Psychology

The Department of Psychology in Arts & Sciences and the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine provide focal points for psychology research at Washington University, but discipline-specific experts in psychology can be found in schools, departments and programs across campus. See the "Related Information" box at right for links to other psychology-related groups, topics and resources. Scroll to the bottom of this page for a more descriptive summary of key psychology-related programs on campus.

Faculty Experts:

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José Bermúdez Chair of Philosophy - Neuroscience - Psychology José Luis Bermúdez's research interests are primarily in interdisciplinary philosophy of mind and philosophy of psychology. Topics of recent interest include the nature of mental content, models of psychological explanation, the role and origins of self-consciousness and the possibility of thought ... Expertise: interdisciplinary philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology Direct contact: (314) 935-7149 / bermudez@wustl.edu

Renee Cunningham-Williams visiting associate professor of social work Renee Cunningham-Williams Download Cunningham-Williams' expertise centers on the comorbidity of mental health disorders, particularly those relating to behavioral addictions, risk taking, and antisocial behaviors. Expertise: gambling addiction, substance abuse, risk taking, antisocial behaviors, crisis intervention Direct contact: (314) 935-4563 / williamsr@wustl.edu

Henry L. "Roddy" Roediger III James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor Roediger Download Roediger is an internationally recognized scholar of human memory function and the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor. He served as chair of the Department of Psychology in Arts & Sciences from 1996-2004, when he was named dean of academic planning in Arts & Sciences. Roediger's ... Expertise: human memory, memory, learning, retention, false memory Direct contact: (314) 935-4307 / roediger@artsci.wustl.edu

Luis Zayas Shanti K. Khinduka Distinguished Professor of Social Work Luis Zayas Download Luis Zayas' primary interests are in clinical practice with adolescents and families and in training clinical practitioners. His clinical experience spans 25 years of working with children, adolescents, adults, and families in community mental health, psychiatric clinics, pediatric rehabilitation, ... Expertise: adolescent mental health, maternal mental health in pregnancy, parent-child relations, cross-cultural factors in child-rearing behavior, family functioning, psychiatric diagnosis, alcohol use by Latinos Direct contact: (314) 935-9448 / lzayas@gwbmail.wustl.edu

Rebecca Lester Assistant Professor of Sociocultural Anthropology in Arts and Sciences Rebecca Lester Download Lester's research focuses on medical anthropology, gender, embodiment, religion and ritual, psychological anthropology and cross-cultural psychiatry. Linking these issues at various points is her focus on gender, self and the body. She has recently completed her first book (based on her dissertation ... Expertise: medical anthropology, gender embodiment, religion and ritual, psychological anthropology, cross-cultural psychiatry, Mexico, United States Direct contact: (314) 935-9426 / rjlester@wustl.edu

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News Stories & Tip Sheets:

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WUSTL professor awarded Howard Crosby Warren Medal Roediger wins Warren Medal for contributions to experimental psychology April 25, 2008 -- Citing his creative experimental investigations of false memory and underlying processes that have led to a new understanding of human memory, the Society of Experimental Psychologists has awarded its highest honor to WUSTL psychology professor Henry L. "Roddy" Roediger III.

The art of forgetfullness Art & science of brain function is focus of WUSTL researchers' dialogue with artist Deborah Aschheim, March 20 March 6, 2008 -- Mike Venso/Laumeier Sculpture Park Aschheim's "Earworm (Node)," contains LEDs, plastic, speakers, music and copper. Download Artist Deborah Aschheim, known for her focus on interactive multi-sensory responses to neuroscience, memory and cognition, joins Washington University faculty from art, medicine, psychology and neuroscience for a free public panel discussion examining the relationship between Aschheim's art and brain science at 6 p.m. March 20 in Room 110, January Hall. The "Deborah Aschheim: Reconsider," exhibition, on display at Laumeier Sculpture Park, explores why we remember what we see and hear and why we forget, while offering a solution to curb the "forgetting curve."

