News
Spring 2020 Resources
April 3, 2020
April 3, 2020
Two programs will support undergrads in research, service learning, and peer mentoring
March 16, 2020
Undergraduates in the Division of Social Sciences will soon benefit from two programs that will provide paid opportunities to do research, engage in service learning, and mentor their peers.
Timing is key for parents who want to help children learn at museums, say researchers
March 16, 2020
Children's museums can be a challenging environment for parents who feel the urge to explain the science behind all the novel activities that dazzle youngsters. New research suggests that timing is key to supporting children's learning in these environments.
New book debunks myths about who causes crime and why
March 12, 2020
Craig Haney, a distinguished professor of psychology, is the author of the new book Criminality in Context: The Psychological Foundations of Criminal Justice Reform, a comprehensive analysis of 40 years of research into the root causes of criminal behavior.
Craig Haney testifies before committee charged with revising state's penal code
February 3, 2020
Craig Haney, distinguished professor of psychology, was the only witness to testify during the first meeting of the newly formed Committee on Revision of the Penal Code.
The power of research
January 22, 2020
Wilfrido Hernández Flores discovered social science research in the Culture and Achievement Collaborative, and it changed his life
Breaking down barriers to success
January 16, 2020
First-gen student Reina Garay-Solis is doing undergraduate research to help identify common challenges for first-gen and underrepresented students and find effective institutional practices to address them
UC Santa Cruz launches new graduate program in natural language processing
December 16, 2019
Based at UCSC’s Silicon Valley Campus, the new professional master’s degree offers training in the burgeoning field of computational processing of speech and text.
Raising awareness of ‘deficit thinking’
December 12, 2019
Undergraduate researcher works to combat harmful perceptions many first-generation students experience
Women of color underrepresented as speakers at scientific conferences, study finds
December 10, 2019
Scientists from racial and ethnic minority populations are likely to have relatively fewer speaking opportunities at scientific conferences, according to the results of a new study.
Nine UCSC speakers join TEDx Santa Cruz extravaganza Dec. 7
December 2, 2019
Nine UCSC affiliates will join novelist Jonathan Franzen and a host of other speakers for TEDx Santa Cruz, a daylong extravaganza focused this year on the "Art of Hope," on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Social Sciences recognizes outstanding research, teaching, and staff
November 18, 2019
The Division of Social Sciences presented several major awards recognizing outstanding accomplishments by faculty, staff, researchers, and emeriti faculty.
Santa Cruz County faces significant gap in food security, study finds
November 18, 2019
As the season of holiday feasting approaches, a new study reveals that Santa Cruz County residents who are most at risk of food insecurity may be missing an average of five meals a week.
First generation, lasting impact
October 31, 2019
Funding from Jacques M. Littlefield Foundation is helping first-generation students succeed and generating research on practices that can support students across the country
These L.A. parents don’t want to assign a gender to their baby, so the government did it for them
September 25, 2019
Campbell Leaper, a psychology professor at UC Santa Cruz who studies childhood gender development, said that gender stereotypes limit kids early and enduringly.
Talking about scientific results without overstating the findings
September 5, 2019
Developmental psychologist Maureen Callanan has coauthored a new paper about researchers' use of "generic language" when they report scientific findings, a tendency that leads to bolder claims that may sacrifice precision.
Massaro introduces app to boost literacy
August 27, 2019
Dominic Massaro, a professor emeritus of psychology, has developed a new iPhone app designed to help children learn to read.
Psychology Ph.D. student receives AAUW fellowship
August 22, 2019
Christine Rosales, a Ph.D. student in psychology, has been awarded a 2019-20 fellowship from the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Scholars weigh in on new ideas about autism
July 23, 2019
The authors of a provocative new paper maintain that many of the behaviors common to autism—including low eye contact, repetitive movements, and the verbatim repetition of words and phrases—are misinterpreted as a lack of interest in social engagement. On the contrary, they say, many people with autism express a deep longing for social connection.
