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Psychology's Marc Schulz on the Benefits of Cross-Generational Friendships

August 7, 2023

From the article:

Intergenerational friendship “enriches us and gives us a sense of connection that is life-affirming and energizing,” said Marc Schulz, a professor of psychology at Bryn Mawr College and co-author of the book “The Good Life,” who has studied how important personal relationships are to happiness. In general, younger friends rely on their older friends for guidance, though the reverse is true, too. Dr. Schulz noted that the college students he has taught for three decades keep him “young” and “invigorated.”

Schulz is the associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and the Sue Kardas Ph.D. 1971 Chair in Psychology at Bryn Mawr. He also directs the Data Science Program. Schulz received his B.A. from Amherst College and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a practicing therapist with postdoctoral training in health and clinical psychology at Harvard Medical School.


Bryn Mawr’s Psychology Department offers courses from among a wide variety of fields in psychology: clinical, cognitive, developmental, physiological and social. Majors can focus on more specialized areas through advanced coursework, seminars, and especially through supervised research. The Data Science program is an interdisciplinary collaboration that includes a minor in Data Science and significant programming for all in the Bryn Mawr community.