The Psychology of What We Value

What people value shapes how they live, connect, and cope. This research explored how educational background and perceived social status influence whether individuals prioritize self-focused values such as power and achievement or other-focused values such as family and compassion. The project was presented during the 2025 SPARK! Graduate Poster Exhibition. Conducted by Xuanzhou Du while… continue reading

Finding Meaning, Finding Help

Growth often begins with a single decision: reaching out. Yet for many students, asking for help remains one of the most difficult steps to take. Ethan Trieu’s research explores how strengthening a sense of meaning and purpose may shift attitudes toward help-seeking, positioning self-efficacy as a key bridge between belief and action. Trieu completed this… continue reading

Research on Homelessness & Mental Health

Turning a master’s thesis into a peer-reviewed article marked a milestone in Jeniska Rivera-Galarza’s graduate work. An MA candidate in Psychological Sciences, she described the publication as an honor that prepares her for the next stage of her academic career. The article, co-authored with her thesis advisor, Courtenay Cavanaugh, is published in the Journal of… continue reading

Can Kindness Be Measured & Shared Digitally?

In The Philadelphia Inquirer, the article “Rutgers professor seeks to spread kindness and compassion digitally” by Susan Snyder profiles Rutgers–Camden assistant professor Yoona Kang and her research on compassion, kindness, and digital well-being. The piece highlights Kang’s role as a faculty member in the Psychological Sciences MA program and the Prevention Science program, focusing on… continue reading

New Look at Acupuncture in Eating Disorder Care

In her new Psychology Today article, Can Acupuncture Help Treat Eating Disorders?, Charlotte Markey explores how a low-risk complementary practice is being considered alongside established treatment models. Markey writes as a Professor of Psychology and chair of the Health Sciences Department, which is home to the Prevention Science and Psychological Sciences graduate programs, and she… continue reading

Psychology Program Launches Brain Research Lab

The opening of a new electroencephalography (EEG) lab at Rutgers–Camden brought together three people — a professor beginning her faculty role, a student starting graduate school, and the program director for Psychological Sciences ready to volunteer as the first subject. Sean Duffy, Graduate Program Director for Psychological Sciences, marked the launch by taking the seat… continue reading