Psychology has taught us a lot about human thoughts and behavior. But which humans do we know the most about?

It can be hard to disengage from the negativity around us and even harder to acknowledge the positive aspects of our lives. Here are some tips for understanding your “negative filter” and overcoming it.

This article is authored by Eva Li, Samantha Eisert, and Danny Rahal and is part of the 2020 pre-graduate spotlight week. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the US affecti …

Is an ordinary person capable of committing heinous acts? After the Holocaust (1941-45), many questioned how Nazi soldiers were capable of such senseless murder. Did it take a certain type of person, or did there exist situational factors that enabled …

Even into adulthood, our parent’s jobs are far from over! Strong parental support through college influences our academics, our outlook on life, and our emotion and behavior regulation as young adults. The quality of our relationships with our parents can provide protection from the tumultuous emotional environment that the transition to college can sometimes create.

Are you deciding on your college dorm situation for the upcoming school year? Here is some information to keep in mind about Living-Learning Communities and their benefits as well as their disadvantages.

This article is authored by Eva Li, Samantha Eisert, and Danny Rahal and is part of the 2020 pre-graduate spotlight week. The theory of mind in social cognition is the ability to perceive others’ emotional states and understanding. It is the way h …

Unlike earlier psychological work which focused on treating mental illness, positive psychology is a relatively new field that studies the making of a good life building upon the humanistic movement (recall Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs). It officially b …

Test Anxiety: What causes it and How to cope with it

Your memory may not be as accurate as you think. Decades of research on false memory have revealed several instances when memories can be inaccurate or even fabricated.

Recently, everyone’s interested in the gut-brain connection and how the gut microbiome may influence mental health. But what do we actually know about links between gut bacteria and depression/anxiety and the pathways through which the bugs in our guts exert their influence?

Flashcards are often recommended as a way to help students prepare for exams. However, do students use this study tool in an effective way?

This article is authored by Brandon Williams and Danny Rahal and is part of the 2020 pre-graduate spotlight week. Adolescence is a period marked by significant biological and social changes, including pubertal changes and greater responsibility. I …

This article is authored by Minna Sarwar and Danny Rahal and is part of the 2020 pre-graduate spotlight week.             Bullying has always been a negative but pervasive facet of childhood, …

By using math talk in everyday activities, parents can support their young child’s math learning. In this article, we provide examples of math talk and how to incorporate math talk in various day-to-day activities.

Is happiness just about feeling good in the moment? Or is happiness also about feeling what’s “right”?

This article was authored by Selam Mulugeta and Danny Rahal as part of the 2020 pre-graduate spotlight series.It is no secret that many students at UCLA are pre-med. When I first started at UCLA, I was convinced that there was a formula for being the i …

With accessibility to film and television at an all-time high, this form of media reaches a very large audience. It is easy for us to get caught up in the plot of our favorite movie or TV show, without realizing the lasting effects that these films and shows have on the way we think and perceive those around us.

Three septuagenarians are running for president. Does age affect the ability to lead?

What is cognition? This post explores the broad domain of cognition and what it means to divide cognitive functions into “hot” and “cold” categories.

The media industry holds great power over the socialization and self-concept of young people. Media can influence viewers in positive ways, but often become problematic when considering the underrepresentation or negative portrayal of certain identities such as gender, race, disability, and socioeconomic status.