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NEWS

David Yeager speaks at Summit 2012
Assistant Professor David Yeager was a featured speaker at Summit 2012, produced by NewSchools Venture Fund in partnership with NBC News "Education Nation". Dr. Yeager led a session with one of his Stanford collaborators, Greg Walton, on psychological interventions in education. Rahm Emmanuel, Margaret Spellings (former secretary of education) and Roland Fryer, a Harvard economist, also gave talks. more >
(05/04/12)

To Predict Dating Success, the Secret's in the Pronouns
Professor James Pennebaker was interviewed recently on National Public Radio's Morning Edition. Dr. Pennebaker talked about his research on "function words", a topic he explores in his book, The Secret Life of Pronouns, and discusses how the words that people used during speed dating to determine how well a couple would get along. more > | Listen to interview
(05/02/12)

APA Media picks: David Buss, PhD
The American Psychological Association's gradPSYCH Magazine features David Buss, professor of evolutionary psychology, in "Media Picks". Dr. Buss is a fan of movies that explore themes common to the subjects he examines in his research, which includes good love stories. more >
(05/02/12)

Meet a Game Changer: Russell Poldrack
Russell Poldrack will talk about the brain systems involved in risk-taking when he joins UT's Game Changers on Thursday, May 24, in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Poldrack will describe his research that has used brain imaging to understand the brain systems that are involved in risk taking, and why some individuals are more willing to take risks than others. This research has shown how the brain weighs rewards and punishments, and why the teenage years are a particularly vulnerable period for risky behavior.
Poldrack on YouTube
GameChangers Web Page for Poldrack
Details and Registration
(05/01/12)

Alice Andrews retiring after 31 years
Alice Andrews, Undergraduate Advisor for the psychology department since 1985, will be retiring from UT-Austin effective on Friday, May 25, 2012. After graduating from UT-Austin as a psychology major in 1980, Alice joined the department as a lab manager for the Children's Research Lab. In 1985 she moved into her advising role in the Undergraduate Office. Alice has been recognized as an outstanding advisor, planner, coordinator, and mediator. She has earned multiple awards for her stellar service to UT Austin and her many contributions will be missed by her colleagues across the University campus. The department will host a retirement party for Alice on Thursday, May 17 at 1:30pm in SEA 4.244. Please join us to celebrate with Alice!
Alice's list of awards includes:
. National Academic Advising Association 2004 Outstanding Advising Awards for Academic Advising Administrators
. The University of Texas President's Exemplary Service Award 2001
. The University of Texas 1988 Staff Excellence Award
. The University of Texas 1995 Staff Excellence Award
(04/19/12)

Art Markman teaching 1-day course on "Maximizing Mental Agility"
The College of Liberal Arts "Human Dimensions of Organizations (HDO)" program is offering a 1-day course developed by Dr. Art Markman. The course, scheduled for July 13, focuses on six areas of thinking that provide easy-to-learn strategies rooted in Cognitive Science that will help people to be more productive, efficient, creative, motivated, and satisfied in their working lives, and beyond. more >
(04/09/12)

Art Markman discusses "Smart Thinking" on UT "Game Changers" Taping
Cognitive psychologist Art Markman will discuss "Smart Thinking: Three Essential Keys to Solve Problems, Innovate, and Get Things Done" on Wednesday, April 11, 6 p.m. in KLRU Studio 6A. Game Changers brings the university's intellectual talent beyond the classroom with a live 60-minute show that will also be broadcast on the Longhorn Network. The tapings are free and open to the public. Go to this website to RSVP. View Dr. Markman's promo video
(04/09/12)

Brain imaging: fMRI 2.0
Russell Poldrack, professor of psychology and neurobiology, and other neuroscientists weigh in on the present and future of fMRI data analysis technology in an article in the current issue of Nature. more >
(04/05/12)

Biofeedback May Improve Sexual Satisfaction for Female Survivors of Abuse
Goodtherapy.org blogs about results of a recent study which used biofeedback to determine the biological and physiological responses of women with and without a history of childhood sexual abuse. The study, authored by Drs. Cindy Meston and T. A. Lorenz, has been published in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Read article > | Read full study >
(04/04/12)

Good to believe in the Easter Bunny: German newspapers cites Woolley research
A German national daily newspaper cites Dr. Jacquline Woolley's research on children's understanding of fantasy vs. reality. The article is in German | English translation. A better English version can be found via "The Local", another German newspaper. Read "Easter Bunny belief 'good for kids'.
(04/03/12)

Juan Dominguez receives NIH/NIDA grant to fund research
Dr. Juan Dominguez has been awarded a research grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The grant funds total $1,500,000. The proposed studies will examine how hormones influence the brain to modulate cocaine-induced behaviors. Dr. Dominguez is an assistant professor of psychology in behavioral neuroscience and director of of The Neuroendocrinology and Motivation Lab.
(04/02/12)

Pennebaker, Daly Discuss Language of Sustainability at Inaugural Lecture
James Pennebaker, chair of the psychology department, and John Daly, communications studies professor, discussed the language of sustainability in an inaugural lecture titled “Sustainability: What Does it Mean? What Does it Matter?” The lecture fulfilled the spring 2012 Signature Course University Lecture Series requirement. more >
(03/30/12)

Some people may be more susceptible to alcohol-induced fragmentary blackouts
Drs. David M. Schnyer and Kim Fromme have co-authored a paper with former students Reagan Wetherill and Bryan Hartzler, titled "Acute Alcohol Effects on Contextual Memory BOLD Response: Differences Based on Fragmentary Blackout History", which will be published in the June 2012 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. According to Reagan, "Our study's findings suggest that some people are more likely to experience alcohol-induced blackouts than others due to the way alcohol affects brain activity in areas involved in self-monitoring, attention, and working memory." more >
(03/27/12)

Art Markman on "Love, Design and Business"
Art Markman, professor of psychology and marketing at the University of Texas at Austin, will be a guest on his first Tweet Chat this Friday, April 6, to talk about innovation. The title of the show is “Love, Design and Business”. It starts at 12pm ET/5pm GMT/9am PT on the Twitter chat, #kaizenblog. Dr. Markman is director of the program in the Human Dimensions of Organizations, and the author of Smart Thinking: Three Essential Keys. His twitter handle is @abmarkman.
Title of show: “Love, Design and Business”
Time: April 6, 12pm ET/5pm GMT/9am PT
Where: On Twitter chat, #kaizenblog
Read more >
(04/04/12)

Ed Pasanen retires after 40 years at UT
On Friday, 30 March 2012, Ed Pasanen retired from UT after 40 years of service in the McFadden lab. In that time, Ed has been co-author on about 30 research papers and has been crucial to the success of multiple studies, both behavioral and physiological. Even after retirement, he will continue to work on data analysis and writing for several additional research reports, and he also is a consultant on NIH grants at other universities because of his extensive knowledge of the auditory system.
(03/29/12)

David Buss discusses infidelity on CNN
Dr. David Buss joined a discussion, hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky of the Dr. Drew Show (CNN), on the subject of infidelity during a mid-life crisis. Dr. Buss is the author of "Evolution of Desire". A transcript is available. To read, scroll down to the section titled "The midlife crisis" >
(03/22/12)

Elliot Tucker-Drob interviewed on Good Day Austin
Dr. Elliot Tucker-Drob was interviewed on Channel 7's Good Day Austin to talk about a recent study that supported pre-school as the best ensurer of success in the education of disadvantaged children. View > | Read full study
(03/21/12)

When Your Mouth Betrays You: The Science and Psychology Behind Slips
Dr. Zenzi Griffin is one of several psychologists called upon to explain "parapraxis", or what many of us would call a "Freudian slip". While some psychologists might interpret a verbal error, or "slip of the tongue" as revealing a subconscious thought or wish, Dr. Griffin, however, says it is not necessarily "emotional" . more >
(03/21/12)

UT's Clinical Psychology program ranks #11 in U. S. News & World Report
Our clinical training program is now #11 (up from #16 in 2008) on the list of clinical psychology graduate programs in the country, as reported by the U.S. News & World Report. Dr. Martita Lopez is the director of the program, which seeks to prepare students for research and teaching careers. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the website, and view the Clinical Student Handbook for detailed information about the program.
U. S. News & World Report rankings
(03/15/12)

Does Being an Early Bloomer Increase Risk for Eating Issues?
Dr. Kathryn Paige Harden recently conducted a study examining how early maturation can affect young girls’ perceptions of conformity and contribute to disordered eating. She found that "girls who thought that they matured faster than their peers were more likely to engage in dieting that predicted eating problems." more > | Read full study
(03/15/12)

Narcissism predicts likelihood of sexual infidelity
Dr. David Buss talks about the reasons why celebrity marriages are likely to break up in a New York Times article that surveys research and analysis on the topic. Dr. Buss' research on longevity in marriage found that narcissism is a trait which can predict the likelihood of sexual infidelity. more >
(03/13/12)

Sam Gosling to speak at Lone Star College-Montgomery
Sam Gosling will be talking about his book, "Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You", at a presentation at Lone Star College-Montgomery's Performing Arts Center (Building D). The presentation is sponsored by the college’s Psychology Club and Psi Beta, the national honorary society for psychology students at LSC-Montgomery. The talk is scheduled for Thursday, March 29, at 12 p.m. more >
(03/12/12)

