4 image collage depicting psychology research
Katie Graf Estes views double screens while she reviews research recordings

Research Areas

The UC Davis Department of Psychology contains five major "areas": Biological Psychology, Developmental, Perception-Cognition, Quantitative and Social-Personality. Boundaries between the areas are fluid, and students are encouraged to take seminars in all five.

Biological Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Perception, Cognition and Cognitive Neurscience
Quantitative Psychology
Social and Personality Psychology

Latest News

Professor Paul Hastings Receives Distinguished Mentoring Award

Psychology Professor Paul Hastings is the recipient of the 2022 Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentoring Award at UC Davis. Professor Hastings received the award for his "oustanding investment in mentoring" and will receive a $1,000 award of Academic Enrichment Funds. He was nominated by current and former students as well as Psychology faculty for being "one of the most supportive, dedicated, and selfless mentors of graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and junior faculty on our campus." Prof.

Professor Richard Robins Quoted in Newsweek

Psychology Professor Richard Robins was quoted by Newsweek in an article discussing the validity of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality assessment tool. Although widely used in corporate settings, the MBTI has "fundamental problems", Professor Robins stated. Among them, the MBTI's focus on categorical profiles is "analogous to measuring people's height and then classifying them as either tall or short and ignoring more precise differences in height."

California National Primate Center Research Reveals Effects of Wildfire Smoke

New research from the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC) at the University of California, Davis reveals that infant monkeys conceived while their mothers were naturally exposed to wildfire smoke show behavioral changes compared to animals conceived days later. John Capitanio, professor of Psychology at UC Davis and a core scientist at the CNPRC, has been conducting standardized assessments on animals born at the center for two decades. This allowed a comparison of animals born during the recent Camp Fire to historical data from animals unaffected by wildfires.

Associate Professor Rhemtulla Selected as Chancellor's Fellow

Associate Professor of Psychology Mijke Rhemtulla was selected to be a 2021-2022 Chancellor’s Fellow, and will receive an award of $25,000 to be used in support of her research, teaching, and service activities. The Chancellor’s Fellows Program was established in 2000 to honor the achievements of outstanding faculty members early in their careers. Dr. Rhemtulla received this award in recognition of the outstanding quality and significance of her research and teaching.