Telling it like it is Dementia diagnosis brings relief, not depression March 3, 2008 -- Emotional concerns are a serious consideration with the diagnosis of dementia. When it comes to a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, what you don't know may not kill you, but knowing the truth as soon as possible appears to be the better approach — one that may improve the emotional well-being of both patients and their caregivers, suggests new research from Washington University in St. Louis.

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Related News Clips:

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Show More Psychology Clips

Hillary Clinton's expectations contradict United Press International April 2, 2008 -- The challenge facing Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is that people have contradictory expectations of women leaders. WUSTL business professor Judi McLean Parks says the character traits associated with people in leadership positions are stereotypically masculine -- being assertive or competitive.

Dementia Diagnosis May Relieve Patients Associated Press and 110 others March 13, 2008 -- Doctors often hesitate to tell patients they likely suffer from Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, fearing the news will overwhelm them. Not only did the diagnosis not increase anxiety or depression among patients and their caregivers, but most were relieved to have symptoms explained and a way to find help. But a WUSTL medical study suggests physicians need not worry. Researchers amd WUSTL psychology professor Brian Carpenter and neurology proessor John Morris comment. The study, which appears in the March issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, gauged depression and anxiety two days before and two days after an evaluation and diagnosis.

Experts Study Neuroscience Use in Courts Associated Press and 82 others March 3, 2008 -- Brain scans have emerged as potentially powerful tools in court battles over defendants' sanity. More defense attorneys are seeking scans showing brain damage or abnormalities that might have made it difficult for their clients to control violent impulses. Marcus E. Raichle, researcher of neurology and radiology at the School of Medicine, comments.

Blonde Ambition: Iconic Blondes Shape History ABC News -- Good Morning America Jan. 22, 2008 -- The art exhibit "Beauty and the Blonde: An Exploration of American Art and Popular Culture," is being presented by WUSTL's Kemper Art Museum. It is curated by Catharina Manchanda, and it includes the famous silkscreens of Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe and Roy Lichtenstein's pop art images of blondes in comics.

When the limits push back The New York Times Sept. 17, 2007 -- The public appetite for the psychological intricacies of risk is being served by the release of two new movies about people who sought out extreme environments, then died in them. WUSTL psychiatry professor Robert Cloninger says not all risk takers are the same. He is the author of Feeling Good: The Science of Well-Being. Cloninger comments about Steve Fossett and others.

Oil Prices Retreat After Reaching New Highs Voice of America Sept. 14, 2007 -- Americans are accustomed to seeing gasoline prices drop in the months of September and October, but that may not happen this year, according to some analysts. What effect does expensive gasoline have on ordinary Americans? Researchers at WUSTL say they have found that when gasoline prices go up, obesity rates in the United States go down. In addition, higher energy costs leave Americans with less cash to spend at restaurants and at the grocery store.

Cell phones on campus make cutting the umbilical cord more difficult Miami Herald and 7 others Aug. 20, 2007 -- A cell phone can be an "electronic leash," as some teens call it. And mom and dad are quickly reachable if something goes awry. If asked to help solve a manageable problem, parents should not provide step-by-step instructions. They shouldn't brush off the problem, either. Realize that students can feel overwhelmed at first, advises WUSTL's Karen Levin Coburn, co-author of Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years.

Back to Campus: Parental Anxiety 101 -- What moms and dads need to know Newsday (NY) Aug. 20, 2007 -- Parents across Long Island are asking questions these days as they help pack their children's belongings or accompany them to campuses across the country. Their minds are filled with questions about crime and campus security, communicating with their students, finances, academics, social life, and separation anxiety. One of the experts commenting is Karen Levin Coburn, WUSTL's associate dean for freshman transition and co-author of Letting Go: A Parent's Guide to Understanding the College Years.

Humor Hampered By Aging Brain? CBSNews.com and 1 others Aug. 6, 2007 -- Age-related brain changes may make it harder for older adults to understand humor, a new study shows. The study comes from WUSTL psychology graduate student Wingyun Mak and psychology professor Brian Carpenter.

