Niobe Way studies teenage boys and finds their needs for close friendships and emotional intimacy defy current social stereotypes.
In an age of increasing rates of loneliness, suicide, and mass violence, Niobe Way is an internationally recognized leader in the study of social and emotional development among adolescents. She is particularly focused on boys and young men and why they are at greater risk for such problems than girls and women. She currently is a Professor of Developmental Psychology and the founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity at New York University (PACH; pach.org). She is also past President of the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) and co-director of the Center for Research on Culture, Development, and Education at NYU. Niobe has authored nearly a hundred journal articles and numerous books, including Deep Secrets: Boys’ Friendships and the Crisis of Connection (Harvard University Press) and Everyday Courage: The Lives and Stories of Urban Teenagers (NYU Press). Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, The National Science Foundation, The William T. Grant Foundation, The Einhorn Family Charitable Trust Foundation, The Spencer Foundation and numerous other foundations. She is a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post and has recently become an online contributor for Psychology Today.
Deep Secrets: Boys’ Friendships and the Crisis of Connection. 2011.
Beyond the Family: Contexts of Immigrant Children's Development. 2008.
“Guys, We Have A Problem: How American Masculinity Creates Lonely Men.” NPR. 2018.
“Ask an Academic: The Secrets of Boys.” The New Yorker. 2011.
“Allowing Teenage Boys to Love Their Friends.” The New York Times. 2011.
“Bad bromance? Why male friendships fade.” The Today Show. 2011.
Youth anxiety, depression and suicide – An unfortunate headline we see too often.
Today’s youth have a far more complicated path to adulthood than their parents despite all the advantages they have. In our ever more wired and high pressure world, our youth feel less and less connected. Researchers ask “why”, and follow the science to possible answers.
To make change, we must foster our youth’s resiliency, empathy, and sense of empowerment. These speakers discuss why it is critical to help our youth escape the trap of perfectionism, build coping and problem solving skills, learn how to manage stress under pressure, connect with the community, and establish meaningful friendships.
This Playlist highlights the challenges of youth anxiety and brings hope that we have the answers within ourselves and our communities.