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Department of Psychology News

The Department of Psychology offers students a broad foundation in fundamental psychological concepts. We also provide opportunities for students to take specialty courses and be involved in research and various applied settings. Our curriculum meets the needs of students intending to pursue advanced training in psychology, education, medicine, or other related fields.

Current Psychology News

Sportsbook TV screens showing college basketball
Research |

UNLV study finds binge drinking is disproportionately more common among sports bettors than non-gamblers or those who don't wager on sports.

Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
Campus News |

Faculty respond to the mental health crisis with multiple programs focused on addressing the shortages and challenges in Nevada on April 5.

Spring Flowers (Becca Schwartz)
Campus News |

A roundup of the top news stories featuring UNLV students and faculty.

Students in red caps and gowns walk out of an arena in front of a red Rebels Make It Happen sign
People |

The class of 2023 offers inspiration for current Rebels on how to make the most of the journey from student to alumnus.

The Las Vegas strip as seen on Super Bowl weekend (Josh Hawkins/UNLV).
Campus News |

A collection of news stories and highlights featuring UNLV students and faculty.

painting of two women leaning on each other on couch
Research |

Six years after examining the fallout from the 1 October shooting, UNLV psychology professor Stephen Benning is studying the Dec. 6 shooting. 

Psychology In The News

NewsBeezer

A new study finds evidence of a disturbing link between sports betting and risky drinking. The results, published in JAMA network openedsuggest that people who bet on sports, e-sports and daily fantasy sports are significantly more likely to engage in binge drinking than those who do not gamble or gamble in other activities.

PsyPost

A new study finds evidence of a troubling connection between sports gambling and risky alcohol consumption. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, suggest that individuals who bet on sports, esports, and daily fantasy sports are significantly more likely to engage in binge drinking compared to those who do not gamble or who gamble on other activities.

National Geographic

While experts disagree on how common self-talk really is, they wholeheartedly agree that it’s a valuable tool for self-discovery.

American School & University

More than a third of the students in the Clark County (Nevada) School District were chronically absent from school during in 2022-2023, the state Department of Education says. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the 38.3% rate is a slight improvement from the prior school year’s 40.6%, but it’s still much higher than the district’s pre-pandemic chronic absenteeism rate of 21.9%.

CDC Gaming

Last week, an academic paper co-authored by Joshua Grubbs of the University of New Mexico and Shane Kraus of UNLV confirmed what many have suspected: Those who engage in sports betting are about twice as likely to binge drink than other types of gamblers and people who don’t wager at all.

Gambling News

A recent study has shed light on a concerning trend among sports bettors in the United States: a higher likelihood of binge drinking compared to non-gamblers or those who do not wager on sports.

Psychology Experts

An expert on everyday racism, multicultural competence, and addictions. 
An expert in adolescent development and gender development, particularly as it relates to career choice.
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A psychologist and expert on the inner experience. 
An expert in depression, mHealth, and mental health of older adults.
An expert on eating disorders.
An expert in clinical psychology, psychopathy, emotions and personality traits.

Recent Psychology Accomplishments

Kara Christensen Pacella (Psychology) recently won the Medical University of South Carolina Zucker Institute for Innovation Commercialization Pitch Day competition for her program to support people with eating disorders on treatment waitlists. Christensen Pacella is participating in the MUSC CREW program (NIGMS) to support the development of women…
Christopher Kearney (Psychology) was awarded Fellow status by the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (Division 53 of the American Psychological Association).  This honor is awarded to those who are already a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and who have made outstanding and extraordinary contributions to the…
Brenna Renn (Psychology) published a peer-reviewed manuscript detailing policy to expand the behavioral health workforce, "Behavioral Health Workforce Development in Washington State: Addition of a Behavioral Health Support Specialist," in Psychiatric Services alongside co-authors from the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and…
Kara Christensen Pacella (Psychology) has been awarded a grant (R16GM153536) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences for her project, "Testing a Dual-Process Mechanistic Model Linking Food Insecurity and Loss-of-Control Eating." Funding of $400,000 in direct costs will support a study examining daily associations between food…
Todd Jennings and Shane Kraus (both Psychology) and colleagues recently published a paper (LGBQ-affirming clinical recommendations for compulsive sexual behavior disorder) in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions. 
Shane Kraus (Psychology) and colleagues recently published a paper, "Face as a multidimensional construct: Cross-cultural validation of the Loss of Face Scale in Taiwan and the United States," in Asian Journal of Social Psychology.