The Ohio State University Department of Psychology

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A TV cameraman records Meseret Alemu as she sits and speaks to her mentor

September 4, 2026

NBC4 spotlights Ohio State summer research program

Psychology Assistant Professor Jeremy Grant and student Meseret Alemu spoke about the transformative experience of the university's Summer Research Opportunities Program, now in its 40th year.

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Two children use magnifying glasses to examine dirt on the ground.
Why children can’t pay attention to the task at hand

A new study co-authored by professor Vladimir Sloutsky brings scientists closer to understanding why children "over-explore."

Silhouettes of arms holding up a variety of weapons against a cloudy sky.
Ambivalence + polarized views can promote political violence

A new study co-authored by doctoral alumnus Joseph Siev and professor Richard Petty suggests that people go to violent extremes to compensate for attitudinal discomfort.

Students stretch their arms above their heads while sitting at desks.
A university lecture, with a dash of jumping jacks

A new study by associate professor Scott Hayes finds possible value in class exercise breaks.

A young woman looks distressed as she sits on steps outside and looks at her smart phone.
Social media affects people’s views on mental illness

A new study by doctoral student Whitney Whitted finds that subtle differences in messaging can impact beliefs about treatment.

Blue and red lights flash on top of a white police car.
Higher rates of arrest for Black adults with psychological disorders

A new study by doctoral alumna Briana Brownlow finds that at the same symptom severity, the risk of arrest is higher for Black individuals.

Close up of a pencil filling in the "Amount You Owe" section of a tax form.
A mental process that leads to putting off an unpleasant task

New research by professor Russell Fazio suggests that people whose negative attitudes tend to dictate their behavior are more likely to procrastinate about tasks at hand.

A woman stretches on a yoga mat while watching an instructor on her tablet.
Stress, via inflammation, is linked to metabolic syndrome

A new study led by associate professor Jasmeet Hayes suggests that stress-management techniques could reduce biological risk.

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For the lonely, a blurred line between real and fictional people

In lonely people, the boundary between real friends and favorite fictional characters gets blurred in the part of the brain that is active when thinking about others, a new study by co-authored…

A headshot of Kathryn Lenz, an assistant professor in the Psychology Department at OSU
Kathryn Lenz's Prenatal Allergy Study

A single allergic reaction during pregnancy prompts sexual-development changes in the brains of offspring that last a lifetime, new research suggests.

Female rats born to mothers exposed to…