Category: Psychology

Amherst College Science Center

Spill the T: Psychology Research Into Anti-Trans Attitudes

My name is Sarah Lapean, and I am a rising junior English and psychology major. I am spending part of my summer working remotely with Professor Rebecca Totton of the psychology department as a research assistant. Professor Totton has several ongoing studies within her research into anti-trans attitudes. This is my first research experience outside…

Mind Over Matter: Heather Scott Thesis Spotlight

The following was adapted from an email interview between Sarah Lapean and Heather Scott. Tell us a bit about yourself. What life experiences influenced you to write a senior thesis? I am a psychology and English double major from a small town in central Illinois. I came to Amherst knowing that I was interested in…

Thesis Spotlight with Ingrid Wefing

Ingrid Wefing is a senior, a thesis student, a Psychology and Asian Languages and Civilizations double major, and an absolute delight to talk to. I sat down with Ingrid to talk about her upcoming thesis that examines the relationship between belongingness and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Did you know you wanted to study…

The Psychology of Trauma

A series by the Peer Advocates for Sexual Respect and the Psychology Department The Amherst College Department of Health Educations put on a video series inviting psychology professors to answer questions about trauma. Professors from the Psychology Department were asked various questions regarding trauma; their responses are summarized below. There are also links to the…

Remember Your “Why”: How Psychology Majors Become Educators

On March 9th, Professor Palmquist led the latest conversation of the Psychology Department Spring 2021 Lecture Series. She spoke with Anna Vuong ’18 and Sydney “Kramer” Peterson ’17 about how they went from psychology majors at Amherst to their current jobs as teachers. Anna was a psychology major who was involved in Ed Pros, QuestBridge,…

“Merely Bystanders”: Professor Sanderson’s Lecture on the Psychology of Courage and Inaction

Would George Floyd still be alive if J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao took action against Derek Chauvin violently asphyxiating Floyd for eight whole minutes? Would countless numbers of women have been saved from sexual harassment if Quentin Tarantino spoke out against the acts of Harvey Weinstein that he was very much aware…

“What We Think”: Psychology Lecture on Children’s Social-Emotional Development During COVID-19

On September 17th, 20 students hopped onto a Zoom call to learn about how COVID-19 has impacted children’s social and emotional development. Professor McQuade of the psychology department was joined by Amherst alum Adaora Achufusi ‘13. Specializing in play therapy, Achufusi works in New York as a treatment coordinator at a therapeutic preschool for children…

Psychology Study Reveals the Role of Race at Amherst College and Beyond

The following article comes from Dr.Elizabeth Aries, a Psychology Professor at Amherst College where she teaches a course called Intergroup Dialogue on Race. She has conducted research on the role of race and social class in an elite college and published two books (Race and Class Matters at an Elite College, 2008;Speaking of Race and…