Do You Really Know Why You Hate the Incumbent?
Dr. Art Markman, in his blog for Huffington Post ruminates on the superficiality of political discussion in the election season, pointing out the fact that "the discussion of political issues is superficial and frankly it is often filled with lies." more >
(03/09/12)

The Secret Life of Language
Dr. James Pennebaker is profiled by online culture magazine The Nervous Breakdown. Writer Cila Warncke interviewed him about his recently published book, The Secret Life of Pronouns. more >
(03/09/12)

Jennifer Beer awarded 3-year grant from NSF
Jennifer Beer, associate professor of psychology and director of the Self-Regulation Lab, has been awarded a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation. The title is 'Self-esteem Threat as a Moderator of the Mechanism Underlying Exaggerated Positivity.' The project will use behavioral and neural measures to understand why people see themselves through rose-colored glasses.
(02/24/12)

Study confirms benefits of preschooling for disadvantaged children
A new study which examines the effect of preschooling on a child's performance in grade school has been published in Psychological Science. In a study involving over 1,000 identical and fraternal twins. Dr. Elliot Tucker-Drob found that children from disadvantaged backgrounds who attend preschool do better in grade school than those who do not. It made no difference, however, for children from more privileged backgrounds. more >| Read full study (PDF)
(02/28/12)

Psychology researchers participate in new research offering hope of paralysis cure
Two Psychology Department graduate students (Josh Britt and Jackie Kane) and two Psychology professors (Drs. Francisco Gonzalez-Lima and Tim Schallert) are key collaborators and co-authors of a study that offers hope for a cure for paralysis. This exciting new research, led by Dr. George Bittner, a professor of Neurobiology, has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Neuroscience Research. An early view of the paper, titled "Rapid, Effective, and Long-Lasting Behavioral Recovery Produced by Microsutures, Methylene Blue, and Polyethylene Glycol After Completely Cutting Rat Sciatic Nerves" is now available. Read full study | "New surgery heals nerve damage in weeks" | Watch Video feature on KVUE.com
(02/09/12)

New book by Dr. Russell Poldrack
Handbook of Functional MRI Data Analysis
"Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become the most popular method for imaging brain function. Handbook for Functional MRI Data Analysis provides a comprehensive and practical introduction to the methods used for fMRI data analysis. Using minimal jargon, this book explains the concepts behind processing fMRI data, focusing on the techniques that are most commonly used in the field." Read more > | Visit the "Handbook of Functional MRI Data Analysis" Web Site

James Pennebaker decodes Mark Zuckerberg
In the online edition of Forbes magazine professor James Pennebaker scrutinized letters from America's best-known Internet companies at the time of their initial public offerings and came up with some interesting revelations about their personalities. more >
(02/02/12)

New study by Samuel Gosling published in Psychological Science
In a study that examined how bad people are at forecasting emotions, psychology professor Samuel Gosling and student Michael Tyler Mathieu reanalyzed the raw data from 11 studies of “affective forecasting” and concluded that “We’re not as hopeless as an initial reading of the literature might lead you to think...” The study has been published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. APS Press Release
(01/30/12)

Jacqueline Woolley explains the tradition of the tooth fairy as a rite of passage
Dr. Jacqueline Woolley studies children's understanding of reality. In "Losing baby teeth is a rite of passage" she talks about the importance of the tooth fairy. more >
(02/01/12)

Autofocus and the importance of 'defocusing'
Postdoctoral researcher Johannes Burge and his advisor, Dr. Wilson Geisler, director of the Center for Perceptual Systems, recently published research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences which describes how they were able to extract and use information in an individual image to determine how far objects are from the focus distance. The Guardian notes that the algorithm they have developed "looks set to revolutionise the way autofocus works, allowing for greater speed and accuracy in digital photography." more >
(01/23/12)

What can you do with a bachelor's degree in psychology? Ask Jeffrey Wittig, Oak Hill Fire Chief
Jeffrey J. Wittig, (class of '95), has been appointed Fire Chief of the Oak Hill Fire Department by the Travis County Emergency Services District #3 board of commissioners. After obtaining his B.A. in Psychology Jeffrey began working toward an MBA while serving as a volunteer fireman.

He quickly rose through the ranks. more >
(02/08/12)

Graduate student blogs for Psychology Today
In her Psychology Today blog, "Embracing the Dark Side", Jenna Baddeley writes about the positive aspects of sadness, bereavement, and other negative feelings.
more >
(01/25/12)

Social and Personality faculty & students attend SPSP conference
Faculty and students from the Social and Personality area will be presenting posters and giving talks at the 13th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) from January 26-28. SPSP promotes scientific research that explores how people think, behave, and interact. With more than 7,000 members, the Society is the largest organization of social and personality psychologists in the world. Conference Web site
Talks:
- Gili Freedman and Jennifer Beer
- Brent Hughes and Jennifer Beer
Posters:
- Scott Liening and Robert Josephs
- Yi-Tai Seih and James Pennebaker
- Carson Sandy, Sam Gosling, John Durant, and Ryan Browne
- Molly Ireland and James Pennebaker
- Lindsay Graham, Sam Gosling, Christopher Travis, Erin Darling, Meng Ke, and Richard Corsi
- Erin Burgoon, Marlone Henderson, Cheryl Wakslak
- Jenna Baddeley, Lindsay Graham, Robert Wilson, Samuel Gosling, James Pennebaker
(01/25/12)

Psychology staff member receives 2012 James Vick Award
Undergraduate advisor Jay Brown is the recipient of the 2012 James Vick Award.This award is presented each spring to academic advisors who have had an effective, positive influence on the educational experience of university students. Students nominate academic advisors from across campus and a student selection committee determines the recipients. New honorees join former recipients at a luncheon to celebrate academic advising and to receive a certificate and a monetary award. Congratulations, Jay!
(01/23/12)

Facebook behavior study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
A new study by psychology professor Sam Gosling shows that how you act on the social network is an accurate reflection of your offline behavior. The study, titled “Manifestations of personality in Online Social Networks: self-reported Facebook-related behaviors and observable profile information,” has been published in the academic journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. ZDNet | The Atlantic >
(01/17/12)

UT Libraries' "Science Study Break" investigating Sherlock Holmes with Sam Gosling
Drs. Sam Gosling (Psychology) and Jim Bryant (Biology) use scenes from the BBC program "Sherlock!" and Granada Television's "Sherlock Holmes" series to illustrate the master sleuth's use of statistics and observations of the everyday manifestations of personality. The presentation was videotaped on November 10, 2011. Watch video
(01/09/12)

The Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory: Q&A with Dr. Alison Preston
Dr. Alison Preston was interviewed by the Texas Advanced Computing Center prior to her speaking engagement at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on Tuesday, January 10. The event was sponsored by the Austin Forum on Science, Technology & Society. Dr. Preston discussed discuss her work combining brain imaging techniques with advanced computational methods to visualize how the brain builds predictive memories. more >
(01/06/12, updated 01/11/12)

Beer and Liquor: As Healthy as Wine?
A new study on alcohol and longevity by psychology professor Charles Holahan with colleagues at Texas, Stanford, and the Palo Alto VA has been reviewed in The New York Times. The study, published in the January 2012 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, suggests that, among older adults who are moderate drinkers, the apparent unique effects of wine on longevity may be explained by confounding factors correlated with wine consumption. That is, among older moderate drinkers (1 to 2 drinks per day), beer and liquor may be as strongly associated as wine with a longer life. However, the study does not encourage initiating alcohol consumption as a pathway to better health. more >
Read full study (Title: Wine Consumption and 20-Year Mortality Among Late-Life Moderate Drinkers)
(01/06/12)

Austin Chronicle interviews James Pennebaker on "The Secret Life of Pronouns"
In "Reading between the 'I's" Josh Rosenblatt interviews psychology professor James Pennebaker about the research that uncovered The Secret Life of Pronouns. more >
(01/05/12)

KUT interviews Art Markman on new book, "Smart Thinking"
KUT's Matt Largey interviewed Art Markman on his new book, “Smart Thinking”, which explores the science of learning to think smart. Dr. Markman will be signing copies of his book at BookPeople (603 N Lamar Blvd) on Wednesday, January 4, at 7:00 p.m. Listen to audio interview >
(01/03/12)

Persistence pays for unattractive men who overestimate their chances of attracting women
A new study by psychology alumna Carin Perilloux, psychology graduate student Judith Easton, and psychology professor David Buss will be published in the journal Psychological Science. The study, titled "The Misperception of Sexual Interest", hypothesizes that men who misread sexual cues may actually be the ones evolution favors. APS Press Release | Read more in Science Daily | MSNBC
(12/20/11)

Fellowship, scholarship help fund undergraduate research project
In Fall 2011 Lindsay Taraban was awarded a $792 Undergraduate Research Fellowship from the Office of the Vice President for Research, as well as a $600 research scholarship from the College of Liberal Arts. The awards helped her develop a research project on the subject of self-explanation and relational noun learning in young children. She reports that her results look promising, so she will continue the project next semester with the aim of publishing her findings.
View Lindsay's poster (PDF)

According to Lindsay, "Self-explanation is a learning tool that's been demonstrated effective at helping grade-school children understand and solve complex problems in math and sciences and I was basically researching whether this tool would also help young children, and whether it can be helpful for language-based tasks (instead of math/science).

