Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science

Is Autism Really One Spectrum? Scientists May Be Wrong

In this episode of Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science, we sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Redcay to explore how studying real‑time interaction is reshaping what we know about the social brain and autism. We dive into second‑person neuroscience, brain‑to‑brain synchrony, and why measuring social cognition in isolation can miss what actually matters in everyday life. The conversation also unpacks emerging research showing that autism is not a single spectrum, but may involve distinct subgroups with different behavioral, neural, and genetic profiles—raising important questions about how we study, diagnose, and support autistic individuals. #Autism. #Social Neuroscience, #Psychology Resources: Dr. Elizabeth Redcay lab site (Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab): https://dscn.umd.edu/index.html Nature Genetics (2025): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02224-z (four latent classes; genetics/developmental programs) Nature Neuroscience (2023): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01259-x (brain–behavior dimensions; four reproducible subgroups; molecular/network links)

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Flipping the script on early childhood education

Relationships are an important part of the human experience, and especially for kids. In this episode, we dive into the role of relationships in early childhood education with Dr. Jude Cassidy. Jude shares insights from her decades of research on parent-child relationships and how her newest research taking place in schools throughout three counties in Maryland aims to create a new approach to early childhood education.

Do Violent Video Games Increase Aggression?

Do violent video games turn people violent? After forty years of research, dozens of meta-analyses, and even a Supreme Court case, the debate still won’t die. In this episode of Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science, Mike and Joey trace the controversy from Mortal Kombat and the birth of the ESRB to today’s competing meta-analyses. They unpack key critiques—how “aggression” is measured, publication bias, and confounds—and explain why many findings are small but consistent. Finally, they ask the real-world question: if effects exist, do they matter for policy? #VideoGames, #psychology, #mMentalHealth, #Aggression Anderson, C.A., et al. (2010). Violent video game effects on aggression, empathy, and prosocial behavior. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 151–173. https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-136-2-151.pdf Ferguson, C.J. (2015). Do angry birds make for angry children? Perspectives on Psychological Science. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1745691615592234 Mathur, M.B., & VanderWeele, T.J. (2019). Finding common ground in meta-analysis "wars" on violent video games. Perspectives on Psychological Science. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1745691619850104 Prescott, A.T., Sargent, J.D., & Hull, J.G. (2018). Meta-analysis of violent video game play and physical aggression over time. PNAS, 115(40). https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1611617114 Miles-Novelo, A., & Anderson, C.A. (2025). The question of violent video games and aggression. Aggressive Behavior. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ab.70042

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Understanding LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Minority Stress, and the Crisis of Suicide

Nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth seriously considered suicide last year. In this episode, hosts Mike and Joey talk with Dr. Ethan Mereish, licensed psychologist and director of the Lavender Lab at the University of Maryland, about what the data say—and what can help. We explore minority stress, intersectionality, and how discrimination and chronic stigma shape mental health, substance use, and suicide risk. Dr. Mereish also highlights resilience, affirming care, and the protective power of supportive families, schools, and communities. Content note: suicide, self-harm, discrimination. #LGBTQ, #MentalHealth, #MinorityStress, Resources: Mental Health Crisis hotline: call or text 988 Trevor project: 1-866-488-7386. Dr. Mereish's laboratory: www.the-lavender-lab.com/ Trevor project website: www.thetrevorproject.org/ NAMI Helpline: ⁠1-800-950-NAMI (6264)⁠

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Why Mental Health Is a Maryland Issue—and a Terp Issue

Over 61 million adults in the US live with mental illness — nearly 1 in 4. For young people, the numbers are even starker: in Maryland alone, more than a third of middle schoolers and nearly 40% of high schoolers report persistent sadness or hopelessness. These aren't distant statistics. They're our neighbors, classmates, roommates, and friends. In this special Podcasthon charity episode, we sit down with Michael Gray — a longtime mental health policy advocate and former deputy director of NAMI-Maryland — to explore how NAMI is working to make mental health care more accessible, equitable, and humane across the state. Michael draws on years of front-line experience listening to Maryland families, helping them navigate crises, and pushing for policy changes that actually move the needle. If this conversation moves you, please consider supporting NAMI-Maryland's work at namimd.org/donate. #NAMI, #NAMIMaryland, #MentalHealth, #Psychology NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

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Was the Stanford Prison Experiment the Greatest Fraud of All Time?