Joke comprehension may decrease with age, study at St. Louis university suggests International Herald Tribune (France) and 206 others July 11, 2007 -- It's no laughing matter: a new study suggests older adults have a harder time getting jokes as they age. The research indicates that because older adults may have greater difficulty with cognitive flexibility, abstract reasoning and short-term memory, they also have greater difficulty with tests of humor comprehension. The research conducted by WUSTL graduate student Wingyun Mak and WUSTL psychology professor Brian Carpenter. Findings were published earlier this month in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

Verbal battle of the sexes all hot air, study finds The Ottawa Citizen (Canada) and 3 others July 6, 2007 -- Women aren't chattier than men after all, say psychologists who recorded 400 students of both genders over a seven-year period. Professors from U. Texas, U. Arizona and WUSTL strapped voice recorders onto student volunteers. Students never knew when the machines were recording. The study was published in the journal Science.

"The Secret" Draws on Long Tradition Associated Press Online and 57 others June 25, 2007 -- Writer looks at the popularity of the best seller "The Secret" and the history of the New Thought movement. WUSTL religious studies professor Frank Flinn comments.

No Ideas? You're Not Alone U.S. News & World Report June 11, 2007 -- Conventional wisdom has it that breakthrough ideas come only from the minds of geniuses. Edison, Tolkien, Darwin -- history's biggest brains are responsible for its biggest innovations. Many companies are organized with this idea in mind. But creativity isn't a solitary affair -- and it's not the exclusive domain of the brilliant and gifted. In fact, research shows that people working in groups are far more innovative than previously thought. WUSTL education and psychology professor Keith Sawyer offers advice on what businesses can do to take advantage of their employees' creativity.

How to Talk About Aging Newsweek June 11, 2007 -- A recent survey by AARP found that nearly 70 percent of adult children have not talked to their parents about issues related to aging. Some children avoid this most intimate of conversations because they believe their parents don't want to talk. Others think they know what their parents want. WUSTL psychology professor Brian Carpenter is one of the experts offering advice.

Diabetes from Depression: Older adults face dual risk Science News May 15, 2007 -- Adults 65 and older who report depressive symptoms are 50 to 60 percent more likely to develop diabetes than are their peers, according to a new study at Northwestern University. Treatment of depression is even helpful for adults who already have diabetes, according to a report in the April Diabetes Care by WUSTL psychiatry professor Patrick Lustman and his colleagues.

Future recall New Scientist (UK) March 27, 2007 -- Cover story on the connection neuroscientists are finding between our memory of the past and our imagining of the future. Evidence is accumulating of an intimate mental connection between recalling the past and imagining the future. Neuroscientists and psychologists have found that people who have lost their memories also lose their ability to imagine the future, and that the brain regions that are used for remembering are also used for imagining. Article includes fMRI research done by WUSTL psychology professor Kathleen McDermott and colleague Karl Szpunar.

Darwin's God The New York Times Magazine March 13, 2007 -- A New York Times Magazine cover story examines controversial theories about the existence of God and what some call the scientific assault on religion that has been garnering attention recently. But lost in the hullabaloo over the neo-atheists is a quieter and potentially more illuminating debate. It is taking place not between science and religion but within science itself, specifically among the scientists studying the evolution of religion. One of the scientists mentioned is WUSTL anthropology professor Pascal Boyer.

Heart Disease, Diabetes, Depression a Deadly Mix The Washington Post, Reuters and 7 others March 12, 2007 -- Heart disease, diabetes and depression can be a lethal triple-play -- boosting a patient's death risk by 20 percent to 30 percent, new research shows. Duke researchers are expected to present their findings at the American Psychosomatic Society annual meeting in Budapest, Hungary. WUSTL psychiatry professor Robert Carney, who is director of the Behavioral Medicine Center, comments on an earlier study showing that symptoms of depression are associated with survival in persons with coronary artery disease.

A field guide to the bon vivant Psychology Today and 1 others March 7, 2007 -- There's one in every crowd, the joke teller whose love of food, fun and wine makes him the life of the party. It takes gregariousness, a lack of inhibition and an appreciation of fine things to produce such a lively personality, one the French call a bon vivant. WUSTL psychiatry professor Robert Cloninger, author of Feel Good: The Science of Well Being, comments on changing your outlook.