Project Title: The Effects of Self-Explanation on Children’s Learning of Relational Nouns
Supervisor: Catharine Echols
(12/13/11)

Honors Poster Session Fall 2011

Honors students present posters for research projects
Every semester, the Psychology Department starts a new group of students through a one-year Honors program. Students work under the supervision of a member of the faculty to complete an original research project. The project culminates in a written thesis and a poster session attended by faculty and students from the department. This group of 13 students presented their posters in December, 2011 after completing projects started in January. The poster session was hosted by the UT Chapter of Psi Chi, the International Psychology Honors Society. View slideshow >
Psychology Honors Program | Honors Project Archive
(12/06/11)

Jonathan Pillow to give tutorial at NIPS conference
Assistant Professor Jonathan Pillow is scheduled to give a two-hour tutorial on December 12 at the 2011 Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) Conference in Granada, Spain. The NIPS Foundation is a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to foster the exchange of research on neural information processing systems in their biological, technological, mathematical, and theoretical aspects. Tutorials are usually given by highly regarded and well-known scientists, so the invitation to Dr. Pillow to speak is quite an honor.
Dr. Pillow's research involves statistical methods for understanding the neural code in single neurons and neural populations. His lab works closely with experimentalists to identify the neural computations underlying sensory, cognitive, and motor behaviors. Title of tutorial: Flexible, Multivariate Point Process Models for Unlocking the Neural Code.
Twitter hashtag: #NIPS2011
For more information on Dr. Pillow's research, visit the Neural Coding and Computation Lab
(12/08/11)

Psychology faculty teach seminars for new Liberal Arts Master's program
Dr. Arthur Markman is founding director of HDO (Human Dimensions of Organizations), which will begin offering Professional Seminars in February 2012. These day-long Saturday courses will explore engaging issues and themes within the College of Liberal Arts and will provide specific practical suggestions for employing this knowledge in organizational settings. Dr. Markman will be teaching one of the first two seminars, titled "Maximizing Mental Agility". Other participating psychology faculty include Drs. David Buss, Caryn Carlson, Sam Gosling, Charles Holahan, and James Pennebaker. More details are available at http://hdo.utexas.edu/seminars. Discounts and group rates are available for UT staff, faculty, and alumni. HDO Website >
(11/15/11)

Marlone Henderson in 6-part Knowledge Matters video series
Assistant professor of psychology Marlone Henderson is the latest psychology faculty member to record several YouTube videos for the University of Texas at Austin's "Knowledge Matters" video series. Dr. Henderson talks on these subjects: What Motivates People to Give | Benefits of Distance & Negotiation 1 | Benefits of Distance & Negotiation 2 | Negotiation and the Workplace | Fundraising Tactics | Celebrities and Giving
(12/01/11)

Russell Poldrack on how to study
In an article published in the December 1, 2011 edition of The Daily Texan, Dr. Russell Poldrack, psychology professor and director of the Imaging Research Center, weighs in on the effectiveness of certain study methods. “Getting a good night’s sleep is probably the most important thing,” he said. “It’s a really important way that memories get transformed in the brain.” more >
(12/02/11)

James Pennebaker interviewed by ABC Brisbane
Psychology professor and chair James Pennebaker talks about his recent book "The Secret Life of Pronouns" in an audio interview on ABC Brisbane. Dr. Pennebaker studies how we use pronouns and what messages we send to others in spoken, written and even tweeted forms of language. more >
(11/30/11)

James Pennebaker to present talk at AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center
Professor and department chair James Pennebaker will present a talk titled "How Our Words Reflect Who We Are" on Tuesday, December 6, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. He will talk about his research in the psychology of word use. A networking reception is scheduled at 5:45 p.m., followed by the presentation, which begins at 6:30 p.m. more >
(11/17/11)

Rebecca Bigler writes about research on single-sex schooling in Slate Magazine
Rebecca Bigler and Lise Eliot are authors of "The Feminist Case Against Single-Sex Schools" in the online magazine Slate. They present a persuasive case to feminists who think girls are well-served by the protected environment of a single-sex class, arguing that results of recently published research show no benefit to either boys or girls. They conclude that segregating classes by gender can actually do harm by perpetuating sexist attitudes. The findings of Dr. Bigler's research group were recently published in a peer-reviewed article in the journal Science. Read Slate article > | Read Science article >
(11/04/11)

Russell Poldrack featured in Nature podcast
Russell Poldrack discusses the latest fMRI research in an October 2011 neuroscience podcast from Nature. more >
(10/31/11)

Treat Your Employees Like Neighbors
In his most recent blog for the Harvard Business Review, Art Markman, Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing, talks about the relationship between companies and their employees, and how successful organizations combine elements of both hierarchies and neighborhoods. more >
(10/24/11)

May I Have your Attention? The Brain, Multitasking, and Information Overload
Russell Poldrack, professor of psychology and neurobiology, talks about the effects of multitasking on the human brain and the capacity for "deep learning" in an interview with Project Information Literacy.

"You can think of today’s world as a child-rearing experiment on a grand scale, since humans have never been raised in an environment like this before..the worst case scenario is that we will one day wake up and realize that we are living in a cognitive dystopia..." more >
(10/18/11)

How Can Understanding Human Evolutionary Psychology Help Prevent Domestic Violence?
"Conflict between the sexes is a pervasive problem in many social relationships. It becomes especially acute in mating relationships. Humans, unlike most species, have evolved long-term mating strategies marked by high levels of investment, commitment, and love. Long-term mating could not have evolved without adaptations to guard or protect these investments."
-- psychology professor David Buss, in Science and Religion Today
(10/17/11)

New Book by Arnold H. Buss, Professor Emeritus:
Pathways to Individuality: Evolution and Development of Personality Traits
In his new book, Pathways to Individuality, Arnold H. Buss, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus artfully presents a summary of important developments in the area of personality psychology. Drawing from more then 50 years of research and teaching, Dr. Buss examines the personality traits we share with other animals as well as the traits that set us apart and make us distinctly human. more >

Publisher: American Psychological Association; 1st edition (August 15, 2011)

Read more about this book at the APA website

Research by Cristine Legare featured in TED talk
New research by psychology professor Cristine Legare on the development of scientific reasoning was featured in a recent TED talk. This research has been published in the journal Child Development. The paper is titled, "Exploring explanation: Explaining inconsistent evidence informs exploratory, hypothesis-testing behavior in young children". More information can be found on Dr. Legare's website. | Watch TED talk | Full text of study
(10/14/11)

James Pennebaker to speak at Texas Book Festival
Psychology professor and department chair James Pennebaker is one of several faculty authors who will be showcasing their works at the Texas Book Festival this Saturday, October 22. Dr. Pennebaker will be speaking about his recently published book, The Secret Life of Pronouns. His talk is scheduled for 10:00-10:45 in the Capitol Extension Room E2.016. Fellow UT social psychology professor Sam Gosling will act as moderator. more >

See the Texas Book Festival website for the full summary. The Secret Life of Pronouns Web Page
(10/17/11)

New study aims to treat PTSD with drug known to enhance learning
Psychology professors Francisco Gonzalez-Lima and Michael Telch are collaborating with psychologists from the University of Washington and the University of Pennsylvania in a new study using "prolonged exposure therapy" to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). About two-thirds of the PTSD patients who have been treated with this therapy no longer have PTSD after 10 therapy sessions lasting 90 minutes each. The researchers hope to improve the speed and effectiveness of this therapy with a memory-enhancing drug developed in Dr. Gonzalez-Lima's lab using animals. They are recruiting participants for the study, which is being funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. more >
Take part in the study
(10/12/11)

Twins study featured in "Why Don't Smart Teens Have Sex"
A study by assistant professor of psychology Kathryn Paige Harden and Jane Mendle (University of Oregon) that looks at factors that influence how early teenagers start to have sex is the subject of an article in an online magazine that reports on programs for improving childen's health and development. Read more... The study has been published in the journal Child Development. Title: "Why Don’t Smart Teens Have Sex? A Behavioral Genetic Approach" | Read full study
(10/06/11)

Study by research group stirs controversy in Austin school district
A study published last month in a prestigious science journal has focused attention on single-sex schools, including the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin. The study, co-authored by Dr. Rebecca Bigler and researchers with the American Council for CoEducational Schooling, asserts that single-sex schools don't improve student performance any more than coeducational schools, and in fact, increases gender stereotyping and legitimises institutional sexism. Since the Austin school district might open two new single-sex schools next year, the spotlight has caused discomfort for district administrators. Read "Girls schools like Ann Richards scrutinized in academic paper" | Read full study (PDF) | More info at Science web site | Bigler Web Page
(10/07/11)

Juan Dominguez and Alison Preston inducted into UT Society for Teaching Excellence
Juan Dominguez and Alison Preston have been inducted into the University of Texas Society for Teaching Excellence. The Society is comprised of faculty members who are dedicated to excellence in teaching. Members were selected by the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Dr. Preston is Assistant Professor in the Cognitive Systems area and Dr. Dominguez is Assistant Professor in the Behavioral Neuroscience area. Read more...| Dominguez Web Page | Preston Web Page
(10/04/11)

New Book by Dr. James Pennebaker:

"THE SECRET LIFE OF PRONOUNS"

"In The Secret Life of Pronouns, social psychologist and language expert James W. Pennebaker uses his groundbreaking research in computational linguistics-in essence, counting the frequency of words we use-to show that our language carries secrets about our feelings, ...
Read more about this book in

Official Web Site featuring videos, upcoming talks, and several exercises you can take online.
Bloomsbury Press... | Scientific American Interview | UT feature story | New York Times Sunday Book Review | Austin American-Statesman | Wall Street Journal

