
Doctor of Philosophy
Psychology and Social Intervention
Prepare for a career as a social scientist who can understand, transform, and improve the contexts and systems in which humans develop across the lifespan.

Why Psychology & Social Intervention?
Doctoral student Jarrell Daniels talks about what separates our Psychology & Social Intervention PhD programs from the crowd.
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to train social scientists to (a) critically explore the experiences of people in the contexts and systems in which they develop across the lifespan and (b) use knowledge to address longstanding inequities in settings and systems. Our work is grounded in the belief that empirically based knowledge about “persons in settings” is a key mechanism for achieving racial justice, social justice, and equity and for changing systems and settings as well as individuals. Training in PSI is actively interdisciplinary, drawing on theories and approaches from multiple fields in psychology (including developmental, community, political, and social psychology) and other social and behavioral sciences. We conduct research and action in close partnership with key stakeholders while centering community voices and perspectives. Our training goals include fostering students’ abilities to:
(a) Conceptualize and measure (i) individual cognitive and psychosocial development and (ii) the social settings, systems, and policies in which individuals are embedded;
(b) Understand the psychological impact of various forms of diversity, conflict, and structural inequity among individuals, groups, institutions, communities, and societies; and
(c) Design, improve, implement, and evaluate prevention, intervention, and policy strategies toward positive social change; and
(d) Utilize state-of-the-art quantitative and, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches to addressing individual and system-level phenomena.
PSI faculty and students study a wide range of contexts and systems (e.g., families, schools, neighborhoods, programs, juvenile justice systems, social movements, intergroup contexts, policy contexts, and macro-level economic and social structures) and interventions (e.g., psychological, social, educational and health programs and policies), locally, nationally and internationally. Our faculty also conduct research on how social psychological factors, cultural and racial identities, and marginalization influence and interact with people’s experiences of contexts, systems, and interventions. New York University provides an ideal global network for studying many kinds of communities in the US and other regions of the world, including Latin American countries, South Asia, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
PSI faculty collaborate closely with one another, with other social, behavioral, health, and policy scientists at NYU and other universities, and with service, community, and policy organizations. They also direct or co-direct several affiliated institutes and centers at NYU, including the Institute for Human Development and Social Change, Global TIES for Children, the Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools (METRO), and A Research Center for Interconnected Approaches for Suicide Prevention (Arcadia).
Program Features
Student Experience
Graduate training in Psychology and Social Intervention (PSI) extends beyond coursework and research to include professional development through community engagement and service. Students are encouraged to participate in MethodHub for collaborative discussions on research challenges, gain teaching experience through assistantships, and organize informal gatherings to foster intellectual and social exchange. These opportunities help students build essential skills, expand their professional networks, and enhance their future career prospects.
Research
PSI faculty research diverse ecological contexts and preventive interventions, examining how cultural factors shape experiences across local, national, and international settings. Students collaborate with faculty on various research activities, including study design, data analysis, publications, and policy work with community organizations. Beginning in their first year, students can engage with multiple projects and mentors throughout their doctoral training.