Professor
College of Letters & Science | Department of Psychology
Hometown: Mauston and Reedsburg
Paula Niedenthal grew up in Chicago, spending her summers on a family farm between Mauston and Reedsburg in Wisconsin. There, her father, an ordained minister, substitute preached for local pastors. Paula attended the University of Wisconsin (her mother’s alma mater) as an undergraduate, and earned a PhD from the University of Michigan in 1987, with both degrees in Psychology. Paula is now a professor of Psychology at UW–Madison. She teaches about the function of emotion, facial expression, emotion regulation, happiness, and how emotions affect memory and decision-making.
Talks:
What are Emotions For?
Paula will talk about the functions of emotions for people and their social interactions. She will discuss the value of the expression emotions such as fear, anger, and especially happiness.