psychology

Nov 19, 2015

Are People Inherently Good or Bad at Learning New Tech? Your Opinion Matters

If you think people are inherently good or bad at learning how to use new technology, odds are good that it’s harder for you to learn how to use new technology. 

Nov 18, 2015

Experiencing Major Stress Makes Some Older Adults Better Able to Handle Daily Stress

A new study finds that dealing with a major stressful event appears to make some older adults better able to cope with the ups and downs of day-to-day stress. 

Nov 10, 2015

Psychologist Expands Postpartum Adjustment Work to Community

Psychologist Betty-Shannon Prevatt is working with the community to help understand what resources can help new moms adjust to the arrival of a baby. 

Sep 23, 2015

Research Aims to Reduce HIV/STD Risk Factors Among Teen Girls

A research effort led by NC State aims to reduce young people’s risk of HIV and other STDs through a web-based intervention program targeted at teen girls. 

Sep 21, 2015

Violence Among Young Black Men Linked to Sense of Powerlessness

New research finds that young black men and teens who are most likely to be victims or perpetrators of violence are also those who feel that they have the least power to effect social change. 

Jun 30, 2015

How Old You Feel Matters (and It Changes Day to Day)

New research from NC State finds that how old you feel changes on a daily basis – and that has very real ramifications for your well-being. 

May 20, 2015

In Memoriam: Slater Newman

Professor of psychology Slater Newman, who joined NC State's faculty in 1957, passed away on May 13. 

Feb 19, 2015

Study: 25 Percent of Children Who Are Homeless Need Mental Health Services

A pilot study finds that 25 percent of children who are homeless are in need of mental health services -- highlighting the need for more support for the millions of homeless children in the United States. 

Feb 18, 2015

Brace Yourself: Study Finds People Can Use Different Strategies to Prepare for Stress

A pilot study finds that people are not consistent in how they prepare mentally to deal with arguments and other stressors, with each individual displaying a variety of coping behaviors. 

Dec 3, 2014

The Gorilla in the Room: Inattentional Blindness Isn’t Blindness at All

Imagine being so engrossed in a task that you don’t notice a gorilla entering the room. (This actually happened in a famous psychological experiment.) The phenomenon is known as “inattentional blindness” and occurs when people are so focused on a task that they fail to notice unexpected events. But it turns out that inattentional blindness isn’t blindness at all. 

Nov 18, 2013

Researchers Design Interactive Software to Target Teen Alcohol Use

If you want teens to avoid risky behavior, you can’t just give teenagers the facts – you have to get them to engage with the information, feel motivated to change, and have the confidence and skills to keep themselves safe. That’s the idea behind a project under way at NC State and the University of California,… 

Sep 25, 2013

The 21st Century Professor: Evaluating the Future of Instruction in Higher Education

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Jeff Braden, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and professor of psychology at NC State. Braden is leading a study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to determine whether computer-based instruction is as effective as conventional classroom instruction in higher education. What makes… 

Sep 19, 2013

LEGO Robot Builders Form Emotional Bond to Their Creations

Psychology researchers have found that people who build robots form an emotional bond to their creations – though the bond is different from the sort of attachments people form with other people or pets. The researchers surveyed 16 undergraduates who built robots out of LEGOs as part of a robotics education course. All of the… 

Mar 5, 2013

Seniors Who Play Video Games Report Better Sense of Emotional Well-Being

New research finds that older adults who play video games report higher levels of emotional well-being. It’s correlation, not causation, but it is interesting. Researchers at NC State’s Gains Through Gaming lab asked 140 people aged 63 and older how often they played video games, if at all. The study participants then took a battery of… 

May 10, 2012

Efforts to Help Homeless Kids Gaining Traction

Homeless children are at higher risk for mental health problems than other kids, but one researcher from NC State is taking action to give these kids a better chance for a healthy life. Last year, we told you about Mary Haskett’s work with a program called Project CATCH, which aims to provide homeless children with the…