Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science

In this episode of Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science , we sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Redcay to explore how studying real‑time interaction is reshaping what we know about the social brain and autism.  We dive into second‑person neuroscience, brain‑to‑brain synchrony, and why measuring social cognition in isolation can miss what actually matters in everyday life. The conversation also unp...

Relationships are an important part of the human experience, and especially for kids. In this episode, we dive into the role of relationships in early childhood education with Dr. Jude Cassidy. Jude shares insights from her decades of research on parent-child relationships and how her newest research taking place in schools throughout three counties in Maryland aims to create a new approach to ear...

Do violent video games turn people violent? After forty years of research, dozens of meta-analyses, and even a Supreme Court case, the debate still won’t die. In this episode of  Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science , Mike and Joey trace the controversy from  Mortal Kombat  and the birth of the ESRB to today’s competing meta-analyses. They unpack key critiques—how “aggression” is measured,...

Nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth seriously considered suicide last year. In this episode, hosts Mike and Joey talk with  Dr. Ethan Mereish , licensed psychologist and director of the  Lavender Lab  at the University of Maryland, about what the data say—and what can help. We explore  minority stress , intersectionality, and how discrimination and chronic stigma shape mental health, su...

Over 61 million adults in the US live with mental illness — nearly 1 in 4. For young people, the numbers are even starker: in Maryland alone, more than a third of middle schoolers and nearly 40% of high schoolers report persistent sadness or hopelessness. These aren't distant statistics. They're our neighbors, classmates, roommates, and friends. In this special Podcasthon charity episode,...

For decades, the Stanford Prison Experiment has been held up as proof that ordinary people can quickly become cruel when placed in the wrong situation. In this episode of  Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science , hosts Joey Barnet and Mike Dougherty take a closer look at that famous study — and the story we’ve been told about it. Drawing on a deep archival investigation by historian Thibault...

How early do the experiences that shape who we become actually begin? In this episode of  Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science , hosts Mike Dougherty and Joey Barnet talk with Dr. Tracy Riggins, a principal investigator on the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study—the largest long‑term study of early brain development in U.S. history. We explore how researchers are following more...

What if I told you I had developed a new technology that could perceive parts of the color spectrum imperceptible to the human eye? That this technology, with some training, could outperform any known computer, make decisions with near-perfect accuracy, and integrate these exceptional capabilities with a high-fidelity spatial navigation system immune to all known electronic jamming devices—deliver...

Perhaps one of the most widely studied topics in psychological science involves the study of heuristics and biases. Starting with the groundbreaking work of Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, the term "heuristic" became synonymous with decision making, and heuristic mechanisms such as "availability" and "representative" spread throughout psychology and even into popula...

When we talk about evil, we often imagine monsters, villains, or people fundamentally different from us. Psychology challenges that idea. Research on obedience, conformity, morality, and power suggests that evil isn’t always about who someone is, but about the situations they’re placed in and the choices they’re pushed to make. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Scott Roberts about explore the psyc...

Will listening to Mozart really make your kid a genius? Does music training actually make you smarter? And, what about listening to music while studying for that exam -- is that a good idea? In this episode Bob Slevc breaks down some common beliefs about music. Which are myth and which are fact? Turns out it's complicated ... kinda. #MozartEffect #CognitiveTraining #MusicCognition #NeuroMyth

In this episode, we tackle the controversial claim that Tylenol causes Autism. But,does it really? How strong is the evidence and might there be alternative explanations for this observation? In this episode, Dr. Desi Jones breaks down what the research actually says, what it doesn't say, and why such claims can be detrimental. Suggested Readings Article with Meta-analysis showing no relations...

Got a buck burning a hole in your pocket and wondering what you could buy that would make you feel good? Think again, because if you're looking to do something for yourself, maybe it's better to make it about someone else. Tune into this episode to learn about how spending your money on someone else can actually make you feel better. We review a few studies that looked into the topic of prosocial...

Have you ever wondered why you feel a little better after doing something nice for someone else? Turns out there's a legit reason! In this episode, Abi and Mike dive into the research on kindness and how being kind can improve your own mental wellness. But how can we move beyond science and actually leverage this research to change the world through action? Here's a thought: How about we organize...

By some estimates, nearly 8% college students have ADHD, a neuropsychological condition marked by an inability to sustain attention, difficulty with planning and time management, and disorganization. Despite its prevalence and the impact of ADHD on important life outcomes like GPA, college completion, and earning potential, many universities lack services dedicated to serving this population and h...

For many people, there  can be few ways in which the fine arts  apply to modern day psychological science. Not so for Dr. Jude Cassidy, who immediately saw the interaction between mother and child as a dance full of movement and emotion, telling stories of both romance and tragedy. Tune in to this episode to learn about Jude's winding road from English major to Maryland, with a stop in Manhatt...

Growing up in the outskirts of Chicago with a single mom helped shape Dr. Andrea Chronis-Tuscano's identity and work ethic. But sometimes one's path through life is as much about values and ethics as it is about serendipity. So, put down your Italian beef sandwich and tune in to hear about Dr. Chronis-Tuscano's journey from her working class Chicago neighborhood to renowned expert on Attention-Def...

What do acting, being a nanny, and Detroit style pizza have in common? Tune in to this 'getting to know' episode featuring Dr. Arianna Gard to find out! We'll track Arianna's path to Psychology from the Bay area to the DMV and how she approaches her work in, and with, the community here at UMD. Check it out!

From H-town to DC, this UMD faculty member found her way into Industrial-Organizational Psychology somewhat by chance. Join us in this episode where we hear from Dr. Cassandra Phetmisy and how she ended up with a career in Industrial Organizational psychology, where her surname originates, and why she ended up studying financial stress instead of her other interests.

Tune in to listen to Jessica Magidson talk about her journey from hanging out at dad's pathology lab as a child to now leading her own lab. Jess talks about how she landed in her career as a clinical psychologist and what fuels her passion for advancing solutions for substance use disorder everywhere rural Maryland to subsaharan Africa.

Ben and Mike talk with Dr. Dave Yager talks about his class on the Science of Sleep. Dave shares what students get out of the course and his unique approach to teaching and grading. Dr. Yager is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland where he has had a distinguished career impacting hundreds of students through his teaching and mentorship.

In this episode we talk with Dr. Arianna Gard about the Community and Resilient Environments (CARE) project, which is a community-based research study taking place in DC neighborhoods that aims to understand how neighborhood environments impact health and well-being across the lifespan.

Psychological Science is an incredibly broad field covering basically any topic that could include some form of behavior. Whether it's Artificial Intelligence or Anxiety, psychology has something to say, and many cases, a lot to say. In this episode, we hear from four of our graduating seniors about their research on topics as varied as anxiety, prenatal brain development, and autism. Tune in to l...

In this episode, Dr. Abi Nicolas shares some tips for managing stress. Whether it's final exams or something else, we all experience stress. Find out how to recognize stress symptoms and what actions you can take to manage your stress.

In this two part series we speak with Dr. Yamalis Diaz, a graduate from the University of Maryland's Clinical PhD program. In part 1, we learn about the early influences on Dr. Diaz's career and who helped her find her "pizazzle" and love for ADHD. In part 2, we dig into ADHD to learn about both the challenges  and  superpowers of ADHD. What is ADHD and how can parents help their kids find their p...