From how babies learn to love new foods to why we get passive-aggressive with the people we love, faculty and graduate students within our department have been busy. Check out four recent papers from our department and quick recaps of this work.
- DeJesus, J. M., Venkatesh, S., Miller, A. L., Gearhardt, A. N., Sturza, J., & Lumeng, J. C. (2026). Are maternal eating demonstrations associated with infant food acceptance? An observational study of solid food introduction in infancy. Appetite, 228, 108787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2026.108787
Led by: Dr. Jasmine DeJesus, developmental faculty
Does seeing Mom eat a food make a baby more willing to try it? Babies took more bites when their mothers showed them how to eat. But, fewer than 3 in 10 mothers actually did, making this an easy habit worth encouraging.
- Silvia, P. J., & Bui, V. (2026). Humor: The amusing side of the psychology of art and aesthetics. Current Opinion in Psychology, 72, 102400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2026.102400
Led by: Dr. Paul Silvia, social faculty and Vi Bui, social graduate student
Jokes and puns are creative works too. This article connects the science of humor with the science of art, exploring why we find things funny and why playful art deserves serious attention.
- Eddington, K. M., Supple, A. J., Poindexter, C., Markle, S., Livas, G., & Alegría, M. (2026). Examining theoretical mediators in a culturally adapted, community health worker-led intervention for depression and anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 94(2), 114–123. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000995
Led by: Dr. Kari Eddington, clinical faculty
In a study of more than 1,000 adults, a short program led by trained community members eased depression and anxiety. Learning mindfulness skills was a key reason why it worked.
- Baker, L. R., McNulty, J. K., & Russell, V. M. (2026). “Why didn’t you just say so?” People use indirect opposition to assess partner commitment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000517
Led by: Dr. Levi Baker, social faculty
Why do people get sarcastic or passive-aggressive instead of saying what’s wrong? Across seven studies, people did this more when they were unsure of their partner’s commitment, using a partner’s reaction as a quiet test of how much they care.
