Department of Psychology

A teenager takes a selfie while lying on a bed

There’s now a way to measure body image consciousness on social media

Pitt psychologist Sophia Choukas-Bradley has developed a scale for gauging body image consciousness, and using it, she’s found that teens think about the way they present to an online audience, even in their offline moments.

Music Alumnus Hailing from Home

Michael Buckstein (A&S ’18) recently took to Twitter and performed his own brass ensemble versions of Pitt’s alma mater and victory song while #HailingFromHome.

Five Mental Health Experts on Coping with Social Distancing

Feeling worried? From managing time on social media to helping others, Pitt experts share calming strategies for those who are anxious or struggling with mental health issues during the pandemic.

Dietrich School Student Wins Kanders Churchill Scholarship in Science Policy

Thomas Freitag is the second winner from Pitt in the three years the scholarship has been offered. Freitag will study HIV prevention and treatment at the University of Cambridge next year.

Two hands hold up a phone to take a picture in a crowded room

Experts weigh in on Instagram hiding likes

Psychologist Sophia Choukas-Bradley and brand strategist Vanitha Swaminathan say Instagram’s move this week to hide the number of likes on some posts in the U.S. could change how young adults feel about themselves and their peers.

Pleasant Smells Can Help Smokers Reduce Cigarette Craving, New Study Finds

In a study that expands on previous work, a team led by psychology’s Michael Sayette found reduced urges to smoke in response to pleasant smells, as well as a connection to memory.

Researchers Teach Adults to Read Using Pictures of Houses

In a recent study, led by chair of psychology Julie Fiez, researchers taught adults “HouseFont” — a hieroglyphic-like language based on photos of homes — then scanned the language-learning areas of participants’ brains. What they found adds to a growing body of knowledge on how adults process written languages.