Video Interviews (author-maintained list from web site)
KXAN video interview
YouTube video interviews via Knowledge Matters
KERA audio interview
(08/17/11, revised 09/02/11)

Researchers Develop Optimal Algorithm for Determining Focus Error in Eyes and Cameras
Bill Geisler, psychology professor and director of the Center for Perceptual Systems, and post-doctoral student, Johannes Burge, have discovered how to extract and use information in an individual image to determine how far objects are from the focus distance, a feat only accomplished by human and animal visual systems until now. The research will be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They Read about the study in UT News...
Title: "Optimal defocus estimation in individual natural images"
Read full study (PDF) | Geisler Web Page | Johannes Burge Web Page
(09/27/11)

Russ Poldrack counters NYTimes editorial on iPhone "love"
A New York Times editorial which asserted that iPhone users literally “loved” their phones has elicited strong reactions from Dr. Russell Poldrack and other academic researchers. Dr. Poldrack is Professor of Psychology and Neurobiology, and is also Director of the Imaging Research Center. He argues against this assertion in his blog. Read Poldrack blog | Read more about the controversy...
(10/03/11)

Domestic violence gets evolutionary explanation
Dr. David Buss and former student and associate professor Joshua Duntley (Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in Galloway) discuss the link between violence and reproductive success, suggesting that domestic violence carries a selective advantage. Read more...| Full study with PDF available here | Buss Web Page | Duntley Web Page
(09/29/11)

Single-Sex Education Is Assailed in Report
Dr. Becky Bigler is one of eight social scientists whose study on single-sex education has been published in "Science" magazine. The study asserts that that “sex-segregated education is deeply misguided and often justified by weak, cherry-picked or misconstrued scientific claims rather than by valid scientific evidence.” Read full study (PDF)...| More info at Science web site | Read commentary in the New York Times, Washington Post, and The Telegraph, and The Guardian | Bigler Web Page
(09/27/11)

Snooping in the Age of E-book
Social psychology professor Sam Gosling is referred to as the "Edison" of snooping in this New York Times article that reflects upon the impressions we gather from others' bookshelves. According to Dr. Gosling, “If I have a conversation with you, I just get snippets of behavior. Your books, your chairs, your wall hangings represent an accumulation over many years. A space distills repeated acts. That’s why it’s hard to fake.” Read more... | Gosling Web Page | "Snoop" Web Page
(09/27/11)

Older adults make smarter decisions
A new study led by Darrell Worthy, professor of psychology at Texas A&M University, and co-authored by UT psychologists Todd Maddox and David Schnyer, has found that found older adults, at least 60 years old, are better at strategizing their decisions than those in their late teens and early 20s, who tend to focus on instant gratification. Read about the study in UT News...| The study in currently in press but is available as a PDF download.
(09/21/11)

The Probabilistic Mind
Human brains evolved to deal with doubt
The research of Bill Geisler, David Wechsler Regents Professor of Psychology and director of the Center for Perceptual Systems, is explored in an article on the "probability-based brain" in Science News. Principles of probability, researchers are finding, may guide basic visual abilities, such as estimating the tilt of lines or finding targets hidden amid distractions. Read more... | Geisler Web Page
(09/26/11)

Paige Harden study featured in Knowledge Matters videos
In a recent study, assistant professor Paige Harden found teens who have sex in romantic relationships are less likely to get into trouble than teens who are abstaining. She also found substantially higher levels of delinquency among teens who are having non-romantic sex ("hooking up"). Watch her discuss these topics and more in a Knowledge Matters 5-part video series.
(09/16/11)

Cindy Meston co-authors study on harmful effect of smoking on sexual performance
An article in Reuters Health examines a study by Chris Harte and co-author Cindy Meston. While smoking has been linked to health problems such as cancer and heart disease, their finding is a new angle for doctors to use in men who are still reluctant to try quitting. Dr. Harte is a former student Meston's Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory. Read more...| Read full paper
(09/15/11)

Psychology professor Sam Gosling interviewed on Good Day Austin
Sam Gosling talks about his work with bomb-sniffing dogs at the Canine Breeding and Development Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Watch video | Animal Personality Institute
(09/01/11)

Psychology student recommends participation in Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program
In The Washington Post's "Writers Group" column, psychology undergraduate student Sarah Kettle is quoted on her positive experience with the Intellectual Entrepreneurship (IE) program. Sarah is a junior in psychology. Read more...The Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program
(08/28/11)

Andreana Haley receives grant from NINDS
Andreana Haley, assistant professor of psychology, is the recipient of an R01 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Drs. Russ Poldrack and Jeanette Mumford are co-Investigators on the grant. The goal of the proposed work is to explore the neural mechanisms of midlife brain vulnerability related to the clustering of obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in a single person, a condition known as Metabolic Syndrome. Clinical Neuroscience Lab
(08/25/11)

Sam Gosling working with TSA's bomb-sniffing dogs
Social psychology professor Sam Gosling is working with the TSA Canine Breeding & Development Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio to studying ways to develop explosives-detecting dogs. Read more... | View slideshow | Animal Personality Institute
(08/24/11)

Martita Lopez elected to second term as Member-at-Large of APA's Division of Health Psychology
Martita Lopez, Clinical Professor and Director of Clinical Training, has been elected to a second three-year term as Member-at-Large of the American Psychological Association Division of Health Psychology (Division 38). Division 38 members are professionals and students who are interested in research, education, and clinical interventions related to biopsychosocial contributors to health and illness. Division 38 | Lopez Web Page
(08/19/11)

Research on collegiate heavy drinking published in Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Recent research by psychology graduate students Patrick Quinn, Cynthia Stappenbeck, and clinical psychology professor Kim Fromme has been published in the August 2011 issue of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. Results of this investigation suggest that collegiate heavy drinking may negatively and pervasively impact a wide range of behaviors because of its effect on personality change. Read full text (HTML) | Download PDF | Visit the SAHARA Lab
The importance of this study is explored in Psychotherapy Brown Bag.
(08/17/11)

Social media better for singles than online dating sites
According to Sam Gosling, professor of psychology in the social & personality area and author of Snoop: What your stuff says about you, recently told the American-Statesman that the impressions people get from Facebook profiles tend to be pretty accurate. Dr. Gosling studies how people express their personalities and how they wish to be perceived through the environments they create. Read more...| Gosling Lab
(08/16/11)

Research on children's beliefs in religious stories published in Child Development
Recent research by UT developmental psychologist Jacqueline Woolley and co-author Victoria Vaden, with the Dell Children's Medical Center, has been published in the July/August issue of Child Development. They found that God’s involvement in a story influences children’s belief in the reality of the characters and events in that story. The research was supported in part by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and by a grant from the Deborah Beth Lobliner Graduate Fellowship. Dr. Woolley's research addresses children's understanding of reality, a topic with a long history that continues to intrigue and perplex developmental psychologists. Read full text (HTML) | Download PDF | Woolley Web Page | Visit the Imagination & Cognition Lab
(08/12/11)

Center for Perceptual Systems faculty receive funding for motion processing research
Psychologists and neurobiologists working in the area of perceptual systems have been awarded a $1.5M grant from the National Eye Institute. The grant is for a four-year period and will support work by Drs. Lawrence Cormack, Alex Huk, and collaborator Adam Kohn with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The study will investigate the perceptual and neural mechanisms for seeing things move through 3D environments, and contains a mix of behavioral, brain imaging, and neurophysiological experiments.
Title: "Motion processing with 2 eyes in 3 dimensions"
Cormack Web Page | Huk Web Page
(08/10/11)

An Interview with Art Markman
In an interview at the 33rd Annual Cognitive Science Conference, held in Boston, Massachusetts in July, psychology professor Arthur Markman talks about his research as a cognitive scientist in the areas of decision making and categorization, about the importance of drawing insight from various disciplines, and about the robust state of cognitve science. He talks about the obligation of scientists to communicate and explain to the community at large what the research is about and what it means for everyone. Advice to young scientists: You must love what you do, and you must be open to experience and ideas. Watch video | Download audio

Dr. Markman is Annabel Iron Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing and is editor of the journal Cognitive Science. He is the author of Knowledge Representation and has co-authored several books as well, including Tools for Innovation: The Science Behind the Practical Methods That Drive New Ideas. His next book, Smart Thinking, will be published in January 2012.
Web Page | Similarity & Cognition Lab | CogSci 2011
(08/10/11)

New Research Group Launched
The department is pleased to announce the establishment of a new research group in our graduate program. The Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience Group is a collaborative effort which "seeks to understand the underlying neural basis of human behavior by taking a broad perspective, examining both normal and abnormal populations across the lifespan from early childhood through old age." Group members include Drs. Jennifer Beer, Christopher Beevers, Andreana Haley, Todd Maddox, Russell Poldrack, and David Schnyer, among others. Read more....
(07/20/11)

How words have the power to heal
A breast cancer survivor writes about the healing power of words in a CNN/Health article which explores the work of UT psychology professor James Pennebaker. Read more... | Pennebaker Web Page
(08/05/11)

Art Markman quoted in Associated Press article
Dr. Art Markman is quoted in an Associated Press article which is being widely published in news outlets, In "Christian terrorist'? Norway case strikes debate", the question of how stereotypes affect our judgment of terrorists is explored, particularly in the case of the recent mass murders by a Norwegian terrorist. Dr. Markman talks about the difference in how we judge our own behavior and how we judge the behavior of others. Read more... | Markman Web Page
(08/03/11)