Phil Hammack helps shape Exploratorium's exhibition about identity
June 21, 2019
Psychology Professor Phil Hammack was thrilled to be invited to help plan a new exhibition at the Exploratorium about identity.
Social Sciences recognizes students for excellence in scholarship
June 3, 2019
Students, faculty, staff, and donors of the Division of Social Sciences gathered Friday, May 31, to celebrate excellence in student scholarship and creativity.
Video highlights cultural differences in collaboration
May 13, 2019
A video by Distinguished Professor of Psychology Barbara Rogoff is featured in the "2019 STEM for All Video Showcase," a competition hosted by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Helping and Hindering Undergraduate Women’s STEM Motivation: Experiences with STEM Encouragement, STEM-Related Gender Bias, and Sexual Harassment
May 9, 2019
Professor Campbell Leaper and Graduate Student Christy Starr discuss the #MeToo and other feminist social movements have highlighted the prevalence of sexual harassment and gender-biased treatment, as well as how damaging they can be.
In the Realm of "Ahh"
May 7, 2019
Professor Jean E. Fox Tree discusses voice and style of speech—including pesky filler words—reveal a lot about a speaker.
The healing power of yoga
May 3, 2019
Powerful Netflix documentary 'I Am Maris' explores student Maris Degener’s fall into anorexia, her discovery of yoga as a healing tool, and her eventual recovery.
Open Forum: On the legacy of AIDS — trauma and shame get in the way of HIV prevention
March 28, 2019
Men & Women Tend To Approach Conversations Differently — Here's How
March 26, 2019
Supreme Court takes no action on DACA, what this means for ‘Dreamers’ in Salinas
January 22, 2019
Professor Gina Langhout was interviewed for this article on DACA.
An immigration and deportation talk translates the scientific and legal speak
January 17, 2019
The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is running a series called Hardcore Natural History in which they explore different themes in research presentations through three lenses: plant, animal, and human/cultural. Their latest theme is migration, which they’ve covered via eucalyptus trees and plankton; this Friday they cover the human element in a talk titled “Deportation Uncovered.”
Beyond ‘no means no’: What most parents aren’t teaching their sons about sexual consent
October 4, 2018
In the age of #MeToo, and in the wake of the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, parents across the country have been wrestling with the anxieties of raising teenage boys to understand consent. How does a parent bring clarity to an issue that is too complex even for the country’s political leaders to navigate? How can a mother or father prevent their teenage son from someday being accused of sexual assault?
Psychology undergraduate student Alexandra Piper examines the importance of diversity for student success
January 23, 2018
An undergraduate research project by UC Santa Cruz psychology student shows how advancing diversity in higher education must begin in K-12 classrooms.
Professor Emeritus Eliot Aronson ranked among 50 most influential living psychologists
January 11, 2018
UCSC Professor Emeritus of Psychology Eliot Aronson has been ranked among the 50 Most Influential Living Psychologists in the World by TheBestSchools.
A Quarter of California Adolescents May Be ‘Gender Nonconforming.’ So What Does That Mean?
December 23, 2017
Psychology Professor Phil Hammack was quoted in a KQED Radio report about a new survey that found 27 percent of California youth are gender nonconforming.
Psychology professor Cambell Leaper featured in Slate
November 6, 2017
Psychology professor Cambell Leaper discusses how sexism starts in childhood with Slate.
Psychology professor Craig Haney discussed solitary confinement with Oprah Winfrey on “60 Minutes”
October 23, 2017
Psychology professor Ben Storm featured in Angle News
October 3, 2017
Memory expert Benjamin Storm, an associate professor of psychology, was quoted in an Angle News story about millennials who rely on smartphones and tablets when they cook, saying that reliance breeds dependence, erodes memory, and diminishes skill development.
Psychology professor Ben Storm featured in the New York Times
July 3, 2017
Psychology professor Ben Storm talks to the The New York Times about how forgetfulness can lead to improved reasoning.
