Department of Applied Psychology Archives

Why the pandemic is more confusing than ever

Mask on. Mask off. Now, put your mask on again. Don’t leave your house. Hug your grandparents. Stop hugging Grandma. Trying to navigate the renewed risks of the pandemic amidst the Delta variant may make your head spin. “We are in a situation where the ground rules have changed,” says Rory Smead, associate professor of philosophy at Northeastern.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki August 23, 2021

Victoria’s Secret inclusive rebranding faces body-image backlash

Victoria’s Secret swapped angels for activists in a new marketing campaign that focuses on inclusion instead of perfection. Rachel Rodgers, an associate professor of applied psychology at Northeastern, says the rebrand is too little, too late.

by Hillary Chabot July 2, 2021

Shivam Patel, 13, receives his first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination from nurse Diawna Jenkins as his father, Rajesh Patel, observes from the background at the Cook County Public Health Department on May 13, 2021, in Des Plaines, Ill. AP Photo by Shafkat Anowar

Should kids get a COVID-19 vaccination? Ask them.

While parents generally need to be on board for medical decisions, their children might be just as important—if not more—in deciding to get the COVID-19 vaccine, says Susan Mello, an assistant professor at Northeastern who studies health communication.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki May 21, 2021

Laura Dudley, assistant clinical professor of applied psychology, teaches yoga during an Introduction to Mindfulness class.

What are the benefits of mindfulness? Take this interdisciplinary minor and find out.

The minor weaves in religious studies, psychology courses, and health sciences, says Laura Dudley, assistant clinical professor of applied psychology at Northeastern who teaches a course titled Introduction to Mindfulness. Students will consider how to be mindful consumers of social media, how to use money mindfully, and also consider in what situations they are mindless.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki May 13, 2021

An illustrated picture of students in a classroom.

English learners in public school classrooms are often left behind. What can help them catch up?

English learners are the fastest growing group in public school classrooms, yet they’re also the least likely to finish High School. Chieh Li, associate professor of school psychology at Northeastern, believes the problem is a major social justice issue—and she has a plan to fix it.

by Hillary Chabot April 27, 2021

Izabella Bankowski, who studies Behavioral Neuroscience, plays with Kaia, her 15-week-old Cavapoo puppy, on Centennial Common. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

New owners brace for post-pandemic pet withdrawal

The COVID-19 pet boom means many new owners will soon be spending hours away from their furry family members. Animal Behaviorist Terri Bright offers tips to help smooth the transition.

by Hillary Chabot April 2, 2021

Illustration by Gregory Grinnell/Northeastern University

The person walking past you isn’t wearing a mask. What should you say?

It’s best to avoid hostility and communicate with empathy when it comes to helping people understand why covering their faces can slow the spread of the virus, say Northeastern researchers.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa May 15, 2020

‘Zoom fatigue’ is real. Here’s why you’re feeling it, and what you can do about it.

Video calls have become a crucial way to stay in touch from afar, but they can be exhausting. That’s because we're missing many of the nonverbal cues that we typically rely on during in-person conversations, says behavior analyst Laura Dudley.

by Molly Callahan May 11, 2020

Lauren Vollor, left, 5, and her sister Anne Larkin Vollor, 8, chalk their driveway on in Meridin, Miss., on March 25, 2020. Children in the neighborhoods are writing new messages each day for inspiration to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. AP Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star

‘We’ll never forget spending so much time together’

We’re in a time of crisis, but it is also a time of opportunities to help your kids get along better. Will it involve a lot of conflict? Perhaps, but there are ways to manage that, says psychology professor Laurie Kramer.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa April 7, 2020

Illustration by Hannah Moore/Northeastern University

Help your children get along (while keeping your own sanity intact)

Conflict between siblings may be unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing that parents can do about it, says Laurie Kramer, a professor of applied psychology at Northeastern.

by Khalida Sarwari February 21, 2020