Category: Psychological Sciences

The following commentary was written by Louis Tay, William C. Byham Professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology in the Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, along with his collaborators from the University of Toronto. Tay, who recently received a $3.5 million John Templeton Foundation grant, is currently conducting research about the effects of AI conversational agents on well-being and character development.

Michael Phelps, Serena Williams and Simone Biles have all been named the GOAT of their sport, but what makes them different from other swimmers, tennis players and gymnasts who never made it to the Olympic level? Brooke Macnamara, associate professor in the Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, is studying skill acquisition and expertise to help understand why these athletes stand out.

As AI agents are becoming more pervasive for both work and personal use, people are increasingly turning to these agents for socioemotional help and support. Purdue Psychological Sciences William C. Byham Professor Louis Tay’s latest work will be a three-year study exploring the impact of AI conversational agents on human well-being, as funded by a $3.5 million John Templeton Foundation grant.

At just 17 years old, Makenzie Kelley already had an associate degree, zero student debt and her sights set on Purdue after completing a dual enrollment program in high school through Ivy Tech Community College. As a first-generation college student in the Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, Kelley noted having a head start really boosted her confidence about the college experience.

Emma Senter, a Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences junior, has always considered herself an animal person. So, when she had the opportunity to join the Human-Animal Partnerships and Interactions (HAPI) Lab in the College of Veterinary Medicine, she jumped at the chance.

While Senter, a brain and behavioral sciences major in the College of Health and Human Sciences, doesn’t work with the canines, her work with their human companions has helped her see the applied and interdisciplinary aspects of her field.

Advice about majors, suggestions on courses and help through personal challenges — academic advisors are a constant source of support for all Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) students. From their first moments on campus until they walk across the stage at graduation, HHS academic advisors make lasting differences in their students’ Boilermaker journeys.

Chiara Singarella and many or her teammates have leaned on team psychologist Andy Walsh and his colleagues for mental relief. The experience has pushed Singarella to pursue a career in psychology in the hopes to someday help student-athletes like herself attain their goals in life off the field, pitch, court or rink.

For Keehn’s research within his Attention and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Lab, summer is pivotal for collecting data from school-age children. Despite being the traditional time for internships, family vacations and summer jobs for Purdue students, his lab is often full of Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences undergraduate students gaining summer research experience.

Associate Professor Bridgette Kelleher invites the families to share their stories to the benefit of her students. Quizzes on the syndrome they are studying spike after a visit from a family that has a child with a rare nuerogenetic syndrome.

As the No. 1 most recognized public university in the United States and the No. 9 most recognized university in the world, according to American Caldwell, Purdue University welcomes Boilermakers from around the world to campus each year. While taking the next giant leap into college is a big deal for any student, international students often face distinct challenges, from adapting to a different culture and social norms to navigating the ins and outs of a new government and education system.

His work at Purdue gave him the credentials for a tenure-track faculty position in the Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia, where he spent most of 32 years researching and teaching social psychology before his retirement in 1999. And that career earned him a 2025 Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award and his first trip back to West Lafayette since the early 1970s.

From the moment Mia Schmetter’s grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the young girl knew she wanted to study the human brain. Schmetter, now a junior studying brain and behavioral sciences in the Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, saw the impact of the neurodegenerative disease not only on her grandmother but also in the weight it placed on her parents as caregivers, which drove her into the psychology realm. 

From individual interactions to cross-culture transitions, David Rollock, 150th Anniversary Professor in the Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences (PSY), is interested in the ways people cope. 

Tom Redick’s work recently caught the attention of the Office of Naval Research. The professor of psychological sciences was pulled into a multi-university initiative that focuses on cognitive attention and decision making. The thrust of the project will be for recruits and officers in testing their abilities to make decisions and maintain attention during crucial situations.

Dan Foti, professor in the Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, has researched the brain’s reaction to such positive visual stimuli. The mood elevation from seeing your beloved pet may seem immediate, but it takes precious milliseconds for the information to be processed, no matter how cute the photo is.