For decades, the Stanford Prison Experiment has been held up as proof that ordinary people can quickly become cruel when placed in the wrong situation. In this episode of Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science, hosts Joey Barnet and Mike Dougherty take a closer look at that famous study — and the story we’ve been told about it. Drawing on a deep archival investigation by historian Thibault Le Texier, they unpack how coaching, selective reporting, and powerful storytelling transformed a deeply flawed study into a cornerstone of psychology, and why that matters for how we understand power, responsibility, and human behavior today. #Psychology, #Stanford, #Authority

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The Healthy Brain Study

How early do the experiences that shape who we become actually begin? In this episode of Cracking the Shell on Psychological Science, hosts Mike Dougherty and Joey Barnet talk with Dr. Tracy Riggins, a principal investigator on the Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study—the largest long‑term study of early brain development in U.S. history. We explore how researchers are following more than 7,000 families from pregnancy through childhood to understand how biology, environment, and lived experience interact to shape the developing brain. Dr. Riggins explains why the study begins before birth, how infant MRI and EEG work, and what the team is learning about prenatal exposure, risk and resilience, and the protective factors that help children thrive.

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Project Pigeon: The bizarre and brilliant story of how a pesky bird almost changed the war

What if I told you I had developed a new technology that could perceive parts of the color spectrum imperceptible to the human eye? That this technology, with some training, could outperform any known computer, make decisions with near-perfect accuracy, and integrate these exceptional capabilities with a high-fidelity spatial navigation system immune to all known electronic jamming devices—delivering bombs and missiles to designated targets with pinpoint precision? I'm not talking about some newfangled machine learning or artificial intelligence system. I'm talking about the lowly pigeon. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on one of psychology's most bizarre and brilliant experiments: B.F. Skinner's audacious proposal to turn everyday pigeons into a missile guidance system. From the desperate innovation of World War II to the cutting-edge science of operant conditioning, discover how the birds we dismiss as urban nuisances became the stars of Project Pigeon. Further Information Brief Video of Project Pigeon on Military.com Article in American Psychologist summarizing Project Pigeon

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Heuristics: Flawed shortcuts, or adaptive tools?

Perhaps one of the most widely studied topics in psychological science involves the study of heuristics and biases. Starting with the groundbreaking work of Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, the term "heuristic" became synonymous with decision making, and heuristic mechanisms such as "availability" and "representative" spread throughout psychology and even into popular science. Today, it's hard to imagine an area of cognitive science or economics that has had a greater effect on our understanding of human decision making. In this episode, Mike and Joey discuss some common decision heuristics and biases and the critiques of Tversky and Kahneman's work. Did Tversky and Kahneman have it right? Or, might it be better to recouch decision making in terms of an adaptive toolbox, as proposed by Gerd Gigerenzer?

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Inside the Psychology of Evil

When we talk about evil, we often imagine monsters, villains, or people fundamentally different from us. Psychology challenges that idea. Research on obedience, conformity, morality, and power suggests that evil isn’t always about who someone is, but about the situations they’re placed in and the choices they’re pushed to make. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Scott Roberts about explore the psychology of evil with Dr. Scott Roberts.

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What's the deal with music and the brain?

Will listening to Mozart really make your kid a genius? Does music training actually make you smarter? And, what about listening to music while studying for that exam -- is that a good idea? In this episode Bob Slevc breaks down some common beliefs about music. Which are myth and which are fact? Turns out it's complicated ... kinda. #MozartEffect #CognitiveTraining #MusicCognition #NeuroMyth

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Does Tylenol cause Autism? Not so fast

In this episode, we tackle the controversial claim that Tylenol causes Autism. But,does it really? How strong is the evidence and might there be alternative explanations for this observation? In this episode, Dr. Desi Jones breaks down what the research actually says, what it doesn't say, and why such claims can be detrimental. Suggested Readings Article with Meta-analysis showing no relationship between acedemphin and Autism Spectrum Disorder: The discussed qualitative synthesis used to argue for a relation between tylenol and autism. The Swedish population-based study showing no relationship after controlling for siblings. Opinion Piece by Dr. Jones in the Baltimore Sun.

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Money & Happiness: It's how you spend it that matters.