Stressed moms, genes may cause shy kids United Press International March 6, 2007 -- Shyness in children might in part stem from a certain stress-related gene that's activated by living with stressed mothers, according to a new U. Maryland study that was published in the February issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science. WUSTL psychiatry professor Robert Cloninger comments.

News Spotlights:

Spelling patterns key to helping children learn to spell, read
March 2003 — Virtually every school child has heard the "i before e" rhyme at least once as he or she struggled with spelling. But according to child development psychologist and reading development expert Rebecca Treiman, the "i-e" rule is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to spelling patterns to be found in the English language. Research by Treiman and colleagues at Washington University in St. Louis suggests that teaching children to recognize and use these patterns may help them learn to spell and read more easily.

Brain imaging study sheds light on inner workings of human intelligence
Feb., 18, 2003 — Human intelligence is like a mental juggling act in which the smartest performers use specific brain regions to resist distraction and keep attention focused on critical pieces of information, according to a new brain imaging study from Washington University in St. Louis. People with higher fluid intelligence use specific brain regions to help focus their attention and resist distraction during a difficult mental task. "Some people seem to perform better than others in novel, mentally-demanding situations, but why?" asks Jeremy R. Gray, Ph.D., co-author of the study to be posted Feb. 18 in an advance online issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Chronic worries may raise risk for range of diseases
November 2002 - The parents of children battling serious cases of pediatric cancer may be worrying themselves sick, according to a new study from Washington University in St. Louis. Although researchers have long suspected a link between stress and health problems, this study is the first to document a specific hormonal process through which chronic stress compromises the human immune system. The study does not establish direct links between stress and any specific health problem, rather it reveals a process by which stress can cause abnormalities in the immune system, changes that could leave worriers more vulnerable to allergies, heart disease and a host of other health problems.

Roediger elected chair of American Psychological Society
June 14, 2002 − Henry L. "Roddy" Roediger, III, chair and professor of psychology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, has been elected president of the American Psychological Society (APS), the leading organization of academic psychologists in the United States. APS has more than 14,000 members and publishes three highly regarded journals. It is recognized in Washington, D.C., as a leading voice in support of psychological science.

Additional background on pyschology-related campus programs:

Experts in psychology-related topics can be found in almost every school, department and program across campus. Some examples include:

The Center for Mental Health Services Research in the George Warren Brown School of Social Work.

The Center for Health Behavior Research in the School of Medicine.

The Neuro-Imaging Laboratories of the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology and he Center for Cognitive Neuroscience provide opportunities for ongoing collaborations among researchers in psychology and those in the medical school, including neuroscience leaders as Steven E. Petersen, Ph.D., professor of neurology; and Marcus E. Raichle, M.D., professor of radiology. An affiliated Image Analysis Center allows fMRI and other computer images collected in the medical school to be sent to psychology via fiber optic cable.

The Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology (PNP) program offers a doctorate in philosophy with a special emphasis in cognitive neuroscience and/or cognitive psychology. This initiative explores all aspects of mind-brain research, including consciousness, perception, memory, learning, language and cognitive development. Of the 25 faculty members involved in the program, four are from psycholgy, six are from medicine and 10 are from medicine. Other faculty come from biology, computer science, economics and physics.

The Psychological Services Center is a department-run, faculty supervised clinic that allows doctoral students the opportunity to gain hands-on experiences providing psychological counseling to community residents. The non-profit clinic provides services on a sliding-fee scale based on ability to pay.

The Hewlett Mind Brain Program is an interdisciplinary, campus-wide course of study allowing incoming undergraduates to immerse themselves in a hands-on, research-based exploration of brain science. Besides a broad set of courses, the undergraduate program is noted for having experimental psychology/research methods taught in small, intense sections of 10-15 students. Many undergraduates participate in research and each year about a dozen top students conduct honors projects under close faculty supervision. Psychology is the most popular undergraduate major at Washington University, with around 170 majors each year.