University at Buffalo Psychology Department

03/03/2022

Are you interested in attending graduate school in psychology or a related field? Would you like to hear about what graduate school is like? What about different programs? And how can you put together a competitive graduate application? Dr. Wendy Quinton will be discussing these topics in this presentation on applying to graduate school. She will provide an overview of the graduate application process, including how to prepare, what’s expected, and how to navigate it all successfully. Event is open to all UB students.

Date: March 9th
Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Location: 280 Park Hall (North Campus)

02/17/2022

2-11-22 2nd GREAT Awards Announced - SUNY

Congratulations to UB Clinical Psychology graduate student Katie Paige! Katie was one of 28 SUNY students this year to receive the SUNY Graduate Research Empowering and Accelerating Talent (GREAT) award for her research on the intersection of substance use and psychopathology across the developmental period of adolescence. #Ubuffalo

https://www.suny.edu/suny-news/press-releases/2-22/2-11-22/great2022.html

SUNY Announces Recipients of the 2nd Annual Graduate Research Empowering and Accelerating Talent Awards

02/01/2022

They Helped Free Britney. Now They Want Justice

Rolling Stone quotes UB psychologist Shira Gabriel in a story about the group behind the hashtag #FreeBritney movement, which advocated for pop star Britney Spears to be released from the conservatorship long controlled by her father.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/freebritney-whats-next-1291469/

“There’s a larger goal ahead of us: To change the system so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else,” #FreeBritney members say

12/15/2021

Undergraduate Research Conference

Save the date for the 27th Annual UB Undergraduate Research Conference!

This year’s virtual conference will be held July 21-22, 2022. We’re working hard to plan an experience that will inspire students interested in demonstrating their knowledge and talents to an audience drawn from all over the nation.

Stay tuned for updates and registration information in the new year!

Thank you for your interest in the University at Buffalo’s Undergraduate Research Conference. Our annual conference is an exciting platform for students interested in graduate school to demonstrate their knowledge and talents to an audience drawn from all over the nation. 

12/06/2021

Save the date for the 3rd annual Western New York Undergraduate Psychology Conference taking place on Saturday, April 9th, 2022 on UB's North Campus!

12/03/2021

Study says humpback whale song is about finding, not attracting, whales

A recent study led by UB Psychology professor, Eduardo Mercado III, PhD, reveals that humpback whale song is about finding, not attracting, whales. #UBuffalo #psychology

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2021/11/026.html

UB researcher says his latest paper is another strike against the idea that whales sing to attract mates; findings indicate that whales echolocate, like dolphins and bats.

12/02/2021

Clear Evidence: Giving Is Good for You

From Psychology Today: An article about how Americans are continuing their charitable giving, despite the pandemic, quotes Michael Poulin, PhD, UB associate professor of psychology. #UBuffalo #psychology

Charitable giving is up, and that's good news for recipients and givers.

11/17/2021

Come join PSI CHI and the UPA at the Psychology Research Fair on Thursday, November 18th from 6-7:30pm in the Student Union Theater.

Learn about research labs on campus looking for new research assistants.

Food will be provided.

11/17/2021

Congratulations to Destiny Brakey, UB Behavioral Neuroscience PhD student, on receiving the Bugelski Dissertation Award from the Department of Psychology! Destiny's dissertation research involves identifying brain regions that control Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists that help regulate drinking in Brattleboro rats.

11/16/2021

From Putting up Holiday Decorations Early to Practicing Gratitude, the Happiest People in the World Swear By These 30 Habits

PARADE Magazine quoted Lora Park, PhD, UB associate professor of psychology, in a story on habits that help people stay happy.

https://parade.com/1291858/lisamulcahy/habits-of-happy-people/

Parade.com has an extensive editorial partnership with Cleveland Clinic, consistently named as one of the nation’s best hospitals in U.S. News & World Report’s annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Click here to learn more about our health reporting policies.Over the course of the COVI...