Got a buck burning a hole in your pocket and wondering what you could buy that would make you feel good? Think again, because if you're looking to do something for yourself, maybe it's better to make it about someone else. Tune into this episode to learn about how spending your money on someone else can actually make you feel better. We review a few studies that looked into the topic of prosocial spending and found that it's not how much money you have, but how you spend it that matters the most. And, if you want do actually experience the thrill of helping others, join in on Oct 8th 2025 by participating in PSYC Good Deed Day. Learn more by visiting our PSYC Good Deed Website. (paywalled, sorry!) Aknin LB, Dunn EW, Proulx J, Lok I, Norton MI. Does spending money on others promote happiness?: A registered replication report. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2020 Aug;119(2):e15-e26. doi: 10.1037/pspa0000191. Epub 2020 Apr 6. PMID: 32250135.

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Cracking the Shell on Kindness

Have you ever wondered why you feel a little better after doing something nice for someone else? Turns out there's a legit reason! In this episode, Abi and Mike dive into the research on kindness and how being kind can improve your own mental wellness. But how can we move beyond science and actually leverage this research to change the world through action? Here's a thought: How about we organize a national day of good deeds to promote acts of kindness and good deeds! Tune in to learn about the science of kindness and about PSYC Good Deed Day. If that sounds cool, but you don't want to hear us drone on about science, then go to our good deed ⁠website⁠ to learn more. And, if you're down with the science and want to read more, you can find today's featured articles at the links below: Naclerio, M., Lazar, L., Hornstein, E. A., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2025). Exploring the effects of prosocial and self-kindness interventions on mental health outcomes. Emotion. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001577 (it's not open access, so you may need to ask APA to send this to you, or contact the authors (at) ucla.edu). (open access) Cregg, D. R., & Cheavens, J. S. (2022). Healing through helping: an experimental investigation of kindness, social activities, and reappraisal as well-being interventions. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 18(6), 924–941. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2022.2154695⁠

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Helping students with ADHD SUCCEED in college.

By some estimates, nearly 8% college students have ADHD, a neuropsychological condition marked by an inability to sustain attention, difficulty with planning and time management, and disorganization. Despite its prevalence and the impact of ADHD on important life outcomes like GPA, college completion, and earning potential, many universities lack services dedicated to serving this population and helping them realize their superpowers. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Andrea Chronis-Tuscano, a world-renouned ADHD researcher and founder of UMD's SUCCEEDS program -- a program dedicated to providing academic, social, and emotional support for college students with ADHD. Tune in to learn more about the unique challenges of managing ADHD in college and how her program is filling the breach to enable students to succeed in college and life. You can read more about the SUCCEEDS program by visiting umdadhd.org. This program is entirely self-supported and depends on the generous donations of good people like you! If you'd like to support the SUCCEEDS program, you may do so by visiting this link or by reaching out to department chair Michael Dougherty at mdougher@umd.edu or the SUCCEEDS director Andrea Chronis-Tuscano at achronis@umd.edu.

Getting to know ... Dr. Jude Cassidy

For many people, there can be few ways in which the fine arts apply to modern day psychological science. Not so for Dr. Jude Cassidy, who immediately saw the interaction between mother and child as a dance full of movement and emotion, telling stories of both romance and tragedy. Tune in to this episode to learn about Jude's winding road from English major to Maryland, with a stop in Manhattan where she realized a childhood dream.

Getting to know ... Dr. Andrea Chronis-Tuscano

Growing up in the outskirts of Chicago with a single mom helped shape Dr. Andrea Chronis-Tuscano's identity and work ethic. But sometimes one's path through life is as much about values and ethics as it is about serendipity. So, put down your Italian beef sandwich and tune in to hear about Dr. Chronis-Tuscano's journey from her working class Chicago neighborhood to renowned expert on Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and why she is intent on helping young students find their niche.

Getting to know ... Dr. Arianna Gard

What do acting, being a nanny, and Detroit style pizza have in common? Tune in to this 'getting to know' episode featuring Dr. Arianna Gard to find out! We'll track Arianna's path to Psychology from the Bay area to the DMV and how she approaches her work in, and with, the community here at UMD. Check it out!

Getting to know ... Dr. Cassandra Phetmisy

From H-town to DC, this UMD faculty member found her way into Industrial-Organizational Psychology somewhat by chance. Join us in this episode where we hear from Dr. Cassandra Phetmisy and how she ended up with a career in Industrial Organizational psychology, where her surname originates, and why she ended up studying financial stress instead of her other interests.

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Getting to know ... Dr. Jessica Magidson

Tune in to listen to Jessica Magidson talk about her journey from hanging out at dad's pathology lab as a child to now leading her own lab. Jess talks about how she landed in her career as a clinical psychologist and what fuels her passion for advancing solutions for substance use disorder everywhere rural Maryland to subsaharan Africa.

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