Don Hartsough retold the history of the Crisis Center but in a universal way. The book details effective ways to help someone in crisis, including excerpts from real phone conversations that were modified to disguise the identity of the caller, Hartsough obtained from Crisis Center records. “The Crisis Center Story” was put out by Luminare Press last spring and is available on Amazon.

Since 2019, Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences graduate students have earned six major awards at the renowned Psychonomic Society’s annual meeting. The international organization is the largest for cognitive study in psychology with more than 4,300 scientists as members.

ExpiWell has been used by more than 5,000 participants worldwide and has seven employees worldwide.

Recent research published by Sébastien Hélie, professor in the Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, examined how male and female participants recalled the steps it took to solve a digital version of the Tower of London problem-solving task.

Professor Susan South will launch a new study to see how mood, cognition and social engagement levels and experiences affect 50 Indiana residents in the age range of 60-70, who traditionally are at risk for mild cognitive impairment.

In fall 2023, Kelleher was awarded a $2.97 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to improve and advance telehealth methods while gaining knowledge on care for people ages 2-35 who have been diagnosed with rare neurogenetic syndromes such as Angelman, Williams and Prader-Willi.

A study led by Alexandra Hughes-Wegner, a May 2024 Master of Public Health graduate, found a striking number of Indiana salon workers — estheticians, massage therapists, nail technicians, barbers and hair stylists — have come into contact with people who were victims of sex trafficking and intimate partner violence during appointments.

Typical human aging brings about subtle changes in the body that can impair daily activities and quality of life. For many people, aging brings about tremors and the slowing of hand movement.

Brandi Smith, a Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences alumna, has always enjoyed looking at the world from others’ perspectives. From early on, often being the one her friends would go to for advice, Smith knew psychology was the go-to path for her. After exploring a wide range of psychology-related careers during her time at Purdue, she found her path moving in an entrepreneurial direction.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a statistic that Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, a two-time Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences alumna, is working to change.

Sydney Trask, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, developed a method she calls fear “deflation,” which chips away at the fearful stimulus in a more gradual manner. Trask’s work aims to introduce individuals to weaker versions of the thing that’s causing them fear to make it seem less intimidating.

Purdue University Human Development and Family Science and Psychological Sciences alumna Janine Zweig’s passion for helping sexual assault survivors and those who have had other victimizing experiences has shaped her more than 25-year career.

Shye Robinson was a foster child growing up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Years later, she was elected as student body president while maintaining her studies in brain and behavioral sciences in the Department of Psychological Sciences.

Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences faculty and staff were asked to give their top tips for healthy bodies, minds and bank accounts. These new habits will ensure a good year and beyond.

A new online source for losing the weight mental stress brings was implemented this fall into the PSY 12000 (Elementary Psychology) classes within the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences.The online Psychological Fitness Lab was developed by a team led by George Hollich, associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences.

After witnessing firsthand his stepfather’s experiences with substance use disorder and the recovery process, Luis Angel Gomez, a doctoral student in Purdue University’s Department of Psychological Sciences, was motivated to find new ways to prevent substance use disorder and improve treatment.

In the lab of Distinguished Professor Don Lynam, it’s the toxic threshold of personality traits that separate that likable and outgoing extrovert from a self-absorbed narcissist.

Internationally recognized clinical psychologist and Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumna Louise Evans carried a legacy of charity work and a career dedicated to improving mental health prior to her death in September 2021.

According to recent work by Purdue University psychological sciences Professor Sang Eun Woo, people’s varying reactions to the role of artificial intelligence in the current age may be rooted in their personality traits.

The recent focus of psychological sciences Assistant Professor Thekla Morgenroth’s work has been on negativity toward trans people. The researcher, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, won the inaugural Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Science Consortium Faculty Paper Award for a recent article in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, a publication from the Society of Personality and Social Psychology.

Individuals with autism see the world in a different way than their neurotypical peers. While some may view this as a negative, Purdue Associate Professor Brandon Keehn and other researchers promote positives within the minds of those with ASD. One example is people with autism can notice minute differences in work situations, especially in STEM fields.