UCSC psychologist Campbell Leaper talks to the New York Times about raising feminist sons
June 6, 2017
The New York Times featured Leaper's work in the recent article How to Raise a Feminist Son.
UC Santa Cruz to launch first-generation faculty campaign
May 30, 2017
UC Santa Cruz will launch the First-Gen Faculty (FGF) campaign during Student Achievement week, which starts June 5. This initiative is aimed at encouraging professors on campus to identify themselves as first generation — the first in their families to graduate from a U.S. four-year college or university.
Psychology professor featured in National Science Foundation Video Showcase "STEM for All"
May 15, 2017
Newsweek features psychology professor Craig Haney
May 9, 2017
Psychology Professor Craig Haney, an expert in the psychological effects of incarceration, was featured in a Newsweek magazine article about the impacts of solitary confinement.
Research Roundup: Winter 2017 Issue
April 04, 2017
Some of the diverse topics covered by faculty in the Social Sciences Division in Winter 2017 include predicting college success, models for sustainable development, the psychological impact of President Donald Trump, his proposed military budget, and more.
The New York Times features psychology professor Craig Haney
March 30, 2017
USA Today features psychology professor Campbell Leaper
March 12, 2017
Campbell Leaper, a developmental and social psychologist, was quoted in a story about gender reveal parties that ran in USA Today and other media outlets.
Campbell Leaper interviewed for Slate
November 23, 2016
Psychology professor and Department Chair Campbell Leaper was interviewed in an article for Slate about how to talk to kids about hatred and hostility in the Trump era.
Campbell Leaper interviewed in BuzzFeed News
November 11, 2016
Psychology professor and Department Chair Campbell Leaper was quoted extensively in a BuzzFeed article about women and sexism in light of the presidential election results.
Steve Whittaker featured in the Financial Times
October 6, 2016
Psychology professor Stephen Whittaker discusses “pilers and filers” in the Financial Times article, There’s magic in mess: why you should embrace a disorderly desk.
Research Roundup: Spring 2016 Issue
July 25, 2016
From sequencing DNA from pre-Columbian mummies, examining the California strawberry farming industry, and understanding how teachers teach, faculty and researchers in the Division of Social Sciences published a wide range of issues and ideas in spring quarter.
Congratulations to the Frank X. Barron Creativity Award Winners
July 22, 2016
Psychology graduate Students Yu Zhang and Sara Goodman are the recent recipients of the Frank X. Barron Creativity Award, a scholarship that awards students who are researching areas broadly defined by one of UC Santa Cruz’s most distinguished faculty.
Facebook grapples with heartache as it jogs memories
June 7, 2016
The Star online, the web version of the Toronto Star quoted psychology professor Steve Whittaker in an article on Facebook memories.
Psychology professor featured in National Science Foundation Video Showcase "STEM for All"
May 17, 2016
From May 17 - 23, the public is invited to view, discuss, and vote for their favorite video presentation
Research Roundup: Winter 2016 Issue
March 24, 2016
From biodiversity in California to power relations in Tanzania, faculty and researchers in the Division of Social Sciences published a wide range of issues and ideas in winter quarter.
UC Berkeley provost Claude M. Steele speaks about stereotypes, identity, and academic performace
March 17, 2016
Claude M. Steele, a renowned social psychologist and UC Berkeley’s executive vice chancellor and campus provost, spoke about his research to UCSC students, staff, and faculty.
Undergraduates are learning through community building
March 8, 2016
Thanks to the Psychology Department's Field Study Program, students are making a difference in the local community while getting an education at the same time.
Going the distance: contact vs. motivation
February 12, 2016
The Jerusalem Post published an op-ed by Andrew Pilecki, a UCSC Ph.D. in psychology, and Phillip Hammack, associate professor of psychology
Cognitive science students win Hack UCSC with virtual reality study app
February 9, 2016
Undergraduate research assistants from psychology professor Nick Davidenko’s High Level Perception Lab scoop the coveted prize in the innovation category.
