Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology is represented by faculty at three FAU campuses (Boca Raton, Davie and Jupiter). The Department of Psychology maintains a research-intensive graduate program, offering the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Experimental Psychology and Master of Arts degree in Psychology. We service over 2100 undergraduate majors as well. Our award-winning and internationally renowned faculty conduct research in four core areas of Psychology: Cognitive & Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, Neuroscience, and Social/Personality Psychology. Students in our program undergo rigorous academic and research training and have gone on to successful careers in both academia and industry.

Part of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the department maintains close links with the Center for Complex Systems, with many faculty maintaining dual appointments. The department is among the most successful in the college in obtaining external funding and enjoys a strong national and international profile. 

Spotlights

Political Apathy Spreads from Parents to Adolescent Children

Eureka! Groundbreaking Study Uncovers Origin of ‘Conscious Awareness’

A Florida Atlantic University study reveals groundbreaking insight into the origins of agency using an unusual and largely untapped source – human babies. The FAU research team used young infants as a test field to understand how spontaneous movement transforms into purposeful action. Read more.

 

Political Apathy Spreads from Parents to Adolescent Children

Political Apathy Spreads from Parents to Adolescent Children

A Florida Atlantic study indicates that political disaffection spreads from parents to children. When parents and adolescents are close, parents transmit political apathy to their adolescent children, which could negatively impact young voters. Read more.

 

New Model Based on Psychology Predicts Who Will Buy Trendy Products

New Model Based on Psychology Predicts Who Will Buy Trendy Products

Florida Atlantic University and collaborators developed and introduced a new mathematical innovation model, grounded in psychology, to provide both qualitative and quantitative predictions of adoption trends for new products. Read more.

 

All Work, No Independent Play Cause of Youth Declining Mental Health

All Work, No Independent Play Cause of Youth Declining Mental Health

Anxiety and depression among school-aged children and teens in the United States are at an all-time high. Sadly, in 2021, child and adolescent mental health was declared a national emergency. Read more.

Copy-cat? Study Explores Conformity in Children with Few Friends

Copy-cat? Study Explores Conformity in Children with Few
Friends

Study findings reveal that the total number of friends that a child has is not the issue. What matters is whether or not the child has fewer friends than the partner. Read more.

 

Alumnus Spotlight: Nate Shanok, ’20, ‘17

Alumnus Spotlight: Nate Shanok, ’20, ‘17

Two-time Charles E. Schmidt College of Science alumni Nate Shanok most recently graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2020, with a Ph.D. in experimental psychology and a focus in behavioral neuroscience. Read more.

 

Seat Assignments Drive Friendships Among Elementary School Children

Seat Assignments Drive Friendships Among Elementary School Children

A new study by Florida Atlantic University psychology researchers, including Brett Laursen, Ph.D., senior author and a Professor of Psychology, is the first to show that these classroom seat assignments also have important implications for children’s friendships. Read the FAU News Desk article.

 

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