Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D.

About

Lynn E. O’Connor, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, Professor at the Wright Institute, Berkeley CA, and Director of the Emotion, Personality, and Altruism Research Group. Holding a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, she works as an educator, researcher, clinician, and consultant. Her principle areas of research are altruism, empathy-based guilt, and psychopathology, including depression, anxiety disorders and addiction, all approached from an evolutionary perspective. She is also currently studying post-traumatic stress disorder, guilt across cultures, and the effect of meditation as practiced by Buddhists in emotion regulation. In 2001 Lynn received the Raymond D. Fowler, Ph.D. Award, The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students, for her role in mentoring graduate students. She is a member of the Association for Psychological Science, the American Psychological Association and the Human Behavior and Evolution Society. She has authored numerous journal articles about her research, and several chapters in academic books, discussing empathy and depression, the role of guilt in psychopathology, compassion and forgiveness, and pathological altruism.

Recent Posts

The Practitioners' Burden: Why You Need Someone to Talk To

Even our mental health providers—our psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and coaches—sometimes have problems to solve and need someone confidential to talk to.

Why Do Women Go for "Bad Boys"?

Why do we fall in love with "bad boys"—psychopaths who lack a moral compass, feeling no guilt or shame when they harm others?

Today’s Marijuana: The New Opiate of the Masses

Levels of THC have been rising steadily in the past decades, making marijuana more addictive and more dangerous. Younger consumers risk higher rates of psychiatric illnesses.

Feeling Like a Fraud? Survivor Guilt and Imposter Syndrome

Do you often feel like a phony, an imposter? Do you find it impossible to take credit for your wins? Survivor guilt may be hiding in your mind.

Are Productive Habits the Result of Social Status?

Thinking that small habits alone will lead to productivity may be a myth. Instead, the social reward of high status might be what inspires these "small habits."

How to Live with Survivor Guilt

When we see someone we love suffer, we tend to—often unconsciously—feel survivor's guilt. When we learn to recognize the feeling, we can treat it.

4 Steps to Digital Creation: How to Build Your Second Brain

Tiago Forte's "second brain" is a digital system of gathering and organizing information, synthesizing ideas, and creating something new that you can share with others.

How to Make Decisions

Do you have trouble making decisions? You can develop the courage, confidence, and ability to tolerate the anxiety that goes with knowing you can make a mistake.

Prosocial Psychotherapy: Discovering Your Altruistic Nature

We grow up believing we're the cause of everyone's problems, especially our own. When you realize your intentions are altruistic or "prosocial," you know therapy is working.

Becoming a Clinician: Finally, Consultation

Finally, you're done with training, you're licensed, but more than ever you're thinking: "I need someone to talk to" and you run for someone you heard was a great consultant.