While admissions directors prepare and work overtime to meet their programs’ needs, Neal Schmitt, a Purdue Psychological Sciences alumnus (MS ‘69, PhD ‘72) and industrial-organizational psychology distinguished professor emeritus, remembers a time when he explored admissions processes that might serve to complement SAT or ACT scores.

Ronnie Hill Jr. went from studying x’s and o’s in the Purdue University football playbook to studying personality disorders in the Samuel Assessment Methods for Personality and Psychopathology Lab.

I chose Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) for its immense opportunities within a committed and encouraging environment. Although Purdue is a large university, the opportunities to engage and connect with peers make it feel smaller and more manageable.

Identical twins share a lot with each other: Outside of their outward appearance, they often have many of the same experiences growing up. Doctoral students and twin sisters Melinda and Michelle Karth are no exception.

To highlight the many accomplishments of first-generation students, faculty, staff and alumni, the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) is participating in First-Generation College Celebration Week from Nov. 7-11 alongside the rest of the University to increase visibility, community and support for first-generation Boilermakers.

Psychological sciences junior Paulina Tangassi Lucio found a “cheat code” to connections, community and potential lifelong friendships when she joined Delta Phi Mu, a Latina sorority founded by five Purdue University students in 1991.

People often associate trips to the chiropractor with back pain, but chiropractic care goes well beyond the spine, according to 2018 Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumna Liron Saletsky.

The prospect of graduate school can seem daunting for any undergraduate student, but for students from underrepresented backgrounds, the stakes can be even higher. To help these students gain momentum toward graduate school in STEM fields and get involved in research, the Purdue University Louis Strokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program supports a variety of research and professional development opportunities during the fall, spring and summer semesters. The program also offers funding to support students’ research activities.

Most of us know — and likely have envied — a list-making, highly productive co-worker who is quietly on task. As the epitome of self-restraint, this low-key colleague meets or beats every deadline without a hint of drama.
But even as we admire these co-workers’ discipline and self-control, it’s possible — even likely — that we aren’t seeking them out to join us for lunch or to socialize after work.

Psychological sciences Assistant Professor Sydney Trask looks at the retrosplenial cortex because of the memories stored within. This work aims to discover new pathways in the understanding of age-related neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia.

Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumna Julie Taulman’s first introduction to adaptive sports came only months after her son, Kyle, became paralyzed in 2003. At two years old, Kyle was diagnosed with a stage-three, high-risk neuroblastoma cancer, which caused a tumor to wrap around his spine and prevented him from walking again. Despite the daunting diagnosis, the discovery of adaptive sports gave Taulman renewed hope that her son could live a normal life.

From stress relief to informing their studies, Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences students have choreographed dance into their busy college careers.

An impressive mix of academic success, leadership, character and service earned Emma Gausman the 2022 Flora Roberts Award, which goes to the most outstanding female senior at Purdue University.

From bringing the lab into students’ homes to elevating students’ internship experiences and developing new simulation opportunities, the Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award has fostered many innovative ideas in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS). The most recent award recipients, Becky Good and Janelle Potetz in the School of Nursing, will be integrating a flexible simulation program as part of four nurse practitioner graduate clinical courses to combat clinical placement challenges due to availability.

When hiring, many organizations use artificial intelligence tools to scan resumes and predict job-relevant skills. Colleges and universities use AI to automatically score essays, process transcripts and review extracurricular activities to predetermine who is likely to be a “good student.” With so many unique use cases, it is important to ask: can AI tools ever be truly unbiased decision-makers? In response to claims of unfairness and bias in tools used in hiring, college admissions, predictive policing, health interventions and more, the University of Minnesota recently developed a new set of auditing guidelines for AI tools.

Studying as an undergraduate and master’s student at Bihar University in India, College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumnus Ramadhar Singh read and admired the work of esteemed Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences professors in his textbooks. When he received a Fulbright scholarship in 1970, he took the opportunity to pursue his doctoral degree in the United States, where he requested to transfer from another university to Purdue to work under the direction of social psychologist Donn Byrne.