Wives usually more attractive than their husbands
Dr. David Buss, author of "The Evolution of Desire" is quoted in an article in The Daily Beast. Speaking on the subject of attractiveness and married couples, Dr. Buss states that, generally, "women tend to be more attractive than their husbands." Read more... | Buss Web Page
(08/03/11)

NIMH will fund research by graduate student Peter Clasen
Peter Clasen has received news that his predoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) application will be funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Peter's research, which will be supervised by Drs. Chris Beevers and David Schnyer, includes behavioral and neuroimaging projects that investigate aspects of cognitive control that go awry when depressed people engage with emotional material.
Title of proposal: Cognitive Control of Emotional Information in Major Depressive Disorder
Mood Disorders Lab
(07/26/11)

What Entrepreneurs Can Teach Academia
"Many in the academic community bristle at drawing on an understanding of the business world to frame the mission of a university. I believe that business has much to teach academia, but only if the discussion is cast properly." --Art Markman, Annabel Iron Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing, writing as guest columnist for The Texas Tribune
Read article... Markman Web Page
(07/27/11)

Psychology alumna Kayla Duncan named Columbus Assistant City Secretary
After obtaining her undergraduate degree in Psychology in May 2010, Kayla Duncan went back to her hometown of Columbus, Texas, applied for, and was hired as assistant city secretary. Read more...
(08/03/11)

Josephs, Mehta study cited in Newsweek
An article in the July 10 issue of Newsweek explores the science behind winning, citing research by psychology professor Bob Josephs and former student Pranj Mehta (University of Oregon). They and other psychologists and neuroscientists are finding links between brain chemistry, social theory, and economics to help explain what factors influence who comes out on top. Read article... | Josephs Web Page | Read full study
(07/19/11)

Outsmarting Sleep Loss
An article in Scientific American examines the findings of a sleep deprivation study led by psychology professor Todd Maddox. The study "found the sleepy brain’s Achilles’ heel—open-ended problem solving—and thus may help improve worker training in these demanding fields." Read article (PDF) | Read article in Scientific American...Read full study in "Sleep" or PDF | Maddox Lab
(07/18/11)

UT Psychology alumna selected as Assistant Coach for St. Edward’s University Softball
Cat Osterman, an NCAA All-American, and an Olympic Gold Medalist has been selected as Assistant Coach for St. Edward's University Softball. A native of Houston, Texas, Osterman graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. While at UT, Osterman was a three-time National Player of the Year and four-time All-American. Read more...
(07/25/11)

Marlone Henderson study covered in the Daily Texan
"Personal connections impact philanthropy"
Personal connections with a charity are important to people who offer philanthropy, new research from UT and other universities confirms. UT assistant psychology professor Marlone Henderson and researchers from the University of Chicago and Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea conducted five studies of 1462 people that Henderson said would be published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Read more in the Daily Texan | Read full paper
(07/20/11)

Researchers Find That Wisdom Really Does Come With Age
A paper authored by Darrell Worthy (Texas A&M) and co-authored by Todd Maddox (UT Psychology) has been accepted for publication in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science. It describes a new study which found that "older adults use the experience in decision-making accumulated over their lifetime to determine the long-term utility and not just the immediate benefit before making a choice. However, younger adults tend to focus their decision-making on instant gratification". Read more... | Read full study (PDF) | Maddox Lab
(07/13/11)

New research by graduate student Seth Disner published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Graduate student Seth Disner has just had a paper published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, a leading journal in the field of neuroscience. The article, co-authored by Dr. Chris Beevers (UT Psychology) and Emily Haigh & Aaron T. Beck (University of Pennsylvania), identifies the functional and structural neurobiological architecture of Beck's cognitive model of depression. It concludes that, in general, the negative cognitive biases in depression are facilitated by increased influence from subcortical emotion processing regions combined with attenuated top-down cognitive control.
Title of paper: Neural mechanisms of the cognitive model of depression
Read more... | Download PDF | Mood Disorders Lab
(07/12/11)

Elliot Tucker-Drob and Paige Harden awarded NICHD grant to study gene-environment interaction in children's early cognitive development
Assistant Professors Elliot Tucker-Drob and Paige Harden are recipients of a $406,825 grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The grant will fund a project to study how early environmental experiences interact with children’s genes to influence their cognitive development and school readiness.
Title of Project: Gene-Environment Interplay in Early Cognitive Development
Elliot Tucker-Drob | Paige Harden
(06/27/11)

Researchers develop new software to advance brain image research
Russell Poldrack, psychology professor and director of the Imaging Research Center, is one of the researchers who has authored a paper introducing a new approach to analyzing brain imaging data. It will allow neuroscientists to produce single brain images pulled from hundreds of individual studies. The paper was published in the June 26 edition of the journal Nature Methods. Read more...Read paper | Poldrack Web Page
(06/27/11)

UT dean criticizes proposals by governor, regent, policy group
A 17-page report by Randy Diehl, psychology professor and dean of the College of Liberal Arts, takes issue with the cost-cutting solutions promoted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a think tank with close ties to Governor Rick Perry. Dr. Diehl warns that the those policies would undermine research, teaching and efforts to increase graduation rates. Read more...Read the full report | Office of the Dean
(07/07/11)

When Cigarette Warnings Backfire
In his most recent blog entry, Art Markman, Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology, talks about the use of disturbing graphic imagery on cigarette packages and challenges its effectiveness as a strategy for helping smokers refrain from smoking. Read more...| Markman Web Page
(06/21/11)

Three Postulates to Help Identify the Cause of Alzheimer's Disease
After more than 100 years of research into Alzheimer's disease, the cause of AD remains unknown. To test the validity of proposals related to the probable cause of AD, three postulates, or necessary conditions, are recommended by Dr. Jack de la Torre in an article published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. Dr. de la Torre is adjunct professor of psychology, and currently conducts research on AD as a Senior Scientist at the Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, Arizona. Read more... | Full article
(06/21/11)

New research by graduate student Seth Disner published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Graduate student Seth Disner has just had a paper published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, a leading journal in the field of neuroscience. The article, co-authored by Dr. Chris Beevers (UT Psychology) and Emily Haigh & Aaron T. Beck (University of Pennsylvania), identifies the functional and structural neurobiological architecture of Beck's cognitive model of depression. It concludes that, in general, the negative cognitive biases in depression are facilitated by increased influence from subcortical emotion processing regions combined with attenuated top-down cognitive control.
Title of paper: Neural mechanisms of the cognitive model of depression
Read more... | Download PDF | Mood Disorders Lab
(07/12/11)

NIH funds vision research by Mary Hayhoe
Mary Hayhoe, professor of psychology and vision researcher for the Center for Perceptual Systems, has received a $357,012 grant from the National Institutes of Health. This grant explores the use of vision and the control of eye movements in the context of natural, visually guided behavior. The development of virtual environments for natural tasks is important as it allows us to safely investigate situations that might be dangerous to test in the real world.
Title of project: "Vision in Natural Tasks"
Read more about Dr. Hayhoe's research at The Virtual Reality Laboratory.
(06/21/11)

Art Markman debunks claim that sports provide healthy outlet for aggression
In an article on LiveScience' Life's Little Mysteries, which debates the merits of pro football as a possible crime-reducer, Art Markman and other psychologists talk about current research on aggression. Markman notes that ""Acting aggressively or excitedly tends to lead to more aggression or excitement, not less." Dr. Markman is Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing and is editor of the journal Cognitive Science. Read more... | Markman Web Page
(06/16/11)

Sam Gosling analyzes Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Apple's new headquarters
Apple's futuristic new headquarters in Cupertino has been described as a "spaceship landing". The meaning behind this metaphor is analyzed by social psychology professor Sam Gosling, whose studies in personal space and identity show that what we choose to display in our spaces are clues that help strangers interpret who we are, as well as symbols to remind ourselves of who we want to be. Is Steve Jobs literally recreating the landscape of his childhood? Read more...
(06/14/11)

Psychology department keeps the art of the limerick alive
While brainstorming ways to lure faculty job candidates to the university, Drs. Art Markman and Caryn Carlson came up with the idea of writing a limerick for the prospect. Eventually, with the the help of clinical training staffer David Collins, limericks were penned for the featured speakers of the annual Psychfest conference. Read more... | Markman Web Page | Carlson Web Page
(05/31/11)

Subliminal advertising in modern times – does it work?
In an article in a real estate news magazine, Art Markman, Annabel Iron Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing, discusses the impact of subliminal messaging on consumer behavior. He notes that “If you flash something for one frame of a movie, it is presented for about 1/60th of a second. Because there is an image shown before and after it, you will notice the image consciously, but it will be processed by your visual system, and some information will get through.” Read article... | Web Page
(05/27/11)

Advice columnist cites psychology researchers
An advice columnist writing in The Orange County Register draws on the research of psychologists Cindy Meston and David Buss to explain why women have difficulty with casual sex, citing their findings on the influence of a specific hormone that effects emotional bonding. Drs. Meston and Buss are the authors of "Why Women Have Sex", an investigation of women's underlying sexual motivations. Read article...| Meston Web Page | Buss Web Page | Why Women Have Sex
(05/27/11)

The Language of Love: Word Usage Predicts Romantic Attraction
A new study by James Pennebaker, published in Psychological Science, is covered in the Scientific American (May 23) Results of the study show that a couple's use of "function" words (pronouns and articles) can make a difference in determining how attracted they are and how likely they are to stay together. Read more... | Read full study "The Secret Life of Pronouns" | Pennebaker Web Page
(05/23/11)

