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
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 spending and found that it's not how much money you have, but how you spend it that matters the most. And, if you want do actually experience the thrill of helping others, join in on Oct 8th 2025 by participating in PSYC Good Deed Day. Learn more by visiting our PSYC Good Deed Website.
(paywalled, sorry!) Aknin LB, Dunn EW, Proulx J, Lok I, Norton MI. Does spending money on others promote happiness?: A registered replication report. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2020 Aug;119(2):e15-e26. doi: 10.1037/pspa0000191. Epub 2020 Apr 6. PMID: 32250135.
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 a national day of good deeds to promote acts of kindness and good deeds! Tune in to learn about the science of kindness and about PSYC Good Deed Day. If that sounds cool, but you don't want to hear us drone on about science, then go to our good deed website to learn more. And, if you're down with the science and want to read more, you can find today's featured articles at the links below:
Naclerio, M., Lazar, L., Hornstein, E. A., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2025). Exploring the effects of prosocial and self-kindness interventions on mental health outcomes. Emotion. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001577 (it's not open access, so you may need to ask APA to send this to you, or contact the authors (at) ucla.edu).
(open access) Cregg, D. R., & Cheavens, J. S. (2022). Healing through helping: an experimental investigation of kindness, social activities, and reappraisal as well-being interventions. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 18(6), 924–941.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2022.2154695
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 early childhood education.
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 helping them realize their superpowers. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Andrea Chronis-Tuscano, a world-renouned ADHD researcher and founder of UMD's SUCCEEDS program -- a program dedicated to providing academic, social, and emotional support for college students with ADHD. Tune in to learn more about the unique challenges of managing ADHD in college and how her program is filling the breach to enable students to succeed in college and life.
You can read more about the SUCCEEDS program by visiting umdadhd.org. This program is entirely self-supported and depends on the generous donations of good people like you! If you'd like to support the SUCCEEDS program, you may do so by visiting this link or by reaching out to department chair Michael Dougherty at mdougher@umd.edu or the SUCCEEDS director Andrea Chronis-Tuscano at achronis@umd.edu.
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 Manhattan where she realized a childhood dream.
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-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and why she is intent on helping young students find their niche.
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 learn more about these topics and the amazing people behind the research.
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 pizzazle? Tune into this super engaging two-part series and find out. We promise that you'll love this one.
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 pizzazle? Tune into this super engaging two-part series and find out. We promise that you'll love this one.
Being physically gifted is certainly necessary for performing at the highest level of sports, but might there be hidden psychological traits that differentiate the talented athlete from the truly exceptional? In this episode, Dr. Ken Yusko talks about his work with the NFL on the NFL Player Assessment Test, which he developed with Harold Goldstein. Ken is a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, where he teaches in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology Master of Professional Studies program. Both Ken and Harold are graduates of Maryland's Psychology PhD program.
If you want to learn more about Dr. Yusko and colleagues' work, you can read more here and here.
In this two-part series, hosts Joey Barnet, Abi Nicolas and Mike Dougherty dive into a delicate and often misunderstood area: the intersection of everyday memory distortion and gaslighting, and the crucial distinction between intentional manipulation and genuine memory discrepancies. We'll explore how our memories can be fallible, and how that fallibility can sometimes be mistaken for malicious intent. We'll also discuss the consequences of authentic cases of gaslighting and touch on a small slice of the scientific literature exploring the relationship between exposure to gaslighting and other real-life outcomes.
If you want to learn more, check out some of these links:
In this two-part series, hosts Joey Barnet, Abi Nicolas and Mike Dougherty dive into a delicate and often misunderstood area: the intersection of everyday memory distortion and gaslighting, and the crucial distinction between intentional manipulation and genuine memory discrepancies. We'll explore how our memories can be fallible, and how that fallibility can sometimes be mistaken for malicious intent. We'll also discuss the consequences of authentic cases of gaslighting and touch on a small slice of the scientific literature exploring the relationship between exposure to gaslighting and other real-life outcomes.
Regardless of your background, it's likely you've experienced a feeling of not measuring up to your peers. In this episode, Joey and Mike discuss the data on this common phenomena known as the Impostor Phenomena. While the phenomena has a number of negative consequences, it turns out that it's not all doom and gloom. Tune in to find out more and visit the links below to dig into more of the details.
https://journals.aom.org/doi/epub/10.5465/amj.2020.1627
https://hbr.org/2022/05/impostor-syndrome-has-its-advantages