10/28/2021

Mindfulness meditation can make some Americans more selfish and less generous

From Big Think: UB associate professor of psychology, Michael Poulin, PhD, discusses mindfulness and how it should not be assumed that mindfulness, as practiced in the U.S., will automatically lead to good outcomes. #UBuffalo #psychology

Yes, mindfulness can do good, but it can also reduce generosity and promote selfishness in people who already focus on themselves.

09/20/2021

Volunteers needed for a study on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy - see flyer for more details.

09/03/2021

Study shows a whale of a difference between songs of birds and humpbacks

From ScienceDaily : UB Psychology Professor, Eduardo Mercado, PhD, proposes a radically different story from what is commonly accepted about whale songs and presents evidence for a departure from treating whale songs as the underwater analog to bird songs. #UBuffalo #psychology

These findings challenge the results of past studies that vocal variations in humpback whale songs provide information about a singer's reproductive fitness. Instead, the morphing appears to reveal the precise locations and movements of singers from long distances and may enhance the effectiveness o...

08/30/2021

Happy first day of classes and welcome back!

08/23/2021

What a song reveals about vocal imitation deficits for autistic individuals

A new paper co-authored by UB psychology professor, Dr. Peter Pfordresher, comparing the ability to match pitch and duration in speech and song is providing valuable insight into vocal imitation deficits for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). #Ubuffalo #psychology

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2021/08/006.html

Study's findings have broad implications when thinking about the challenges associated with autism, including difficulties when interacting with others and making social connections.

08/20/2021

Only 1 in 10 Kids With ADHD Will Outgrow It

From U.S. News and World Report: Only about 1 in 10 kids with ADHD are likely to have a full and lasting remission of their symptoms according to new research from UB alum and current associate professor at the University of Washington, Dr. Margaret Sibley. #UBuffalo #psychology

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-08-18/only-1-in-10-kids-with-adhd-will-outgrow-it

US News is a recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings. Track elected officials, research health conditions, and find news you can use in politics, business, health, and education.

08/05/2021

Mindfulness meditation can make some Americans more selfish and less generous

A Salon piece by Michael Poulin, PhD, UB associate professor of psychology, expresses reservations about the effectiveness of mindfulness as it is practiced in the U.S.

https://www.salon.com/2021/08/01/mindfulness-meditation-can-make-some-americans-more-selfish-and-less-generous_partner/

The meditation market is expected to grow to over $2 billion by 2022

08/04/2021

How to Get Things Done When You Don’t Want to Do Anything

From The New York Times: A story on how to get things done when you don’t want to do anything quotes Lora Park, PhD, UB associate professor of psychology.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/well/live/motivation-energy-advice.html

The drive to be your best can be hard to muster right about now. Here are some ways to get your mojo back.

07/26/2021

Why We Feel Close to Celebrities We Have Never Met

From The Swaddle: “When we care about someone ― even a celebrity ― they feel like an extension of ourselves, so good things happening to them feels good and bad things happening to them feels bad,” Shira Gabriel, PhD, UB associate professor of psychology. #UBuffalo #psychology

Called "parasocial" relationships, these one-sided psychological attachments stem from our innate need to bond with other humans.

07/19/2021

Hayes Hall Chimes Anniversary

Tick, tock, tick, tock.......🔔🔔🔔

Happy anniversary to #UBuffalo's favorite bells!

06/03/2021

Wait, What The Heck Is A 'Parasocial Relationship'?

From HuffPost : UB associate professor of psychology, Shira Gabriel, Ph.D., discusses parasocial relationships (or one-sided psychological attachments) that people form with celebrities or fictional characters. #UBuffalo #psychology

There's a deeper reason we're all invested in celebrities like John Mulaney and Bennifer, even when we know it's kind of embarrassing to care.

05/25/2021

Volunteers located in the Buffalo area are needed for a paid-study on vocal feedback. Please see the attached flyer for more information:

05/17/2021

UB College of Arts and Sciences honors outstanding 2021 graduates

Congratulations to UB Psychology's Outstanding Senior, Cassondra Lyman, who graduates summa cm laude with a bachelor of science in psychology and a bachelor of arts in statistics!

Graduating students were recognized for their incredible achievements by the College of Arts and Sciences and SUNY.

