Department of Psychology Archives

Babies respond to sign language. What does that tell us about human nature?

Language is thought to be a key attribute that sets humans apart from other species. But is the capacity for language innate or learned? According to new research by Iris Berent, professor of psychology at Northeastern, humans are primed for language—in multiple forms.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki October 12, 2021

silhouette of a womans head with blue neuro map overlaid

When we think about nature vs. nurture, we’re biased. Here’s why.

Are humans born with hard-wired abilities, or do we learn them? If you take a guess, you may be wrong. And Northeastern professor of psychology Iris Berent now knows why.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki September 20, 2021

drawing of a coronavirus looming over a sitting man

How the dark shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic is changing our brains

For many people, a year and a half feeling stressed out has worn on us. And the emotional long-haul of the pandemic could have lingering effects within your mind and body. “When you’re living with that kind of uncertainty, that is going to change the way your brain is going to work,” says Rebecca Shansky, associate professor of psychology at Northeastern.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki August 27, 2021

Megan Carter and Sammy Shupe stand outside their co-op stations.

These athletes pursue championships while on co-op

Megan Carter, a sophomore who maintains a 4.0 grade point average in biology, was on co-op at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston while striving for a national title in women’s ice hockey. Here’s how she and other student-athletes learn to balance sports, academics, and co-op.

by Ian Thomsen April 27, 2021

Faculty Expert

William Sharp

Associate Teaching Professor of Psychology

Illustration by Gregory Grinnell/Northeastern University

How to win friends (and keep them at a safe distance)

In the age of COVID-19, some people may have difficulty asking others to keep their distance. That feeling stems from fears of tension with others and a misunderstanding of emotions, says William Sharp, an assistant professor of psychology at Northeastern. But all it takes is a little practice.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa June 10, 2020

COVID-19 misconceptions are hard to fight. Cognitive psychology might help.

When it comes to learning about the coronavirus, “common sense” can lead to crucial misconceptions. John Coley, an associate professor of psychology, is studying those misconceptions in children to help fight misinformation about COVID-19.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa June 3, 2020

Protesters gather in front of Philadelphia Police headquarters on Monday, June 1, 2020, during a march calling for justice over the death of George Floyd. This demonstration was one of over 350 across the country since May 25, when Floyd, a Black man, died after a white officer kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes. AP Photo by Matt Rourke

George Floyd’s death has brought people out to protest, despite the pandemic

African Americans are killed by police and COVID-19 around three times as often as their white counterparts. Such a discrepancy is what psychoanalyst William Sharp calls a “perfect storm” for unrest. “What COVID really highlighted is the inequities between people.”

by Aria Bracci and Laura Castañón June 2, 2020

Faculty Expert

John Coley

Associate Professor of Psychology

The ‘murder hornet’ is out to get bees, not humans. So why are people still freaking out over it?

The arrival of the Asian giant hornet in the U.S. has sparked an outcry on social media, but entomologists say that people should not worry about the oversized wasps. Still, some people may be concerned, as the underlying nature of fear isn’t the same for everyone, says neuroscientist Ajay Satpute.

by Roberto Molar Candanosa May 22, 2020