Departments Department of Psychology

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

Lobsang Tseten meditates and practices breathing exercises alone to maintain “social distancing” at a playground on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in New York. AP Photo/John Minchillo

Here’s how to combat the fear caused by a barrage of COVID-19 news

To stop an anxiety spiral, curate your own emotional experiences by seeking out videos and readings that are pleasurable, calming, and positive, suggests psychology professor David DeSteno.

by Molly Callahan April 1, 2020

Researchers at Northeastern are studying rat brains to understand how trauma in infancy makes children, but especially girls, more likely to develop anxiety and other similar disorders later in life. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Childhood trauma changes your brain. But it doesn’t have to be permanent.

Neuroscientists at Northeastern are using rats to understand how trauma in infancy makes children, but especially girls, more likely to develop anxiety and other similar disorders later in life.

by Laura Castañón February 20, 2020

Scans of brain activity in seven-year-olds are helping Northeastern researchers predict symptoms of depression, anxiety, and attentional problems in teenagers. Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

What do the brains of children tell us about their mental health as teens?

Psychiatrists don’t fully understand the neurological basis of mental illness, says Northeastern psychology professor Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli. Her team is presenting a new way to use brain imaging to anticipate the problems of teen anxiety and depression during childhood

by Roberto Molar Candanosa January 2, 2020

close up teenager drinking pure water from glass f

Your child is feeling sluggish. How much water has she had to drink today?

A new study co-authored by Northeastern professor Charles Hillman has found that the better hydrated children are, the faster their reaction times and the better they are able to multitask. So why are so many kids in America not drinking enough water?

by Khalida Sarwari November 4, 2019