Year: 2020

Ashley Ruba wins APA Dissertation Award for Developmental Psychology

Congratulations to lab member Ashley Ruba for winning the APA Dissertation Award for Developmental Psychology (Division 7) for 2021!  

Dr. Pollak Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences!

Dr. Pollak, head of the Child Emotion Research Lab, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  Founded in 1780, the Academy invites members to join with other experts to explore challenges facing society, identify solutions, and promote nonpartisan recommendations that advance the public good. Current Academy members represent today’s innovative thinkers …

Social Distancing, or Spatial Distancing?

Scientists suggest “social distancing” is not an accurate term for what we are currently experiencing, and “spatial distancing” may be more fitting. Check out this article which sites a study from the our lab that explains how socializing virtually is just as important for our health as socializing physically.  But there is one crucial component-hearing …

You are not alone

“Recognizing that you’re having these feelings of loneliness is helpful,” she says. “So is working to remind yourself of examples of why you’re not as alone as you think you are.” Read a recent article highlighting an interview with our Post-Doctoral student Karen Smith.  Smith speaks to the current Covid-19 crisis and explains why some …

Facial-Recognition Technology Cannot Read Emotions, Scientists Say

Aleix Martinez, Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, and Dr. Seth Pollak say you should be wary of claims that artificial intelligence can accurately interpret a human’s facial expression.  “It looks like we actually don’t need to be born with this knowledge. Human brains are actually able to figure out patterns and make inferences about what might …