Psychology Behind Public Art
Murals tell stories—of communities, histories, and the ever-changing present. From the earliest cave paintings to the towering works of street art in today’s cities, people have long used walls as canvases for collective expression. In “Mural Art and the Psychology of Expression,” Eileen Reinhard explores this connection, highlighting how mural art continues to shape communities. Sean Duffy, Graduate Program Director of the Psychological Sciences program at Rutgers University–Camden, brings this concept into the classroom, tracing a line from ancient kinship groups to the neighborhoods of Camden and Philadelphia.
As part of Rutgers University–Camden’s Year of the Arts, Duffy’s course pushes students to examine how public art reflects cultural identity. Field trips take them into the streets of Philadelphia, where they study murals in real time, and an extension in Paris offers a global perspective. Duffy notes how murals, like the now-removed Frank Rizzo piece, evolve with shifting values, making them dynamic markers of history.
Beyond their visual appeal, murals function as “third spaces,” bridging past and present, local and global. The Common Threads mural on North Broad Street, for example, blends historical figures with contemporary youth, reinforcing the power of public art to shape identity. Duffy challenges students to see murals as more than decoration—they are living reflections of the communities that create them. Reinhard’s full article is well worth a read for a deeper dive into these ideas.
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Understanding the Mind: The Psychological Sciences Program
The Psychological Sciences program at Rutgers–Camden offers a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students for advanced research and practice in various psychological disciplines. The program provides a foundation in research design and data analysis, with opportunities for individually supervised research apprenticeships. Students can choose between a thesis track, ideal for those aiming for doctoral studies, and a content track, suited for careers in non-academic research settings. The curriculum emphasizes scientific research methods applicable to real-world problems, equipping graduates with critical thinking and analytical skills essential for diverse career paths in psychology.
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