Department of Psychology

"In an effort to ‘recognize the medical spectrum of gender identity,’ The American Medical Association now recommends removing sex labels entirely from birth certificates. As an associate teaching professor at the UW, who teaches human sexuality to about 4,000 undergraduate students every year, I strongly believe that Washington state should follow this recommendation," writes Nicole McNichols, associate teaching professor of psychology at the UW.

New hires will join colleagues in the departments of Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Statistics. 

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own feelings. Along with it comes the capacity to empathize, meaning to be aware and respectful of the feelings of people around you. John Gottman, professor emeritus of psychology at the UW, is referenced.

Cigarette smoking is a highly addictive habit that can have long-term, adverse health effects, but there is hope for those who want to quit thanks to innovative apps, help lines and proven coping strategies. Jonathan Bricker, affiliate professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

Twenty scientists and engineers at the University of Washington are among the 38 new members elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2021. New members were chosen for “their outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the Academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.”

University of Washington Provost Mark A. Richards today announced Dianne Harris will become dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, beginning Sept. 1.

Kevin Kuehn, a UW doctoral student in clinical psychology, discusses the results of his new study on student mental health.

Are we ready to break up with our masks? Or is it hard to let go? Washington is open again (except for indoor events of 10,000-plus people) and mask restrictions have been relaxed, but with coronavirus variants still out there, people are confronting a new set of social and emotional challenges. Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

As each new generation inherits the world, vital knowledge is forgotten. Peter Kahn, professor of psychology and of environmental and forest sciences at the UW, is quoted.

Dr. Edward Diener, who graduated in 1974 with a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Washington, has passed away.

"On my Instagram account, where I frequently query people about their sexual ideas and attitudes, memes like 'Vaxxed and Waxed' and 'Hot Vax Summer' are flying. A lot of people, it seems, are ready to party. Can past catastrophes shed light on whether there will be a large rebound effect in people’s sexual behavior? Are we about to enter a Roaring 2021?" writes Nicole McNichols, associate teaching professor of psychology at the UW.

The UW Institute of Learning and Brain Sciences found that babies already have the building blocks of generous social behavior. Andrew Meltzoff, professor of psychology at the UW and co-director of the institute, is interviewed.

Starting June 8, you could win a cool $250,000 from the state, assuming you’re vaccinated, of course. Today we ask: Why do these vaccine lottery programs work? Jane Simoni, professor of psychology at the UW, is interviewed on the “Seattle Now” podcast.

Three years after Walid Salem was plucked off a Cairo street by plainclothes police officers, blindfolded and then imprisoned, the University of Washington doctoral student remains stuck in Egypt, unable to visit his young daughter or finish his dissertation in Seattle. Michael McCann, professor of political science at the UW, and UW President Ana Mari Cauce are quoted.