Alia Joy Crum is an American psychologist and an associate professor of psychology at Stanford University, where she is also affiliated with the Department of Medicine. As the principal investigator of Stanford's Mind & Body Lab, Crum's research explores how mindsets—core assumptions about experiences like stress, exercise, and nutrition—shape physiological, psychological, and behavioral outcomes in health and performance contexts. Her work is inspired by the placebo effect, demonstrating the potential of mindsets to influence the body's healing processes.
Crum's research aims to understand how mindsets can be consciously changed to affect individual performance, well-being, and interpersonal effectiveness. Her studies demonstrate that shifting perceptions can alter biological responses, such as cortisol levels during stress or metabolic reactions to food. She has extended her research to vulnerable populations through clinical trials and collaborations. Recent studies include a 2025 intervention showing mindset shifts can reduce depression following catastrophes like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crum received a B.A. in psychology from Harvard University in 2005 and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Yale University in 2012. Before joining Stanford in 2014, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia Business School. She has received several awards, including the 2020 Early Career Award from the Social Personality Health Network and the 2019 Early Career Researcher Award from the International Positive Psychology Association. She is also writing a book, BELIEVE: The Mind's Power to Create Reality, which is forthcoming in 2027.