The translational research study examines the connection between nerves like the vagus and major organs like the stomach.

It’s a passion for helping families through some of their lowest times that has driven her to continue her father’s legacy and help the oldest African American-owned business in Spartanburg, South Carolina, thrive as it approaches 106 years of service.

Sarah Griffith applies psychology in the classroom and on the pitch while helping lead Purdue University soccer to its most successful season in more than a decade.

Researchers in the Purdue University School of Health Sciences and the Department of Psychological Sciences will gather data from up to 80 welders through questionnaires; motor, mood and memory tests; and brain magnetic resonance imaging scans. The images and data could reveal signs of neurological issues in the workers, who have been exposed to metal fumes containing manganese particulates.

Because ADHD can look different for different people, many misconceptions have circulated about the neurodevelopmental disorder. In her research, Sarah Karalunas, assistant professor of psychological sciences in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences, aims to lend better understanding of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and neurodevelopmental disorders in children to improve assessment and treatment.

With the fresh memory of Annie Drews and the rest of Team USA Volleyball’s Olympic championship, Purdue volleyball is off to a historic start, earning its highest NCAA ranking in program history at No. 6. The team also has its largest roster ever with 21 student-athletes, 13 of which are Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences majors.

To bring new understanding amid a growing mental health crisis and climbing suicide rate, researchers like Doug Samuel, associate professor of psychological sciences in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences, are studying the risks and ways to prevent suicide across the United States.

The Department of Psychological Sciences (PSY) got its start in 1908 when the first psychology courses were taught in Purdue University’s Department of Education, which served the general education requirements for students who did not belong to a specific school. Lucas George Roberts, the department’s only faculty member, taught both of the psychology courses the department offered at the time: general psychology and educational psychology.

Work in the PACER Lab concentrates on diagnosing depression and schizophrenia at its early stages as well as how the brain is affected by such mood and neurological disorders.

Bridgette Kelleher, an associate professor of psychological sciences, has been appointed as the new director of the Purdue Autism Research Center (PARC), and Brandon Keehn, an associate professor of speech, language and hearing sciences, is the new associate director of the center.

Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumna Samantha Busch and her husband, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, are familiar with the struggles of infertility.

The road to medical school is paved with hard work and a passion for helping people, but biology and standard science tracks are not the only way to get there.

Routine and structure are often essential in the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, those key elements were upended in most parts of their lives.

Sleep health is key for optimal development in children but especially for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Researchers in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences rely on human subjects for learning more about genetic and developmental disorders like autism, Angelman syndrome and others.

If you want to expend energy efficiently, it’s best to tailor your efforts to the final goal. If your devices or network connections can’t display or relay high-resolution images, there’s no point in streaming high-definition movies.

Jaya Sunil Bhojwani, a PhD counseling psychology student, conducts research on the socio-political and systemic challenges faced by international students studying in the U.S. It’s not just her research agenda, it’s also her lived experience.

Professor David Rollock is the recipient of the Charles & Shirley Thomas Award from the American Psychological Association.

Purdue psychological sciences researcher Dr. Kipling Williams recently spoke to Parade Magazine about ‘ghosting,’ which is ostracism that is enabled by technology and social media.

Children who enjoy sweetened soft drinks consume more total calories and sugar compared with their water- and milk-drinking peers, according to a new study by Purdue Psychological Sciences researcher.

Sébastien Hélie, associate professor of psychological sciences, wins award for mid-career excellence and impact in research & scholarship.

Early disclosure, combined with explicit language, may suggest at least a portion of young victims are actively seeking safe ways to talk about their experiences with abuse via SMS text messages.

A long-distance telehealth study at Purdue University could help researchers identify autism symptoms in infancy, which could ultimately help children receive targeted therapy earlier.

There is an optimal point to how much money it takes to make an individual happy, and that amount varies worldwide, according to research from Purdue University.

January 15, 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of the “Miracle on the Hudson” crash landing, piloted by Purdue alumnus Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.