#  Department of Psychology 

 



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       ![Interested in applying to Graduate School? Visit our PRO-TiP page for answers to many FAQs!](/sites/g/files/omnuum9601/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/psych/files/protip_pic.jpg?h=521e3bca&itok=oLvUxiY9) 

 

 



 

 



##  Welcome 

The field of Psychology first emerged at Harvard in the late 1800's under the scholarship of William James, and ever since then Harvard has been at the forefront of the field.

The Department has a long and rich history, and its past faculty and researchers have included some of the most famous names in psychology, including B.F. Skinner, Gordon Allport, Jerome Bruner, George Miller, and Henry Murray. [Click here](/roleaffiliation/historical-faculty) for brief biographies of some of the pioneers who have worked and taught in the department.

Today, the department has [27 faculty members](/roleaffiliation/faculty) and the Graduate Program in Psychology currently has [74 graduate students](/roleaffiliation/graduate-students) who are trained in four major research programs: Cognition, Brain, & Behavior; Developmental Psychology; Social Psychology; and Clinical Science.

Psychology is one of the most popular courses of study among undergraduates at Harvard. [Click here](https://undergrad.psychology.fas.harvard.edu/) for information about the undergraduate concentration in psychology, courses offered, and other information.



 

 

 

##  New & Noteworthy 

 



  [### The Andrew Carnegie Foundation Recognizes Mahzarin Banaji, Gregory Nagy as “Great Immigrants, Great Americans”

 ](/news/2026/07/andrew-carnegie-foundation-recognizes-mahzarin-banaji-gregory-nagy-great-immigrants) July 07, 2026 

 For more than 20 years, the Andrew Carnegie Foundation has marked Independence Day by recognizing a group of naturalized U.S. citizens whose contributions have strengthened the nation. The 2026 class includes faculty members Mahzarin R. Banaji and Gregory... 

 

 

   ![Mahzarin Banaji standing in front of a full bookshelf leaning on a bookshelf ladder](/sites/g/files/omnuum9601/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-06/MM.%20Banaji%20Photo.jpg?itok=N7n9ke34) 

 



 

 

   [### Joshua D. Greene picked for civil discourse professorship

 ](/news/2026/01/joshua-d-greene-picked-civil-discourse-professorship) January 14, 2026 

 Joshua D. Greene ’97, a faculty member in the Department of Psychology and Center for Brain Science, has been named the inaugural Alfred and Rebecca Lin Professor of Civil Discourse. Gazette article 

 

 

   ![Professor Joshua Greene](/sites/g/files/omnuum9601/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/Greene%2C%20Joshua-2026.jpg?itok=LUXN4dEW) 

 



 

 

   [### Cracking the code of why, when some choose to ‘self-handicap’

 ](/news/2025/12/cracking-code-why-when-some-choose-self-handicap) December 04, 2025 

 New research offers hints for devising ways to stop students from creating obstacles to success. Read her full article on The Harvard Gazette . 

 

 

   ![Yang Xiang Gazette Article ](/sites/g/files/omnuum9601/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/102725_Yang_Xiang_02_1.JPG?itok=R5ZoW4Ms) 

 



 

 

   [### Building Collaborations that Harness the Strength of the Human Mind | Dissertation in One Minute

 ](/news/2025/11/building-collaborations-harness-strength-human-mind-dissertation-one-minute) November 28, 2025 

 Harnessing the Strength of the Human Mind through Collaboration PhD student Yang Xiang’s research shows that teamwork hinges on understanding what others think and recognizing what they can do. View her work here on Y ou T ube . 

 

 

   ![Yang Xiang striped shirt](/sites/g/files/omnuum9601/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Yang%20Visual%20Dissertation_0.jpeg?itok=6R3-N9Cx) 

 



 

 

   [### New way to map the unique brain organization of individuals

 ](/news/2025/10/new-way-map-unique-brain-organization-individuals) October 16, 2025 

 A study published last month in Neuron, led by postdoctoral researcher Jingnan Du , introduces a promising new method for mapping a person’s unique brain wiring. The need for individualized brain maps arise in surgical planning and for a growing array of... 

 

 

   ![Jingnan Du (left) and Professor Randy Buckner (right) ](/sites/g/files/omnuum9601/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-10/092225_Jingnan_Du_16.jpeg?itok=YRET7H79)