Author: Hannah Schacter

  • When Does it Feel Good to Give?

    When Does it Feel Good to Give?

    Growing evidence suggests that it feels good to give. But does giving feel better for some people than others?

  • Let’s fight (the bad guys): Do superheroes teach kids good or evil?

    Let’s fight (the bad guys): Do superheroes teach kids good or evil?

    Everyone loves a good superhero story. Superheroes have been a fixture in American pop culture for decades, but in the past 10-15 years we’ve witnessed a resurgence of superhero mania. Between movies, TV shows, toys, and even national conventions, the superhero fever is real. Given that superhero stories are characterized by themes of fighting against…

  • Me, Myselfie, and I: The Psychological Impact of Social Media Activity

    Me, Myselfie, and I: The Psychological Impact of Social Media Activity

    Recent research has documented how technology, and social networking sites in particular, have given rise to a growing obsession with impression management and self-presentation online. This raises an important question: Are our relationships with social media healthy? 

  • My Graduate School Survival Guide

    My Graduate School Survival Guide

    Disclaimer: Technically, I have not yet ‘survived’ grad school. But, with three out of five years under my belt, I like to think I’ve acquired some useful wisdom. Although there is no one-size-fits-all model for successfully navigating grad school, here I’ll outline some strategies that I find particularly effective for maximizing efficiency and maintaining solid…

  • Love Me Tinder: A Psychological Perspective on Swiping

    Love Me Tinder: A Psychological Perspective on Swiping

    Several months ago, I wrote a post about how online dating has shifted the way people search for and establish romantic relationships in the modern era. Notably absent from that article was any mention of what has become the fastest growing, and arguably the most popular, dating app of the past several years: Tinder. Why…

  • The Top 5 Differences Between Undergraduate and Graduate School

    The Top 5 Differences Between Undergraduate and Graduate School

    When deciding whether or not to attend graduate school, a lot of prospective students ask how it is different that undergrad. Is it more difficult? Less fun? Stressful? Whether you are thinking of applying to grad school, have a friend/sibling/daughter/son/niece/nephew/etc. in grad school and still don’t quite understand what it means, or are a graduate…

  • Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: The Psychology of Survivor

    Outwit, Outplay, Outlast: The Psychology of Survivor

    Watching Survivor also offers opportunities for social comparison and reflection, especially when it comes to morals and ethics.

  • iLoveYou, iLoveYouNot: The Psychology of Online Dating & Romantic Relationships

    When I first saw the movie “You’ve Got Mail” at the ripe old age of 8, the idea of developing a relationship through online chatrooms seemed novel, unconventional and even…creepy? Fast-forward 15 years later, where one in ten people are using an online dating website, and much of the stigma associated with this activity has declined.…

  • Understanding Bullying: Facts vs. Fiction

    At 10:00 P.M. every night, I receive an email update from Google Alerts listing all the news articles from the day containing the word “bully”. Some of these are inspiring stories of victims who have spoken up and made a difference, others are heartbreaking accounts of bully-related suicides. What strikes me about many of these…