Online dating secrets revealed
David Buss, professor of evolutionary psychology and co-author of Why Women Have Sex, weighs in on the subject of online dating in the Los Angles Times (May 22) and the Daily Mail. LATimes | Daily Mail... | Buss Web Page
(05/23/11)

YNN reports on stroke rehabilitation research by Theresa Jones
Psychology professor Theresa Jones was recently interviewed by YNN News in a feature story on stroke rehabilitation. Dr. Jones works with students and fellow UT researchers to find ways to improve stroke victims' recovery by studying the most effective techniques for healing brain damage. Read text | Watch video | Jones Lab
(05/16/11)

Practicing self-control
YNN News recently interviewed psychology professor Art Markman about his research on sleep-deprivation and aggression. The study, which found that bottling up emotions can make people more aggressive, has been published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. Watch video | Read full study "Ego Depletion Is Not Just Fatigue: Evidence From a Total Sleep Deprivation Experiment" | Markman Web Page
(05/16/11)

Theresa Jones speaks at Psychology Convocation Ceremony
Dr. Theresa Jones delivered the main address at the Psychology Department's Spring 2011 graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 21, at 3:30pm in Gregory Gym. Dr. Jones, whose research explores ways to restore brain function to stroke victims, is professor of psychology in the area of behavioral neuroscience. Graduation FAQs | Jones Web Page
(05/16/11)

Art Markman interviewed on Good Day Austin
Psychology professor Art Markman appeared on the May 10 broadcast of Fox 7's Good Day Austin to talk about impulse shopping and what can be done to resist the urge to buy. Watch video
(05/11/11)

The skinny on memory loss
Dr. Andreana Haley's research on obesity and dementia is the focus of a UT feature story. Dr. Haley is an assistant professor of clinical psychology. Dr. Haley's study found that impaired insulin sensitivity, often caused by obesity, may have a direct connection to midlife brain vulnerability to cognitive decline. In the article Russell Poldrack, professor of psychology and neurobiology and director of the university’s Imaging Research Center, blames the the brain’s autopilot mechanism for the inability to change the unheatlhy habits which contribute to the problem of obesity. Read more... | Clinical Neuroscience Lab | Poldrack Lab | Imaging Research Center
(05/05/11)

Professor comments on responses to death of bin Laden
Dr. Art Markman is quoted in an article in the Austin American Statesman on the complicated reactions to the death of Osama bin Laden. Read more... | Markman Web Page
(05/03/11)

YNN reports on stroke rehabilitation research by Dr. Theresa Jones
Psychology professor Theresa Jones is interviewed by YNN News on the subject of stroke rehabilitation. Dr. Jones works with students and fellow UT researchers to find ways to improve stroke victims' recovery by studying the most effective techniques for healing brain damage. Read more... Watch video | Jones Lab
(05/04/11)

Professor researches alcohol behaviors in bar lab
The research of Dr. Will Corbin, former Postdoctoral Fellow from the SAHARA Lab, is featured in the Arizona State University News. Dr. Corbin conducted his first lab based alcohol research in the SAHARA Lab with Kim Fromme, professor of clinical psychology. The goals of Corbin’s current research are to improve the understanding of factors that lead to the development of alcohol-related problems and to develop effective programs for reducing alcohol-related harms. Read more... | Sahara Lab
(05/06/11)

Research Demonstrates Motivation Plays a Critical Role in Determining IQ Test Scores
Patrick Quinn, a graduate student in clinical psychology, has co-authored a study which examined the role of motivation on IQ scores. Read more...| Read full study
(04/27/11)

"Maybe Just Drunk Enough to Remember"
Dr. Kim Fromme is quoted in a New York Times "Week in Review" article which examines the reliability of one's memory under the influence of alcohol. Dr. Fromme has researched alcohol-induced blackouts and notes that a person in that state can still be conscious and engaged in various complex behaviors. A study by one of Dr. Fromme's former students, Reagan Wetherill, was also referred to in the article. Read more... | Fromme Web Page
(04/25/11)

Psychology researchers receive grant from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Assistant Research Professor DeAnna L. Adkins (PI), Professor Theresa A. Jones (Co-I) and Associate Professor Dorothy Kozlowski (DePaul University, UT Alum) are the recipients of a NINDS R01 grant. There are very few treatments that effectively alleviate motor impairments following traumatic brain injury. Preliminary data indicate that cortical electrical stimulation of the injured cortex during motor rehabilitation reduces impairments; however, this recovery is far from complete. These studies will establish appropriate cortical electrical stimulation parameters that will optimize motor recovery, test the persistence of improvements and quantify brain reorganization due to treatment.
(04/18/11)

What does your tax-filing style say about you?
Art Markman is quoted in an article in Newsweek's "Daily Beast" on the subject of filing one's taxes and what one's tax-filing style says about personality. Read more...
(04/18/11)

Two Psychology faculty receive R21 grant from NIMH
Drs. Brad Love and Alison Preston are the principal investigators and recipients of an R21 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). R21 grants are intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of project development. The work of Dr. Love and Dr. Preston represents a collaborative project combining computational modeling, eye tracking, and neuroimaging to determine how attention and memory interact to guide learning and decision making. Title of grant: "Model-Based fMRI of Dynamic Category Learning: The Memory and Attention Interface".
Love Lab | Preston Lab
(04/15/11)

Charles Holahan elected to Academy of Distinguished Teachers
We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Charles Holahan. professor of clinical psychology and graduate advisor for the department, has been elected as a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Dr. Holahan has received numerous teaching awards in the past, including the Jeanne Holloway, President's Associates, Dad’s Association, and Raymond Dickson teaching awards. Holahan Web Page
(04/12/11)

Multitasking Tougher for Older Adults
Dr. Russell Poldrack is quoted in a US News & World Report article on multitasking. According to Dr. Poldrack, "We are almost always switching back and forth between the different tasks, and there is a cost to this switching, which is why people are nearly always worse when they try to multitask compared to focusing on single tasks." Read more... | Poldrack Web Page
(04/12/11)

Gosling Research Cited in The Economist
The Economist, in it's "Democracy in America" blog, contemplates the possiblility of a government shutdown, citing research findings by Dr. Sam Gosling, professor of social & personality psychology. Dr. Gosling's studies suggest that ideological affiliations that affect political decisions (liberal, conservative, etc.) can be linked to certain "Big Five" personality characteristics. Read more... | Gosling Web Page
(04/08/11)

Alison Preston Receives Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER)
Alison Preston, Assistant Professor of Psychology, has been selected for a Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation. The CAREER award is the National Science Foundation's most prestigious award in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through the integration of excellent education with outstanding research. This award will provide five years of funding for Dr. Preston's research using brain imaging imaging techniques to understand how the brain makes predictions about the present and future based on memories of the past. Preston Web Page
(04/06/11)

Symposium Commemorates 25th Anniversary of Sexual Conditioning Lab
A symposium was held at the Southwest Psychological Association this Saturday, April 9, in San Antonio, to commemorate the 25 anniversary of the first publication of the Sexual Conditioning Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin, and the 40th anniversary of the first publication from Dr. Michael Domjan’s laboratory. Previous Ph.D. students from Dr. Domjan’s laboratory returned to Texas from various institutions in the United States, Europe, and South America to participate in this symposium. The symposium was organized by Professor Germán Gutérrez from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. Email contact: gagutierrezd@gmail.com.
Domjan Web Page
(04/05/11)

Study Helps Identify Soldiers More at Risk for PTSD
Research by Dr. Chris Beevers aims to identify soldiers who are more vulnerable to developing post-traumatic stress disorder. The study, which will be published in the July edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry, is part of the Texas Combat PTSD Risk Project, a Department of Defense-funded initiative. What the researchers discover may help the U.S. military develop prevention programs to help soldiers cope with the stresses of war. Read more in UT News | Read full paper | See also Austin American Statesman | Beevers Web Page
(04/04/11)

New study by Art Markman and Todd Maddox published in Social Psychological and Personality Science
Psychology professors Art Markman and Todd Maddox, working with researchers from the University of Minnesota, have recently published results of a study on sleep deprivation and aggression. The study, which found that bottling up emotions can make people more aggressive, has been published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. Their findings may have implications for law enforcement and the military, as well as for people trying to lose weight or make other behavioral changes. Read more... | Read full study "Ego Depletion Is Not Just Fatigue: Evidence From a Total Sleep Deprivation Experiment" | Markman Web Page | Maddox Web Page
(03/25/11)

Andreana Haley discusses research on obesity and dementia in YNN video
Andreana Haley, assistant professor of clinical psychology, talks about her research on dementia in overweight people in a YNN (Your News Now) video. By studying brain activity in overweight people Dr. Haley seeks to understatnd how changes in glucose metabolism and changes in blood pressure early in life can ultimately lead to degenerative problems and dementia. Watch video | Haley Web Page
(03/22/11)

USNews & World rankingsUT Psychology Graduate Program, Social Psychology rank #13 and #11 in U.S. News & World Report
The University of Texas Psychology Deparment's Graduate program has ranked #13 in the U.S. News & World Report. The Social Psychology program is #11 in the rankings. Graduate School Rankings | UT Psychology Graduate Program | Social Psychology at UT
(03/16/11)

