Houghton Students at the WNY Undergraduate Psychology Conference

This spring, twenty-one psychology students presented their research at the annual meeting of the 2025 Western New York Undergraduate Psychology Conference, hosted by the University of Buffalo. As part of an experimental methods course at Houghton University, students replicated and extended published work and presented their collaborative findings at a poster session.

Houghton students’ research spanned various areas, including empathy, awe, humility, cognition, and emotion regulation. One Houghton student, Rachel Bedell ’27, was selected to present her honors research “Deepfake AI and the Uncanny Valley”. Her study explored the psychological effects of deepfake technology, specifically how human-like AI-generated faces can make viewers uncomfortable which is a phenomenon known as the “uncanny valley.” This topic is increasingly relevant in discussions about AI ethics, media literacy, and digital identity. Bedell shared, “I really enjoyed conducting my research this semester. I was able to create my own Deepfake stimuli for my project, which was a really interesting process to learn about,” she continued, “I always enjoy the process of setting up and sending our surveys, but this semester was particularly fun because I was able to control the entire process.”

By participating in this conference, students had the opportunity to showcase their work, gain recognition, and contribute to the broader academic community. Associate Professor of Psychology, Alison Young Reusser, Ph.D., shared, “This conference provides our psychology majors with vital professional development, allowing them to describe, explain, and defend their research. Students hone their presentation skills, gain a deeper understanding of their own work, and develop their expertise as psychologists. The excitement students feel about psychology at the end of the conference is tangible – I love seeing students grow in knowledge and confidence.”

Opportunities like WNYUPC are not only beneficial to students as they enhance their research skills and build professional networks, but also promote a culture of scientific rigor and an interconnected academic community. Bedell stated, “I found an interesting mix of results about the attitudes of Houghton students towards Deepfake AI that I think could be used to direct future research.” Her research, alongside other student findings, paves the way for future exploration and discovery in psychology, and her participation in the conference creates growth in the academic community as a whole.