psychology

Dec 8, 2016

Drug Use Strong Predictor for Postpartum Mental Health Problems

New research from NC State and the University of British Columbia finds that a woman’s lifetime history of drug use can help predict whether the woman will suffer from problems with stress and anxiety after childbirth. 

Nov 3, 2016

Explore Environment’s Role in Healthy Aging

NC State’s Department of Psychology and its Daily Well-Being in Adulthood Lab invite you to a mini-conference on aging and the environment. 

Oct 13, 2016

Study Examines What Drives Student Involvement in Racial Justice Movements

A new study finds that women college students are more active than men in racial justice movements – and that what drives Black students to engage is different from what drives Latino students. 

Sep 29, 2016

Older Adults No Slower Than Young Adults at Taking Control of Semi-Autonomous Vehicles

New research from NC State University finds that older adults have comparable response times to young adults when tasked with taking control of a semi-autonomous vehicle. 

Aug 3, 2016

Good Attitudes About Aging Help Seniors Handle Stress

New research from NC State finds that having a positive attitude about aging makes older adults more resilient when faced with stressful situations. 

Jul 22, 2016

Successful Innovation: A Field Guide to the Psychology of Change

The word “innovation” gets thrown around a lot, often in regard to the development of new products or services. But what predicts how people will respond to new things or ideas? 

Jul 12, 2016

Hess Earns Prestigious Baltes Award

Psychology professor Tom Hess will receive the Baltes Distinguished Research Achievement Award, the American Psychological Association's most prestigious award for research on adult development and aging. 

Jun 7, 2016

Research Finds Offender Risk Assessment Tools in U.S. Are Promising, but Questions Remain

The criminal justice system in the United States uses a variety of tools to assess the behavior of criminal offenders, and those risk assessments can have a significant impact on an offender’s fate. A new meta-analysis of the research conducted in the U.S. on these tools shows that – while promising – it is still unclear whether these tools reduce bias against offenders. 

Jun 2, 2016

Study: Attitudes Toward Women Key in Higher Rates of Sexual Assault by Athletes

An online study of male undergraduates shows that more than half of study participants on intercollegiate and recreational athletic teams – and more than a third of non-athletes – reported engaging in sexual coercion, including rape. 

Jun 1, 2016

Helping African-American Young Adults Cope With the Consequences of Discrimination

Be proud of being Black, take care of your mental health, and find constructive ways to confront institutional racism. That’s the advice that a team of psychology researchers has for young African-American adults who are dealing with the consequences of racial discrimination. 

Mar 1, 2016

Researchers ID Risk Factors That Predict Violence in Adults With Mental Illness

Researchers have identified three risk factors that make adults with mental illness more likely to engage in violent behavior. The findings give mental health professionals and others working with adults with mental illness a suite of characteristics they can use as potential warning signs, allowing them to intervene and hopefully prevent violent behavior. 

Dec 14, 2015

What Motivates Older Adults to Stay Mentally Active?

As we age, it can be harder to do what’s good for the mind. Now researchers are trying to learn more about what affects our motivation to engage in cognitively-rewarding tasks. 

Dec 3, 2015

Study: Mental Health Courts Significantly Reduce Repeat Offenses, Jail Time

NC State research finds that mental health courts are effective at reducing repeat offending, and limiting related jail time, for people with mental health problems – especially those who also have substance use problems. 

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.