2011 Young Investigator Award given to Alex Huk
Dr. Alexander C. Huk has been chosen as the 2011 winner of the Elsevier/VSS Young Investigator Award. Dr. Huk is an Associate Professor of Neurobiology and Psychology in the Center for Perceptual Systems. Read more... | Huk Web Page | Center for Perceptual Systems
(03/16/11)

Are purses just for girls?
MSNBC's Dateline Sunday spotlights anti-bullying research by Rebecca Bigler
Dr. Rebecca Bigler's research on anti-gender bullying is the subject of MSNBC's Dateline Sunday hidden camera report, "My Kid Would Never Bully". See what an Austin school is doing to stop bullying before it starts. Watch video | Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab
(03/07/11)

Dr. James Pennebaker on benefits of writing about emotional experiences
"Research shows writing about emotional experiences to find closure can have tangible health benefits. When people are given the opportunity to resolve emotional events , they often experience improved health, go to the doctor less, and have positive changes in immune function"...James Pennebaker, professor of social psychology, in a press release for SpiritEmail, a service designed as a healing tool for those dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Read more... | Pennebaker Web Page
(03/011/11)

Psychology student Frances Deavers named Dean's Distinguished Graduate
Frances Deavers, Psychology and Plan I Honors student, and President of the University's Chapter of Psi Chi, has been selected as one of 12 Dean's Distinguished Graduates in the College of Liberal Arts for 2011. The Dean’s Distinguished Graduates program was established in 1980 to recognize graduating Liberal Arts students who have distinguished themselves in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and service to the college and university community.

In May 2011 Frances and fellow recipients will be honored at a luncheon in the Santa Rita Room at the Texas Union. Distinguished graduates will be acknowledged in the May commencement program and recognized during the Liberal Arts joint commencement ceremony at the Erwin Center, May 20, at noon. Ultimately, their names will be inscribed on the Dean’s Distinguished Graduates wall of honor located in the advising suite of the Gebauer Building.
(03/04/11)

"Your likability affects personal, professional relationships"
Dr. Sam Gosling's personality study cited in article on likability
“We hungrily consume any sort of information, wherever we can find it,” says Dr. Sam Gosling, who has authored a study on how people judge someone’s personality based on their physical appearance. "People take whatever information about another person that is available to them — such as their clothing, smile or body language — and form an opinion." - Sam Gosling, professor of social psychology
Read more... | Gosling Web Page
(03/10/11)

Cheating, thinking, & memory
Cheating affects your memory and beliefs about rules.
"Most people walk around the world thinking of themselves as pretty good, law-abiding, upstanding citizens.  Sure, you might exceed the speed limit every once in a while, but the speed limit is a guideline.  You might make a little extra cash helping a friend with something, but not declare that on your income tax.  After all, the government isn't really interested in pocket change." - Art Markman, Professor of Psychology
Read more in Dr. Markman's blog post
(03/08/11)

Jonathan Pillow awarded 2011 Sloan Research Fellowship
Dr. Jonathan Pillow has been selected to receive the prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship for 2011. These fellowships are given to young researchers in recognition of their exceptional early-career achievements and potential to contribute significantly to their fields. Dr. Pillow, an assistant professor in psychology and neurobiology, currently teaches Statistical Methods in Computational Neuroscience (NEU 394P, PSY 394U). His lab investigates what the brain computes, and how it does so using populations of neurons. For more information visit the Neural Coding & Computation Lab. | Pillow Web Page | Read about the award in UT News
(02/15/11)

Marked for Mayhem
Certain cues and traits can draw the attention of criminals looking for victims, according to David Buss, professor of evolutionary psychology. Dr. Buss and other researchers are studying the behavior and demeanor of potential victims of crime. Read more...
Buss Lab
(02/28/11)

African American Teenagers More Supportive of Affirmative Action, School Desegregation Than White Youth, Study Finds
Psychology professor Rebecca Bigler and Julie Milligan Hughes, a developmental psychologist at the College of New Jersey, have just published the results of a study which found that African American teenagers are significantly more supportive than whites of affirmative action and school desegregation. The study was published online by the journal Developmental Psychology. Read more... | Read full study | Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab

In the News: Futurity, Daily Texan, My Science, African American News & Commentary
(03/08/11)

Elliot Tucker-Drob's research featured in Miller-McCune article
Dr. Tucker-Drob's study of infant twins have concluded that socioeconomic status and parental education begin to affect a child's mental capacity by the age of 2. “The literature says genes matter more and more as people get older," says Dr. Tucker-Drob, but "In our more diverse study of twins from both poor and wealthy families, we found that genes start to play a role by 2 years of age, but only for children being raised in wealthier families.” Read "The Educational Gap for Infants" | Read full study | Lifespan Development Lab
(02/25/11)

Grad student's research with father discussed in New York Times
According to a new study by Jaime C. Confer, a doctoral student in psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, and her father, Mark D. Cloud, a psychology professor at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, a man is more than twice as likely to continue dating a woman if she has cheated on him with another woman than if she has cheated on him with another man. Read "Lipstick on Her Collar? Men Say, ‘O.K.’" | Read full study | Confer Web Page
(02/25/11)

Studies by Marlone Henderson cited in MSN's "Business on Main"
One of the most common mistakes negotiators make is requiring face to face meetings. Not always a good idea, according to Dr. Marlone Henderson, assistant professor of psychology. Read more...
Read a UT OPA feature on Dr. Henderson's study
Henderson Web Page
(02/25/11)

Do casual words betray warlike intent?
The New Scientist writes about Dr. James Pennebaker's work on the US Department of Homeland Security's Comparative Case Studies of Radical Rhetoric project, where he and other researchers analyze the possibility of violent intentions in the rhetoric of groups with radical philosophies. Read more... | Pennebaker Web Page
(02/21/11)

Growing Economy Sparks Change in Chinese Mating Preferences, Research Shows
In a paper published in the February issue of Personality and Individual Differences, Professor David Buss and a team of researchers found the preference for financial security reflects the extraordinary economic changes in China over the past 25 years. Read more... | Read full study | Buss Lab
(02/15/11)

Psychology junior receives standing ovation at UT anniversary event
Jessica Session, junior in psychology, received a standing ovation from more than 100 students and visitors during UT's 50th-anniversary celebration of acceptance of the first African-American citizens to the university. Read more...
(02/11/11)

Tucker-Drob study selected as "Editors' Choice" in Science
A study by Elliot Tucker-Drob, titled "Emergence of a Gene x Socioeconomic Status Interaction on Infant Mental Ability Between 10 Months and 2 Years", was selected as "Editors' Choice" in the January 28, 2010 issue of Science. Recently published in the journal Psychological Science, the study examined the effects of socioeconomic status on children's cognitive abililty and found that growing up poor can suppress a child's genetic potential to excel cognitively. Read the Science article | Read the full study
Tucker-Drob Web Page
(02/11/11)

Psychology alumnus Randall Osborne to speak at San Marcos Academy
Randall Osborne received his Ph.D. in social psychology from UT Psychology in 1990. He is now a professor of psychology at Texas State University, where he will be presenting a lecture at the San Marcos Academy's Distinguished Lecture Series on Tuesday, February 15. The name of the talk is “Forensic Psychology: It May Not be CSI, But it is Still Pretty Interesting!” Read more...
(02/14/11)

APA's Monitor on Psychology cites Bigler research
In "Coed verus single-sex ed: Does separating boys and girls improve their education?" writer Amy Novotney examines what experts on both sides of the issue have to say. She cites Dr. Rebecca Bigler's research on gender role development and racial stereotyping, and writes that this year Dr. Bigler will be co-editing a special issue of the journal Sex Roles that "will include several studies on single-sex schooling that have controlled for selection biases." Read more... | Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab
(02/09/11)

Meet the Parents: Study by psychology doctoral candidate examines traits parents want in children's mates
Psychologist Carin Perilloux is looking into a crazy little thing called love — and finding out why it's so complicated when that special someone meets the parents. The study, by Ms. Perilloux and co-authors Diana Fleischman and Dr. David Buss, was published in Personality and Individual Differences. Read more...
Read published paper
This study is also covered in the Daily Texan.
Periloux Web Page | Buss Lab
(02/08/11)

Former psychology professor had role sending monkeys into space
Wade Lynn Brown was a psychology professor and director of the Primate Center at the Balcones Research Center in 1961. He helped train two Rhesus monkeys to be sent up on rocket flights as part of NASA's space program. This year is the 50th anniversary of that mission. Read more...
(02/03/11)

Fostering Innovation Through Diverse Workgroups
A 2003 study by Dr. William Swann is the topic of a article which proposes that diversity in an organization will foster innovation provided that diversity is embraced by the group. Read more in "How to Foster Innovation Through Diverse Workgroups"
Swann Web Page
(01/31/11)

New lab website affiliated with Seton Brain & Spine Institute now online
Adjunct professors Robert Buchanan and Zoltan Nadasdy have announced a new website for the Human Brain Stimulation and Electrophysiology Lab. The lab is primarily dedicated to image-guided human Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and is open for students to work on projects and gain research experience.  The website will list all ongoing projects at the lab, and will host other projects done at the Neurosurgery Clinics and Epilepsy Centers of the Seton family of Hospitals. In addition, the website provides timely information for students and faculty looking for collaborative research opportunities.
Visit the Human Brain Stimulation and Electrophysiology Lab
(01/28/11)

