Welcome to the Department of Psychology at ASU! Operating at the intersection of the mind, brain, and behavior, psychology explores many of the world’s most complex issues and fascinating questions. Our exceptional faculty of internationally recognized researchers and teachers, working with our students, investigates many of the mysteries and challenges of human behavior. For example,
- Why do people from different nations, ethnic groups, and political parties sometimes fear, hate, and attack one another, yet at other times treat one another compassionately and work together toward common goals?
- Why do some people behave in ways that lead to cancer, heart attacks, and infectious diseases, while other people live incredibly healthy lifestyles?
- How can we help designers and users take advantage of technologies that support health and well being?
- Why do some people become addicted to drugs and alcohol, but others do not?
- Why do some children who endure trauma grow up to become despondent and anxious, whereas others thrive and live long, happy lives?
- Why does memory change with age, and can we influence that change?
- What goes on inside your brain when you are making important decisions?
- How does your cultural background shape the way you think about the world?
- Why do some students succeed in academic settings with apparent ease whereas others take a while to reach their potential?
Our award-winning researchers and teachers offer amazing opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students, through coursework, research, and community-based experiences. We teach our students fundamental scientific methods—Psychology is a STEM discipline—help them develop their critical thinking and communication skills, and provide them opportunities to translate research knowledge into practical impact. We prepare our students not just for careers in Psychology but also in any field that relies on understanding human behavior—including business, health care, education, law, and media. It’s no surprise that the Psychology major at the Tempe campus is one of the most popular at ASU.
Whether you are interested in mental health, how the brain works, social relationships, cognitive processes, developmental and change processes, or quantitative methods for understanding behavior, the ASU Department of Psychology in Tempe provides unique opportunities to explore what it is to be human. We welcome you to join us!
Leah Doane, Ph.D.
Chair
Department of Psychology