The Positive Development Lab
“True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.”
― Antoine De Saint-Exupery
NEWS
In collaboration with Dr. Cardinale's Laboratory on Affective Neuroscience & Development, the EEG system is up and running!
PDL presents at University Research Day!
2024 Poster Presentations:
Mwela Lufumpa, Judy McDonald, & Elisabeth Harris, "Multifaceted Relations Among Personality, Physiology, and Emotion Regulation in Emerging Adulthood"
Elisabeth Harris, Melvin Elvira-Contreras, Javier Oliver, & Mackenzie Cart, "Sharing an Emotional Memory with Mom in Childhood: Stressful or Cathartic?"
Brigid McGroarty, Maggie Dressman, Kaleigh McDonald, & Orine Rosario, "The Effects of Positive Priming on Body Image"
Kathryn Degnan & the PDL, "Individual Characteristics Differentiating Positive & Negative Risk-Taking in Emerging Adults"
Congratulations to all of our 2023-2024 Graduates!
TBA
Director: Kathryn Amey Degnan, Ph.D.
Students from the Department of Psychology at The Catholic University of America collaborate in the PDL!
BA Psychology or BS Psychological & Brain Sciences Programs
Psychological Science MA Program
Developmental, SCAN, or Clinical Psychology PhD programs
Interested in furthering your education in positive development?
Consider applying to our MA program in Psychological Science or one of our PhD programs in Developmental, SCAN, or Clinical Psychology!
Apply for fall 2025! (Deadlines: Dec 1 - CL; Feb 1 - DP & SCAN; June 1 - MA)
Catholic's psychology programs (and the PDL) offer a personalized approach within a supportive environment,
mentoring students towards their own career goals.
To explore the wide scope of the PDL's research, click on Projects, above. Applicants whose research interests clearly fit with our current/future research goals will be considered for admission. Experience in these areas is even better!
Temperament and regulatory functions
Psychophysiological measures (i.e., HRV, IMP, EEG, ERPs)
Infancy through young adulthood
Adaptive (i.e., positive) social-emotional outcomes
Sociocultural contexts (i.e., relationship factors and cultural norms)
Multi-domain assessments across levels of analysis (e.g., biological, psychological, social, behavioral)
Add research experience to your own positive development! Check out the options, below:
CUA students (BA/BS, MA, PhD)
register for credit (1 credit: 4-5 hrs per week) for any academic session
volunteer (1-3 hrs per week)
📧 Email Dr. Degnan your resume/CV and a brief description of your specific interests in the PDL
Non-CUA students or CUA Alumni may also volunteer (3+ hrs per week) - Contact Dr. Degnan to discuss
Did you know the Psychology Department at Catholic University is over 130 years old?
"In 1889, a 26-year old priest with a doctoral degree in sacred theology came across a secondhand copy of Wilhelm Wundt’s 1874 Principles of Physiological Psychology at a Paris bookstore. His name was Edward Pace and he was so inspired by Wundt’s ideas that he resolved to study with the author at the University of Leipzig in Germany, becoming the first Catholic priest and one of only six Americans to have studied with the founder of experimental psychology..."
See more about our rich history in Psychological Science here.