05/14/2021

Class of 2021 Celebration

Please join us in celebrating our 2021 graduates and the many accomplishments of members of the Psychology Department this year!

Please join us in celebrating our 2021 graduates and the many accomplishments of members of the Psychology Department this year! 

05/13/2021

Large events can be cesspools of germs. Here’s why we ache for them, anyway.

“We can go from day to day doing the same thing and life begins to feel boring. And these large group gatherings tend to make us feel like something special has happened.” - UB Psychology Associate Professor Shira Gabriel, PhD, as quoted in the recent Washington Post article on why we feel compelled to attend large gatherings. #UBuffalo #psychology

Attending a concert, sporting event or festival can promote feelings of connection and strengthen identity.

05/03/2021

Volunteers are needed for a study on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy - note that there have been changes to the eligibility criteria from our last post regarding this study. Please see the attached flyer for more information:

04/15/2021

Mindfulness Can Make Independent People Selfish, Study Suggests

From Science Times: A new paper from lead author and UB Psychology associate professor, Michael Poulin, PhD, demonstrates some of the surprising downsides of mindfulness while offering ways to minimize those consequences. #UBuffalo #psychology

A study from the University of Buffalo suggests that mindfulness can increase prosocial behaviors among interdependent individuals but can also make people, who view themselves as independent, selfish.

04/14/2021

Volunteers are needed for a study on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Please see the attached flyer for more information:

04/14/2021

Congratulations to the new UB Psi Chi inductees!

03/12/2021

Read to succeed ─ in math. Study shows how reading skill shapes more than just reading

“These findings floored me. They elevate the value and importance of literacy by showing how reading proficiency reaches across domains, guiding how we approach other tasks and solve other problems” - quote from UB assistant professor of psychology, Christopher McNorgan, PhD, on his recent research which demonstrates how the cooperative areas of the brain responsible for reading skill are also at work during apparently unrelated activities, such as multiplication.

UB psychologist identifies a connectivity fingerprint suggesting that the brain’s reading network is at work across cognitive domains. “Reading affects everything,” he says.

03/10/2021

Pandemic Lessons: Planning is near impossible. How do you stay calm about the future?

Recent UB Psychology alum, Thomas Saltsman, PhD, along with other mental health experts, dive into strategies for navigating stress during the pandemic in this article from The Buffalo News.

In this “Pandemic Lessons,” we dive into strategies from mental health experts for navigating the coming months.

02/16/2021

Study contradicts belief that whales learn songs from one another

"Our findings indicate that neither cultural transmission nor social learning contributes significantly to how humpback whales change their songs over time" - Eduardo Mercado, PhD, UB psychology professor on his recent study which analyzed songs from groups of humpbacks that were not in acoustic contact with each other yet still produced acoustically comparable songs. #UBuffalo #psychology

From ScienceDaily

A new study is directly contradicting the widely accepted cultural transmission hypothesis suggesting that whales learn their songs from other whales. 'Our findings indicate that neither cultural transmission nor social learning contributes significantly to how humpback whales change their songs ove...

02/15/2021

Abstract submissions are now open for UB's 2nd Annual Western New York Undergraduate Psychology Conference. See flyer below for more details.

02/11/2021

The science behind why you make so many snap decisions

“We might assume maximizers are having a negative experience in the moment, obsessing over the perfect choice. But it appears to be the satisficers – and that might be why they’re satisficing.” - UB psychology researcher, Thomas Saltsman, PhD, on his new study which provides insight into why maximizers and satisficers engage in such distinct decision making behaviors. #UBuffalo #psychology

A new study has collected tangible, physical evidence suggesting that when you are overwhelmed by tons of options, you will make a snap decision.

02/05/2021

Let’s talk about mental health - Excalibur

Alumni in the news: Jeffrey Wardell, PhD, UB Clinical Psychology graduate and current assistant professor at York University, is featured in a recent Excalibur article discussing current issues surrounding mental health.

We may be reducing the stigma of mental health disorders, but with the pandemic still raging, the issues are on the rise.