Psychology graduate student researcher finds men more accepting than women of infidelity with same sex
Jaime Confer, graduate student researcher in evolutionary psychology, has recently published the results of a study in the journal Personality and Individual Differences. Jamie conducted the study with her father, Mark D. Cloud, a psychology professor at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania. Their findings show men are more willing to forgive a woman for infidelity with another woman, than women are willing to forgive a man for infidelity with another man. Read about the study | Read paper
Articles about this study have been published in UPI Newswise Reuters India Village Voice Time
Daily Texan, U.S. News & World Report, MSN, CBS News
Confer Web Page
(01/27/11)

Two Psychology Faculty Members Retire in January 2011

Dennis McFadden, Ashbel Smith Professor of Psychology, has retired after 43 years at the university. Dr. McFadden received his doctoral degree in Sensory Psychology from Indiana University in 1967. His research examined the psychophysical and physiological measures of the auditory system. As one of the deans of the Psychology Department, he was central in the planning, design, and oversight of the Seay Psychology Building.
McFadden Web Page

Peter MacNeilage, Professor of Psychology, has retired after 38 years in the department. A native of New Zealand, Dr. MacNeilage received his doctoral degree from McGill University. His research on the acquisition of speech focuses primarily on the evolution of complex action systems. He is an internationally recognized scientist and the author of many scholarly articles. He is the author of the award-winning book, The Origin of Speech, which was published by Oxford University Press in 2008.
MacNeilage Web Page
(01/25/11)

James Pennebaker Studies the Language of Love
A new study by James Pennebaker and fellow researchers Molly Ireland, Richard Slatcher, Paul Eastwick, Lauren Scissors and Eli Finkel, has been published in Psychological Science. The study examines the ways that people talk to each other in a relationship, and finds that people who speak in similar styles are more compatible.
Read full article (PDF)
Read about the study in "The Language of Young Love: The Ways Couples Talk Can Predict Relationship Success"
Articles about the study have also been published in ScienceDaily, USA Today, Globe & Mail, Times of India, and The Telegraph, The Guardian, New Scientist
(01/25/11)

Elliot Tucker-Drob Interviewed on New Hampshire Public Radio
Dr. Tucker-Drob's study on the effect of poverty on children's genetic potential is the subject of an interview on New Hampshire Public Radio. Listen to interview
The study has been covered by many news organiziations, including the Wall Street Journal, UT News, Salon, The Hindu, The Times of India, Daily Texan, and The Austin American-Statesman
Read full study... | Tucker-Drob Web Page | Lifespan Development Lab | UT Twin Registry
(01/24/11)

UT Psychology Alumni News
UT Psychology alumnus Ed Boswell (BA) joins PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as U.S. Advisory Services People and Change Practice Leader. Read more...
(01/25/11)
UT Psychology alumnus Alan Barnes (BA) is a finalist for Denison, Texas City Manager position. Read more...
(01/25/11)

Wayne Holtzman named to board of directors
Wayne Holtzman, Hogg professor emeritus of psychology and education, has been named to the board of directors of the Senior Quality Lifestyles Corp. Charitable Foundation. Read more...
(01/26/11)

Research by Dr. Marlone Henderson Published in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
Marlone Henderson, assistant professor of psychology, examined the role of physical distance as a factor in negotiations, finding that the effects of distance on the success of negotiations depended on the high-level motives of the negotiators.
Read full paper: "Mere physical distance and integrative agreements: When more space improves negotiation outcomes" | Read articles on this subject in Science Daily, BPS Research Digest, PsychCentral
Henderson Web Page
(01/27/11)

Marie Monfils Awarded Grant From NIMH

Marie Monfils, assistant professor of psychology, is the recipient of an R01 grant from NIMH. Assistant professor Joanne Lee is a co-Investigator on the grant. The study will further examine the mechanisms of the fear response and possible ways to attenuate and change fear memories.
Title of grant: "Fear memory attenuation: testing reconsolidation-extinction boundaries"

Dr. Monfils was honored by the College of Liberal Arts last year as one of the winners of the Robert W. Hamilton Book Award for the "2010 Best Research Paper". Read more about her research...
Monfils Lab | Lee Lab
(01/12/11)

Dr. Elliot Tucker-Drob interviewed on Fox 7 Good Day Austin morning show
Dr. Elliot Tucker-Drob stopped by Good Day Austin today to talk about how genes affect the poverty cycle. Watch video
(01/11/11)

New study by Dr. Elliott Tucker-Drob Shows Poverty Suppresses Children's Genetic Potential
Using 750 sets of twins as subjects, Dr. Elliot Tucker-Drob found that 50 percent of the progress wealthier children show on mental ability tests can be attributed to genetics. Children from poor families, however, showed almost no progress attributable to genetics. The study, "Emergence of a Gene x Socioeconomic Status Interaction on Infant Mental Ability Between 10 Months and 2 Years", has been published in the journal Psychological Science. The study was co-authored by Kathryn Paige Harden of The University of Texas at Austin, Mijke Rhemtulla of The University of Texas at Austin and the University of British Columbia, and Eric Turkheimer and David Fask of the University of Virginia. Read full study... | Tucker-Drob Web Page | Lifespan Development Lab | UT Twin Registry
Articles about the study have been published in the UT News, Salon, The Hindu, The Times of India, Daily Texan, BusinessWeek, and the Wall Street Journal
(01/11/11, edited on 01/25/11)

New book by David Buss published by Oxford University Press
David Buss' new book The Evolution of Personality and Individual Differences has been published by Oxford University Press. Capturing a scientific change in thinking about personality and individual differences that has been building over the past 15 years, this volume stands at an important moment in the development of psychology as a discipline." -- Oxford University Press
Read more about this book.... | Buss Web Page
(01/07/11)

ESRC awards funding for interdisciplinary research on ritual
Cristine Legare, assistant professor of developmental psychology, and Harvey Whitehouse, professor of anthropology at Oxford University, have received funding from the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of a $6 million Large Grant to examine the causes and consequences of ritual in human societies. In collaboration with an international and interdisciplinary team of leading psychologists, anthropologists, archeologists, and evolutionary scientists, this five-year program of research will include field studies and controlled cross-cultural experiments at approximately twelve field sites around the world. Psychological research on how children come to participate in the rituals of their society will inform investigations of how rituals influence behavior within and between social groups. The project will also build historical and archaeological databases to examine how changing ritual systems have impacted both cooperation and conflict over thousands of years.

Further details may be found at the ESRC.
Cognition, Culture, and Development Lab | Whitehouse faculty profile
(01/12/11)

New study by Dr. Elliott Tucker-Drob Shows Poverty Suppresses Children's Genetic Potential
Using 750 sets of twins as subjects, Dr. Elliot Tucker-Drob found that 50 percent of the progress wealthier children show on mental ability tests can be attributed to genetics. Children from poor families, however, showed almost no progress attributable to genetics. The study, "Emergence of a Gene x Socioeconomic Status Interaction on Infant Mental Ability Between 10 Months and 2 Years", has been published in the journal Psychological Science. The study was co-authored by Kathryn Paige Harden of The University of Texas at Austin, Mijke Rhemtulla of The University of Texas at Austin and the University of British Columbia, and Eric Turkheimer and David Fask of the University of Virginia. Read full study... | Tucker-Drob Web Page | Lifespan Development Lab | UT Twin Registry
Articles about the study have been published in the UT News, Salon, The Hindu, The Times of India, Austin American-Statesman
(01/11/11, edited on 02/01/11)

New book by David Buss published by Oxford University Press
David Buss' new book The Evolution of Personality and Individual Differences has been published by Oxford University Press. Capturing a scientific change in thinking about personality and individual differences that has been building over the past 15 years, this volume stands at an important moment in the development of psychology as a discipline." -- Oxford University Press
Read more about this book.... | Buss Web Page
(01/07/11)

In Memoriam
Psychology alumnus John Foster Barry, 44, of Dallas died suddenly on Friday, Dec. 30. Barry earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.S. in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas, and was a licensed professional counselor. Read obituary
(01/07/11)

Psychology Alumna Examines how Students Change for the Better while Studying Abroad
Sarah Angulo's (Psychology, '08) research from her Ph.D. thesis at The University of Texas at Austin was recently published in a book titled "Trading Cultures, Transforming Lives: Positive Change During Study Abroad." Read more...
(01/06/11)

Psychology Faculty to Chair Symposia
Several psychology faculty members will be chairing symposia at The 12th Annual Meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, to be held in San Antonio, Texas from January 27-29.
(Click on the links below for list of speakers).

Bob Josephs, Chair
Kurt Lewin 2.0: Gene by Environment interactions in personality, culture, and emotion

Tracy Kwang, Chair (Tracy is a graduate student in Psychology) and William Swann, Co-Chair
The self and love: The role of the self in romantic relationships

James Pennebaker, Co-Chair
Window into the Soul: Natural Language Methods to Capture Social Motivation, Thoughts, and Action

SPSP 2011 Website | Symposia and special sessions
(01/05/11)

ADHD: Is Our Information Culture the Cause?
Russell Poldrack, Professor of Psychology and Neurobiology and Director of the Imaging Research Center, writes about information overload and attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in the Huffington Post. Read more... | Poldrack Web Page
(01/04/11)

Why Do We Make and Break New Year's Resolutions?
Art Markman, Annabel Iron Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing, talks about why we make and break resolutions on Austin's Channel 7 News program, "Good Day". Watch video | Markman Web Page
(01/04/11)
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