Laura Freberg

Laura Freberg is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at California Polytechnic State University. She specializes in educational technology, social networking, and biological psychology. Her work bridges textbook authorship and original research on digital media's societal impacts. Freberg holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA (1979), following an M.A. (1975) and A.B. (1974) from the same institution.

Her research interests emphasize applying new technologies to teaching and exploring social media's role in communication and loneliness. Collaborations include projects with her daughters (professors in strategic communications and systems engineering) and students. She maintains an award-winning blog engaging global audiences using her textbooks.

Publications span introductory psychology textbooks with John Cacioppo, biological psychology series, and articles on social media influencers and crisis communication strategies. Her work frequently intersects psychology with education, technology, and societal trends.

Key contributions include analyzing perceptions of social media influencers, investigating loneliness in digital contexts, and advancing pedagogical frameworks in neuroscience education. Though no explicit grants are listed, her textbook projects and collaborative research reflect sustained academic engagement.