As AI chatbots and virtual agents become part of everyday life - from customer service to personal companionship - research at HKU’s Department of Psychology examines how these AI interactions influence our social and emotional experiences. Professor Benjamin Becker explains that our brains are naturally wired for social connection. Because of this, we often respond to AI as if it were a real social being, attributing feelings and intentions to it. As AI becomes smarter and more personalised, these interactions may engage our brain’s social systems more deeply and could even change how we relate to other people.

Study Led by Professor Tarani Chandola Finds “Anxious Monday” Increases Risk of Heart Attack, Also Applies to Retirees A study led by Professor Tarani Chandola from the HKU Department of Sociology reveals that feeling anxious on Mondays causes a lasting increase in stress hormones among older adults, whether working or retired. This “Anxious Monday” effect means that stress triggered at the start of the week can stay in the body for up to two months.

Welcome back to our summer series exploring the transformative field of Computational Social Science (CSS) in the Faculty of Social Sciences. In the last chapter, we introduced CSS and began examining its intersections with traditional social science areas such as Geography, Politics and Public Administration, and Psychology. As we continue our journey, this chapter shifts focus to explore how CSS intersects with the disciplines of Social Work and Social Administration, Sociology, and Journalism and Media Studies.

Creating a place where all views are welcomed is a hallmark of Professor Zhansheng Chen’s vision for the Department of Psychology. From his present vantage point as Head of the Department of Psychology at The University of Hong Kong, Professor Zhansheng Chen describes his career path to date as relatively smooth and unruffled. A closer look, however, shows that his ascent has been marked by an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of excellence and by the hard-earned recognition that meaningful success is built on a holistic approach to life and the patient cultivation of self-belief.

The Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project: Unison (JCECC: Unison), funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with HK$290 million, was officially launched on June 16, 2025. This five-year initiative provides personalised palliative and end-of-life care for persons with disabilities, along with vital support for their caregivers, addressing the increasing demand among Hong Kong’s ageing disabled population facing severe or terminal illnesses.