Fathers express a strong desire to be a part of their children’s lives, to develop close emotional relationships with their children, and to be the best dads possible. Yet, they also report that most services and public spaces are mother-centric and not father-friendly, and that fathers are often viewed as secondary caregivers, babysitters, or optional parents in the lives of children.

In this talk, Dr. Sarah Jonovich will highlight the rise in mental health concerns for adolescents in the United States over the past decade and include national survey results demonstrating increased rates of mental health concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts/behaviors), particularly for girls, LGBQ+, and some minority groups. Next, the she will briefly explore potential contributing factors and considerations for at-risk groups.

Join Dr Natalie Tronson, Associate Professor of Psychology, for a presentation on her research using animal models to learn more about the long-term neurological effects of inflammation and viral illness and how this can be equated to COVID-19.  Dr Tronson will discuss COVID-related risks for dementias including Alzheimer's disease, and long-COVID.

Craig Rodriguez-Seijas, Assistant Professor of Psychology, will present some of his latest research.

Ordinary people can perform astonishing acts of altruism, but what drives this behavior?

In the media and popular culture, testosterone is often depicted as a hormone that is critical for men of all ages, but this doesn't tell the whole story.

Gender matters for emotions – or does it?

Averages are often used to describe the emotions of women and men. People, however, are unique, and emotions meaningfully fluctuate from day-to-day. This variability calls into question the accuracy of averages, which actually may not represent any individual! Using unique 75-day individual-level data on emotions and anxiety, this talk will showcase both the utility of averages for dispelling gender stereotypes as well as the danger of averages for (mis)representing the experiences of individual men and women.

Why did we evolve to experience gratitude? And, more importantly, why don't we always feel grateful and what can we do about it?

Join Dr Stephanie A. Fryberg, University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, for a presentation on her research into the psychological and social consequences of the omission of Indigenous Peoples from the collective recollection of our nation. We'll learn what this exclusion has cost our Indigenous neighbors, and how civic engagement can create a more equitable future.

Charles Darwin used the term “dead reckoning” to describe the remarkable ability of most species to seamlessly navigate back home, even in the absence of external guiding cues. Finding our way home is indeed something most of us take for granted, but this facility is dramatically impaired in many people with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. In this talk we will explore how the brain has evolved to support our sense of space and our sense of orientation.