Dept. of Psychology

Big Gods: How religion transformed cooperation and conflict

Big Gods: How religion transformed cooperation and conflict

A new book by UBC Psychology Professor Ara Norenzayan Big Gods asks big questions about spirituality.

Sep 16, 2013

Poverty impairs cognitive function

Poverty impairs cognitive function

Poverty consumes so much mental energy that those in poor circumstances have little remaining brainpower to concentrate on other areas of life, new research finds.

Aug 29, 2013

From Uganda to UBC, and back

From Uganda to UBC, and back

Sunaina Assanand’s drive to transform how her students learn led her back to Uganda decades after her family’s exile.

Aug 16, 2013 - by Bonnie Vockeroth

Back to school Q&A: Keys to first-year success

Back to school Q&A: Keys to first-year success

From 2013: The transition from high school to university can be difficult. Aneesa Shariff, a psychologist with UBC Counselling Services, offers advice for first-year students.

Aug 12, 2013

First major study of suicide motivations to advance prevention

First major study of suicide motivations to advance prevention

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Jun 13, 2013

Strength in numbers when resisting forbidden fruit

Strength in numbers when resisting forbidden fruit

A new University of British Columbia study helps to explain how people become obsessed with forbidden pleasures.

Jun 5, 2013

Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending

Rich or poor, giving makes you happy: global research finds rare evidence of universal trait

Global research finds rare evidence of universal trait…

May 9, 2013

Anxious about life? Tylenol may do the trick

UBC researchers have found a new potential use for the over-the-counter pain drug Tylenol. The study suggests the drug may also reduce the psychological effects of the fear and anxiety over the human condition, or existential dread.

Apr 16, 2013

Earth to Commander Chris

Earth to Commander Chris

Student Eva Kwan keeps Canada’s favorite astronaut grounded

Apr 3, 2013 - by By Basil Waugh

Friend or foe: Babies choose sides early

Babies have a dark side under their cute exteriors, according to UBC study that finds infants as young as nine months embrace those who pick on individuals who are different from them.

Mar 12, 2013

Just being in a green building makes people act more sustainably, say UBC Psych. Prof. Alan Kingstone, Alessandra DiGiacomo and David Wu. Martin Dee Photograph

Sustainable by design

A UBC study finds that the greener the building, the greener its inhabitants

Mar 6, 2013 - by Salina Marshall

$2M from BCLC and the Province creates Centre for Gambling Research at UBC

A $2-million investment from the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and the Government of B.C. will create a major new Centre for Gambling Research at UBC to advance our understanding of gambling psychology and help reduce problem gambling behaviours.

Feb 27, 2013

Body language can predict outcomes for recovering alcoholics

To predict whether a problem drinker will hit the bottle again, ignore what they say and watch their body language for displays of shame, a new UBC study finds.

Feb 4, 2013

For power and status, dominance and skill trump likability

Finding the next Barack Obama or Warren Buffett might be as simple as looking at who attracts the most eyes in a crowd, a new UBC study finds.

Dec 19, 2012

People control thoughts better when they see their brain activity: UBC study

As humans face increasing distractions in their personal and professional lives, University of British Columbia researchers have discovered that people can gain greater control over their thoughts with real-time brain feedback.

Apr 8, 2011