Q & A with Professor Su-hua Wang
January 15, 2016
We sat down with Wang for a Q&A to learn more about her work and about the unique research internship program she offers to psychology majors.
More than a decade after release, they all come back
November 5, 2015
Distinguished psychology professor Craig Haney was quoted in a USA Today articled that followed nine Texas inmates who were released from prison in 2002.
Meet the Psychology Department's newest faculty
November 4, 2015
The Psychology Department now consists of 26 faculty thanks to its three newest hires: Christy Byrd, Audun Dahl and Rebecca Covarrubias.
Unique study compares health of LGB age groups
October 28, 2015
The Bay Area Reporter interviews Associate Professor Phil Hammack about his research on the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people.
October 13, 2015
October 13, 2015
October 13, 2015
How can we improve dialogue about race relations?
October 12, 2015
PBS News Hour interview with Dr. Linda Tropp, former graduate student in Psychology.
Navigating through digital folders uses the same brain structures as real world navigation
October 1, 2015
Efficient storage and retrieval of digital data is the focus of much commercial and academic attention. With personal computers, there are two main ways to retrieve files: hierarchical navigation and query-based search...
Solitary Confinement: Punished for Life
August 4, 2015
Craig Haney, distinguished professor of psychology, and his research on the long-term psychological effects of solitary confinement, are the focus of a New York Times article on the recent attention being paid to the issue.
The Magic of Tidying Up—Digitally
July 19, 2015
A Wall Street Journal columnist turned to psychology’s Steve Whitaker, professor of human computer interaction, for his expertise in the science of storage and retrieval of digital data.
It Starts At Home: Letting Children Collaborate
June 4, 2015
Dr. Rogoff discusses her work researching the collaborative nature of children in Mexico and the United States at a TEDxSantaCruz talk.
April 10, 2015
Learning from Anita Hill: a panel discussion with Professors Zurbriggen (Psychology) and Falcón (LALS)
February 25, 2015
On Thursday, February 26 law professor Anita Hill, who accused Supreme Court justice nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in 1991, visited UC Santa Cruz.
Professor Haney Honored for Prison Research
October 17, 2014
Professor Craig Haney, known for his research on prison conditions, will be honored at the Founders Day dinner on October 25th.
A beneficial partnership - Professor Callanan highlighted in APA Monitor
October 17, 2014
Psychologists around the country are bringing behavioral science to the public by conducting research on the exhibit floor at science centers and museums.
Alumna Kris Perry shares how she overturned Prop 8, the same-sex marriage ban
October 14, 2014
At a recent event on campus, Perry talks about her leadership in the gay rights movement
Psychology Department receives APA Culture of Service Award
January 17, 2013
BSA recognized the psychology department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, for an impressive record of service to the discipline.
Sociological association awards Tom Pettigrew distinguished career award
May 20, 2011
Thomas F. Pettigrew, research professor of psychology at UC Santa Cruz, has been named winner of the William Foote Whyte Distinguished Career Award of the Sociological Practice and Public Sociology Section of the American Sociological Association.
Psychology professor awarded prestigious Spencer fellowship
May 18, 2011
Phillip L. Hammack, assistant professor of psychology at UC Santa Cruz, has been named a 2011-2012 National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow.
New book questions effectiveness of peace-building workshops
May 18, 2011
In his new book, UCSC psychology professor Phillip L. Hammack questions the effectiveness of peace-building workshops involving Israeli and Palestinian teenagers in the United States.
Analysis shows personal contact reduces tension and prejudice
April 28, 2011
In a new book, "When Groups Meet: the Dynamics of Intergroup Contact," Thomas F. Pettigrew, an international expert on racism, and Linda R. Tropp, associate professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, analyze research that shows how bringing groups together can mitigate prejudice.
Psychology professor links cultural identities, educational success
April 21, 2011
In her new book, UC Santa Cruz psychology professor Catherine R. Cooper examines how culturally diverse youth can develop pathways to college without losing ties to their families, peers, and cultural communities.
