Caribbean countries that criminalize same-sex sexual relations.
Dr. Christina Reppucci won 2 awards for her excellence as a research supervisor
May 6, 2021 - Psychology Department
Dr. Christina Reppucci won 2 awards for her excellence as a research supervisor. Dr. Reppucci won the 2021 Undergraduate Research Supervisor of the Year Award in April, and this week she won the 2021 Postdoctoral Excelllence in Mentoring and/or Teaching Award from the MSU Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
How COVID May Reshape the Future of Autism Education
April 28, 2021 - Caroline Brooks
Dr. Brooke Ingersoll discusses how Autism intervention methods, assessments, and compliance have changed since the pandemic began.
Erynne Dixon is the 2021 Outstanding Senior in Psychology
April 7, 2021 - Caroline Kraft
Erynne Dixon is the 2021 Outstanding Senior in Psychology.
Dr. Katharine Thakkar received the Rising Star Award from Schizophrenia International Research Society
March 18, 2021 - Psychology Department
Dr. Katharine Thakkar received the Rising Star Award from Schizophrenia International Research Society
A multi-institutional research group received an NSF grant to develop a measure of epistemic exclusion, a barrier to inclusion and retention of women and faculty of color in STEM fields
December 17, 2020 - NiCole Buchanan, WE2, Caroline Kraft
Working to promote inclusion by improving scholarly valuation: A multi-institutional research group including MSU professors received a National Science Foundation grant to study epistemic exclusion, a form of scholarly devaluation, as a barrier to the inclusion and retention of women and faculty of color in STEM
MSU psychologists received additional grant funding for their Prenatal Stress Study, allowing them to follow participants until 4 years of age and examine early markers of psychopathology.
December 9, 2020 - Caroline Kraft
MSU psychologists receive additional grant funding for their Prenatal Stress study, allowing them to follow participants until 4 years of age and examine early markers of psychopathology.
Dr. Jason Moser provides advice for managing holiday season anxiety
November 20, 2020 - Caroline Brooks
Dr. Jason Moser provides some tips for managing stress and anxiety this holiday season.
Drs. Jae Puckett and Kaston Anderson-Carpenter receive grant from NIMHHD to measure minority stress in transgender and gender diverse people
September 24, 2020 - Liz Schondelmayer
Drs. Jae Puckett and Kaston Anderson-Carpenter, Heather McCauley (Social Work), and Zachary Dubois (Anthropology, University of Oregon) receive grant from NIMHHD to measure minority stress in transgender and gender diverse people.
Due to declines in funding related to the global pandemic, the Department of Psychology will prioritize providing support for our currently enrolled graduate students in our PhD programs. Therefore, we will not be accepting any new PhD graduate students for the academic year beginning in Fall of 2021. We welcome applications for the online MA in Program Evaluation and the Certificate in Program Evaluation.
September 16, 2020 - Psychology Department
Due to declines in funding related to the global pandemic, the Department of Psychology will prioritize providing support for our currently enrolled graduate students in our PhD programs. Therefore, we will not be accepting any new PhD graduate students for the academic year beginning in Fall of 2021. We welcome applications for the online MA in Program Evaluation and the Certificate in Program Evaluation.
Social distancing highlights the importance of telehealth and parent-coaching models for children with autism
April 6, 2020 - Caroline Kraft
Social distancing highlights the importance of telehealth and parent-coaching models for children with autism.
Maintaining Healthy Relationships During the COVID-19 Crisis
March 19, 2020 - Liz Schondelmayer; Bill Chopik
Dr. Bill Chopik offers guidance on maintaining relationships with our loved ones and taking care of ourselves while social distancing.
Dr. Rebecca Campbell wins the 2020 MSU Inspirational Woman of the Year Award
February 8, 2020 - MSU GenCen
Dr. Rebecca Campbell won the 2020 MSU Inspirational Woman of the Year Award
Does political polarization make Congress more efficient?
January 30, 2020 - Caroline Brooks
Political polarization might make Congress more productive.
Dr. Miller's Research Helps to Connect youth with HIV to Proper Medical Care
January 17, 2020 - Liz Schondelmayer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only around one-half of HIV-positive individuals aged 12-24 actually know their status. Of those who do, almost 40% are not able to receive care within the first month of receiving their diagnosis. However, thanks to Michigan State University psychology professor Dr. Robin Lin Miller (pictured left) and an interdisciplinary team of experts, that is going to change.
Can just 20 minutes of meditation increase error recognition?
November 11, 2019 - Caroline Brooks, Jason Moser, Jeff Lin
Jeff Lin, Jason Moser, and colleagues examined the effects of meditation on error recognition using EEG.
Faculty Voice: Defining a Problem
October 16, 2019 - Rebecca Campbell, MSU Today
Rebecca Campbell discusses the current status of untested rape kits and the implications of the results of those kits for both the victims and society at large, including ethical and privacy concerns related to DNA testing.
Studying the Impacts of Autonomous Vehicles on the Workforce
September 18, 2019 - Melissa Priebe, Kristen Parker, Shelia Cotten
Organizational psychologists Daisy Chang and Kevin Ford are part of a research team for a $2.49 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation studying the impacts of autonomous vehicles on the future work force.
Victims of Domestic Violence Often Stuck with Financial Debt
September 10, 2019 - Caroline Brooks, Adrienne Adams
In this study by Adams, Littwin, and Javorka, 70% of domestic violence survivors said their partners hid financial information from them and these individuals were 3.6 times more likely to experience coerced debt
Dr. Alexa Veenema Won the 2019 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year Award
May 29, 2019 - Caroline Kraft
Dr. Veenema discusses working with undergraduates and conducting research in her lab.
Mike Morrison's Better Poster Design is Viral
May 16, 2019 - Caroline Kraft
Organizational psychology graduate student, Mike Morrison, created a poster design that is changing the way academics present their work.
Graduate Students Kristen J. Mills and Rachael Goodman-Williams won the Caldwell Land-Grant Values Award
May 14, 2019 - Caroline Kraft
Graduate students, Kristen J. Mills and Rachael Goodman-Williams, are award recipients.
College of Social Science Awards 3 Faculty Members
April 26, 2019 - Caroline Kraft
Steve Kozlowski, Kaston Anderson-Carpenter, and Bill Chopik received awards from the College of Social Science.
Dr. Kaston Anderson-Carpenter wins the 2019 College of Social Science Outstanding Teacher Award
April 4, 2019 - Caroline Kraft
This year's Outstanding Teacher shares some insights on teaching.
Dr. Kelly Klump Addresses Myths about Eating Disorders
February 27, 2019 - Caroline Kraft
During National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Dr. Kelly Klump dispels myths about eating disorders.